Launched by The Reverie Saigon, ‘Pearls of Saigon’ presents a full-day exploration of select venues in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – museums, galleries and artists’ studios – that cumulatively sheds light on one of Asia’s most intriguing destinations.
More than a look at art for art’s sake, ‘Pearls of Saigon’ tells the story of Vietnam from the dawn of the 20th century to the present day using art as pivot points to unveil the story of a nation subdued under colonial rule, striving for independence, paralysed by war and, finally, in bloom once again.
Leading the tours for The Reverie Saigon are two savvy and studious expatriates – Sophie Hughes and Stu Palmer – who have each called Vietnam home since 2009 and who have explored the country’s art scene as, collectively, a gallery manager and a film festival director as well as artistic collaborators. In 2011, Sophie founded Sophie’s Art Tour, which is widely hailed as the country’s foremost bridge between international visitors and Vietnamese art.
Each eight-hour exploration is custom-curated for its audience and ranges from an in-depth, general overview for the casual enthusiast to more esoteric targets for aficionados.
Must-see stops will include a walkabout of the Duc Minh private gallery – which features an incomparable collection of modern and post-modern works by, amongst others, artists from the École Supérieure des Beaux Arts de L’Indochine (EBAI) – as well as a visit to Salon Saigon, a refined and exquisitely appointed space which houses a fine arts library and salon dedicated to presenting contemporary works and showcasing Vietnamese heritage as well as other Asian cultures through performances, screenings and educational programmes.
Salon Saigon is also the setting for a private, five-course lunch of traditional Vietnamese cuisine and a tour-within-a-tour introduction to the Salon’s private collection and library by its director (or programme coordinator), an experience exclusive to ‘Pearls of Saigon’ guests. Guests can also request live piano accompaniment for the duration of their prix-fixe meal or an approximate 15-minute live performance of traditional Vietnamese dance by a troupe of 4-6 dancers (at additional charge).
As a complement to the day-long excursion about the city, the ‘Pearls of Saigon’ experience exposes guests to an array of remarkable design pieces at The Reverie Saigon, itself – a hotel that is at once a collaboration of 17 of Italy’s leading design houses and a manifestation of contemporary Vietnamese taste. Guests have the option to request a private tour of the hotel that touches upon a selection of its most talked-about pieces.
The ‘Pearls of Saigon’ package includes:
– Two nights of accommodation
– Round-trip airport transfers
– Daily breakfast
– Private car & chauffeur service in guests’ choice of the hotel’s Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series (or Mercedes-Benz van, depending on the size of the group)
– Selection of sweets, savories & non-alcoholic beverages in-car throughout the tour
– Private, five-course lunch of traditional Vietnamese cuisine at Salon Saigon
Package rates start from US$1,422 for rooms and US$1,782 for suites based on a two-night stay.
