 |
| “Landscape of Thay Pagoda” by Pham Hau – PHOTO: SOTHEBY’S |
The oil on canvas painting “Portrait of Mademoiselle Phuong” by late painter Mai Trung Thu (1906-1980) fetched a record price for a Vietnamese painting as it sold for US$3.1 million at Sotheby’s Auction House in Hong Kong on April 18.
 |
| “Portrait of Mademoiselle Phuong” by Mai Trung Thu – PHOTO: SOTHEBY’S |
Lacquer on wood masterpiece “Landscape of Thay Pagoda” by Pham Hau (1903-1995) also sold for over US$1 million at this auction.
Most recently, ink and gouache on silk painting “Young Lady Tying Her Scarf” by Le Pho (1907-2001) fetched over US$1.1 million at Christie’s Hong Kong on May 24.
 |
| “Young Lady Tying Her Scarf” by Le Pho – PHOTO: CHRISTIE’S |
So far, seven Vietnamese paintings have sold for over US$1 million. The first Vietnamese painting that sold for over US$1 million was “Family Life” by Le Pho (US$1.1 million in 2017).
 |
| “Family Life” by Le Pho – PHOTO: SOTHEBY’S |
The three other paintings include “Nude” by Le Pho (nearly US$1.4 million), “Nine carp in the lake” by Pham Hau (US$1 million) and “Disillusioned” by To Ngoc Van (US$1.1 million), all in 2019.
 |
| “Nude” by Le Pho – PHOTO: CHRISTIE’S |
The total value of these seven paintings amounts to some US$10 million. Many Vietnamese paintings have also sold for over US$500,000 each at international auctions.
 |
| “Nine carp in the lake” by Pham Hau – PHOTO: SOTHEBY’S |
 |
| “Disillusioned” by To Ngoc Van – PHOTO: CHRISTIE’S |
