Exchange Programs with VNCE
- Oanh Lê
- Jan 21
- 5 min read
Updated: May 15
Building Cultural Connections Through Art, Education, and Community
At Vietnam Cultural Exchange (VNCE), we believe that cultural exchange is not only about traveling between countries.
It is about sharing perspectives.Listening to different stories.Learning through creativity.And creating meaningful human connections across cultures.
Since 2018, VNCE has been working as a bridge between local communities in Vietnam and international artists, educators, cultural organizations, and creative practitioners from around the world.
Through exhibitions, workshops, artist collaborations, educational activities, and community programs, we hope to create spaces where people can meet, learn, and grow together.
Why Exchange Matters
In today’s world, children and communities are more connected than ever — yet many meaningful cultural experiences still feel distant or inaccessible.
We believe art and cultural exchange can help:
• encourage empathy and understanding
• inspire curiosity about different cultures
• support creative education
• connect local communities with international perspectives
• create long-term artistic and educational collaborations
Exchange is not only about bringing international culture into Vietnam.
It is also about sharing Vietnamese stories, artists, traditions, and communities with the world.
What We Do
VNCE develops exchange programs through a variety of formats, including:
• Artist residencies
• International exhibitions
• Community art projects
• Educational workshops for children
• Cultural talks and discussions
• Collaborative art and research projects
• Exchange activities with schools, galleries, and organizations
• Creative programs connecting local and international communities
Our programs often focus on art, education, creativity, children, storytelling, and community engagement.
Children & Community
One of the most important parts of our exchange activities is making culture and creativity accessible for children.
Through B&P – Art For Children and our free weekend workshops, children in Da Nang have opportunities to:
• meet artists from different backgrounds
• explore global perspectives through art
• experience creative learning outside traditional classrooms
• participate in collaborative cultural activities
We believe children should grow up seeing that creativity exists everywhere — across languages, countries, and cultures.
Past Collaborations & Experiences
Since 2018, Vietnam Cultural Exchange (VNCE) has developed cultural exchange activities connecting local communities in Vietnam with international artists, educators, students, galleries, and creative organizations.
Over the years, VNCE has collaborated through exhibitions, workshops, educational activities, artist exchanges, community programs, and international creative partnerships both inside and outside Vietnam.
Our exchange programs are built through small but meaningful collaborations rooted in art, education, creativity, and human connection.
These experiences include:
• collaborative projects with international artists
• community-based exhibitions and workshops
• partnerships with local creatives and educators
• artist exchange opportunities
• projects supporting artistic dialogue between Vietnam and international communities
• educational and cultural activities for children and families
2018 — Art Activities & International Artist Exchange in Hanoi
VNCE organized a chocolate painting activity in Hanoi in collaboration with Vietnamese and Dutch artists, creating a playful and accessible art experience for local participants and children.
During the same period, VNCE also supported a Dutch artist in organizing a solo exhibition at a local café space in Hanoi, helping create opportunities for artistic dialogue between local communities and international creatives through informal and community-centered spaces.
2019 — Cultural & Community Exchange in Quảng Nam and Đà Nẵng
VNCE guided a group of students from New York, USA, to visit a traditional gong-culture village in Quảng Nam, introducing them to local cultural practices, heritage, and community life in Central Vietnam.
In the same year, VNCE collaborated with Dutch artists, Vietnamese artists, and American students to organize an art workshop at the Da Nang Agent Orange Center.
The workshop aimed to create a joyful and creative environment where children and young people at the center could participate in artistic activities, cultural exchange, and shared moments of creativity through painting and collaborative art experiences.
2020 — Bologna Children’s Book Fair (Online Exchange Activities)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, VNCE participated in activities connected to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair through online cultural and creative exchange formats.
Although international travel and physical events were limited during this period, the experience opened opportunities for connection, learning, and dialogue with global creative communities focused on children’s books, storytelling, illustration, and visual culture.
2022 — International Artist Exchange in the Netherlands
As international cultural activities gradually resumed after the COVID-19 lockdown period, VNCE supported local artist Xuân Hạ and helped connect Vietnamese artists with international exchange opportunities in the Netherlands.
Through collaborations with the international artist collective Les Barbares d'Esprit and the Dutch gallery The Maakfabriek, VNCE helped facilitate artist exchange experiences, exhibitions, and cultural collaborations between Vietnamese and international creative communities.
In the same year, VNCE also connected local artists from Quảng Nam and Đà Nẵng to participate in an Art Fair in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Through this exchange opportunity, artworks and stories from Central Vietnam were introduced to international audiences, creating meaningful conversations between local artistic voices and global creative communities.
These exchange journeys became important milestones in rebuilding international cultural connections after the pandemic.
2023 — Children’s Literature & Illustration Exchange
VNCE developed a series of exchange talks and creative discussions with illustrators, children’s comic artists, and authors from different countries.
Through these collaborations, VNCE helped introduce and publish selected European children’s books for Vietnamese audiences, creating opportunities for children in Vietnam to access international storytelling and illustration cultures.
VNCE also collaborated with Hộp Háo Hức to release the children’s story collection “Câu Chuyện Xoay Tròn”, which is currently published and distributed in Vietnam.
2024 – Present — Free Art Workshops & Volunteer Exchange in Da Nang
Since 2024, VNCE has continued building community-centered exchange activities through collaborations with local and international volunteers.
Together, we organize free weekly art workshops for children living in or visiting Da Nang through B&P – Art For Children.
These activities create opportunities for:
• cultural sharing
• creative education
• international volunteer exchange
• accessible art experiences for children and families
We believe even small creative moments can become meaningful cultural connections that children remember for a long time.
Who Can Join or Collaborate?
We welcome collaboration with:
• artists and curators
• schools and educational organizations
• cultural institutions and nonprofits
• researchers and storytellers
• volunteers and creative communities
• families interested in art and culture
• local and international partners
Whether large or small, every collaboration begins with conversation and shared values.
Our Vision
We hope VNCE can become a long-term cultural platform where:
• art becomes more accessible
• children grow through creativity
• communities connect through shared experiences
• local and international voices meet naturally
We are not only building programs.
We are building relationships, memories, and spaces for cultural understanding.
Support the Exchange Program
You can support VNCE Exchange Programs by:
• collaborating on future projects
• sharing knowledge and experiences
• donating materials or artworks
• supporting community workshops
• contributing financially to sustain nonprofit activities
• helping connect artists, educators, and communities
Every contribution helps us continue creating meaningful cultural experiences for children and communities in Da Nang and beyond.
Let’s Build Connections Together
If you are interested in collaborating, supporting, or learning more about VNCE Exchange Programs, we would love to hear from you.
Vietnam Cultural Exchange (VNCE)
Da Nang, Vietnam
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