Hillside Street, a meeting place for souls who love art and creativity.

Visitors to Da Lat not only get to relax, but can also experience art in various forms at Pho Ben Doi Creative Studio - a meeting place for art lovers and creative souls. Travellive had a short conversation with Mr. Hien Nguyen - Founder of Pho Ben Doi.

PV: Hello Mr. Hien Nguyen. Could you share the reasons why the Hillside Street project was established?

Founder: Hien NguyenThe unique characteristics of its architectural ecosystem, landscape, climate, and gentle people are the beautiful heritage values ​​that make Da Lat a special resort destination. Furthermore, Da Lat has been a source of artistic inspiration for many artists throughout history, from literature and poetry to music, from painting to film, creating a continuous stream of cultural and artistic activity spanning the past 130 years.

Upon further research, I realized that culture and art are also factors contributing to the sustainability of a city. As a native of Da Lat and an art lover, I believe I can contribute to rebuilding the "Da Lat brand" based on these core strengths and values. This, in my opinion, is also a way to help the city develop sustainably.

Street on the Hill was created with the philosophy "Art connects us": using art to connect people and make life better. The name "Street on the Hill" originates from Da Lat city's location – nestled in nature with beautiful architectural and landscape values. In 2020, Creative Studio, with an area of ​​500 m2, opened its doors, situated in the most beautiful and highest location in the city – Dinh Hill.

PV: What types of art does Street on the Hill offer to the public?

Founder: Hien NguyenI aspire for Da Lat to be positioned as a cultural, educational, and creative destination, rather than simply a tourist and resort city. Pho Ben Doi, a multi-disciplinary center, aims to connect art lovers and creative minds for mutual development, while also providing exciting experiences for locals and visitors alike.

First, there's the Gallery space with regular exhibitions featuring 30 works in various genres including oil, watercolor, and mixed media. We also support young artists in creating and exhibiting their work. In addition, Pho Ben Doi collaborates with domestic and international organizations to host art and environmental exhibitions.

This is also a space for organizing cultural, artistic, and educational events. Recently, Pho Ben Doi collaborated with Slide on Strings to present a classical music program. This September, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UK and Vietnam, Pho Ben Doi and D-Fuse co-organized a workshop on environmental storytelling. Pho Ben Doi also connects with and supports artists and those working in the arts through art residency programs, film residency programs, etc. Through these cultural and artistic programs and activities, I hope to preserve the city's existing heritage.

In addition, we collaborate with educational companies to bring engaging courses to children in Da Lat. Through hands-on learning activities (learning by doing/playing), combined with a science-and-art education model, children develop problem-solving skills. I hope these activities will inspire them to enjoy learning and understand its practical applications in real life.

PV: Regarding the sustainable development of tourism in Da Lat, does Pho Ben Doi have any special projects?

Founder: Hien NguyenMany people love Da Lat, but truly understanding it requires research and experience. I think tourism in Da Lat has only reached a quantitative level, while its quality needs to be improved. That is, tourists shouldn't just come to take pictures at specific locations, but should also delve deeper into exploring the city from various perspectives. Therefore, the Pho Ben Doi team is working on and will soon launch an Art Map for tourism at the end of this year.

This is a meticulously organized and well-invested art map project, with the initial phase offering 20,000 free copies printed on fine art paper as a harmonious gift combining aesthetic and functional value for tourists visiting Da Lat. Through Dalat Art Map, tourists can easily find information and guidance to experience artistic values ​​through attractive destinations, events, and cultural and artistic programs introduced by Art Map. Phase 2 (2023 - 2025) will develop a digital map platform (ArtMap apps/web).

Furthermore, we recently developed an art tour called "Da Lat Past and Present" to cater to tourists who wish to explore destinations with in-depth cultural, historical, architectural, and artistic significance. All the activities and programs that the Pho Ben Doi team has undertaken over the past seven years aim to contribute to raising community awareness for the preservation of the city's heritage and help it develop more sustainably.

PV: In the future, how do you envision the Hillside Street continuing to develop?

Founder: Hien NguyenAccording to Decision 1775/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, the cultural industry includes 13 key sectors: advertising, software and games, design, publishing, performing arts, photography and exhibitions, architecture, handicrafts, film, fashion, fine arts, television and radio, and cultural tourism.

In line with the overall development of the cultural industry, Hillside Street also aims to develop itself into a platform and space connecting multiple sectors, starting from a love of art, to contribute to making Da Lat a creative city. UNESCO has surveyed and recognized Da Lat's potential to develop into a creative city. Hillside Street, with its open mindset, integrates into this flow and develops sustainably through the creative cultural sector.

Thank you, Mr. Hien Nguyen!

Bi Le