Vietnam will make its historic debut at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with its first-ever national pavilion titled “Viet Nam: Art in the Global Flow.” Located at the Ca’ Giustinian Faccanon palace and curated by Đỗ Tường Linh, the exhibition will feature works by ten contemporary artists, including a major immersive installation by Lê Hữu Hiếu. Hiếu’s contribution, titled "Tằm" (Silkworm), utilizes traditional materials like lacquer and jackfruit wood alongside live silkworms to explore themes of metamorphosis and memory.
This inaugural pavilion marks a significant milestone for Vietnam’s integration into the international art circuit, providing a formal platform for the country's contemporary scene at the world's most prestigious biennial. By showcasing artists who bridge traditional Vietnamese craft—such as lacquer painting—with contemporary installation practices, the pavilion aims to redefine the nation's cultural identity within a globalized art history. The move reflects a growing institutional effort to project Vietnamese soft power and historical narratives on a global stage.