Located at 3 Đặng Thị Nhu in the historic center of District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City, Rare Sea is situated on a street formerly known for its informal book market.
For decades, it served as a gathering place for students, artists, writers, and collectors, to exchange second-hand books, poetry, and imported publications.
While the book market has dispersed, Đặng Thị Nhu retains a legacy of cultural exchange. Rare Sea builds on this history of knowledge-sharing and curiosity, continuing the street’s role as a site for artistic dialogue
Rare Sea is an arts organization based in central Hồ Chí Minh City (Saigon), focused on exhibition-making, public programming, and curatorial practice, alongside an international studio program, artist support, workshops, and professional development.
Launched in early 2026, Rare Sea encompasses exhibition space, artist studios, offices, and archival storage, supporting the development and preservation of Vietnamese and international art practices.
Through its programming, Rare Sea fosters artistic exchange and builds platforms for creative practice and cross-cultural dialogue in Vietnam and beyond, grounded in sustained, forward-looking engagement with artists, curators, and local communities
Team
Nguyễn Trà My
Co-Founder and Director
mynguyen@raresea.vn
Luke Schneider
Co-Founder
luke@raresea.vn
Lại Minh Ngọc
Curator
ngoclai@raresea.vn
Advisor
Julian Chu
Estate Advisor
Julian Chu is an artist manager dedicated to building comprehensive administrative infrastructures for artists. Her work encompasses career strategy, archive development, and editorial direction for publications. With extensive experience in international exhibition management, she has collaborated with artists including Wu Chi Tsung, Tsai and Yoshikawa, Wang Ya Hui, Nick Dong, and Su Meng-Hung, supporting and executing major solo exhibitions in New York, San Francisco, Basel, Hong Kong, and Hồ Chí Minh City. She previously worked as Office Manager of the Asian Cultural Council Taipei Office.