| A study of the roots of Vietnamese art reveals a | | | | popular and were even recognized across the East |
| long and rich history. The earliest forms of the | | | | and Southeast parts of Asia. |
| Vietnamese art could be traced to the Stone Age, | | | | In spite of the fact that Vietnamese art had begun |
| almost 8,000 years before Christ. Though | | | | to find fame and popularity during the Chinese |
| Vietnamese art has been influenced by different | | | | domination, the real development of fine arts started |
| civilizations, it has always had its own style and | | | | with the French colonization in the 19th century. In |
| identity. In spite of the cross-culture influence, | | | | the 20th century, French colonialists established the |
| Vietnamese art has never lost its significant | | | | "Fine Arts College of Indochine" (FACI), which |
| distinction. | | | | exclusively opened for the three Indochine countries |
| The earliest influence was probably made by the | | | | Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia following an all around |
| Chinese domination of Vietnam in the 2nd century | | | | European training method. |
| B.C. The local art of Vietnam heavily absorbed the | | | | However, in 1954, with the Dien Bien Phu Victory, |
| Chinese influence and this style continued over a long | | | | Vietnam was divided into two separate regions, |
| period of time even after their independence from | | | | North Vietnam and South Vietnam according to the |
| China in the 10th century A.D. | | | | Geneva Agreement. The two regions grew different |
| During the Stone Age and Bronze Age, Vietnamese | | | | styles of arts under the influence of different |
| art in the form of pottery and bronze casting | | | | cultures for the next few years. In 1975, when the |
| reached new heights. The Stone Age potteries were | | | | war ended and Vietnam was unified as one nation |
| more basic and lacked artistic decors but their Dong | | | | again, the unavoidable cross-culture conflicts between |
| Son drums which went back to the Dong Son | | | | the North and South region did not leave much |
| civilization from about 1,000 B.C. to the 4th century | | | | impact on art. |
| B.C., depicts advanced bronze-casting skills and clearly | | | | Due to the influence of various civilizations and their |
| shows remarkable advancements of their art. | | | | cultures, the war torn nation could not develop any |
| The important developments of art in Vietnam | | | | new trends or thoughts except those coming from |
| probably took place during the ten century long | | | | the outside world that have been changed in |
| Chinese rule on the nation from 111 B.C. to 939 A.D. | | | | accordance to Vietnamese life. It's not that |
| Even after their independence, impressions of | | | | contemporary or modern art do not exist but there |
| Chinese-influenced philosophies adopted by Vietnam | | | | are not many impressive or monumental works |
| such as Confucianism, Mahayana Buddhism and | | | | showing any philosophical traits. Representing their |
| Taoism were remarkably visible in their arts. | | | | cultural history, Vietnamese art mainly represents a |
| However, the Golden Age of Vietnamese Art began | | | | quiet beauty or even simplicity of Vietnamese people |
| during the 11th century under the Ly Dynasty. During | | | | and their history of struggle against invasions. |
| this time the arts of Vietnam grew more and more | | | | |