Home tour: Inside the artistic home of Thanh Nguyen, a female CEO who inspires happiness in Vietnamese employees

When sharing her vision with architect Tran Le Quoc Binh, a close friend and long-time collaborator, Thanh Nguyen made just one simple request: “Minimum functionality, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and everything else open. I want everyone in the house to see and connect with each other.” The architect delivered beyond expectation. The living room, kitchen and dining area flow seamlessly without partitions, creating a sense of complete openness between floors and between people and space.

From colours and materials to furniture, nearly every detail was personally selected by Thanh Nguyen. She opted for white walls to make her artworks shine, and neutral hues such as grey, beige and white for larger pieces such as sofas and armchairs, leaving the entire “stage” to belong to art.

The kitchen and dining area continue this spirit of openness. The kitchen, clad in reflective silver, almost disappears into the background, while the dining table commands attention as a work of art. The space is further elevated by Modesty Veiled dining chairs and transparent Pantone chairs, both sculptural and ethereal. On the wall hangs a rare-toned painting by Hong Viet Dung, a piece that captivated Thanh Nguyen the moment she saw it.

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Though the house spans three levels, it exudes no sense of hierarchy. From the ground floor to the second, the red staircase stands as its beating heart both a striking focal point and an emotional thread weaving through the space. Inspired by My Name is Red, a poem written by her husband, it embodies aspiration, passion and the unyielding energy of life. For Thanh Nguyen, its vivid hue is a declaration: “Why can’t the second half of life be even more brilliant than the first?”

On the second floor, the private quarters open with subtle shifts in atmosphere. If the living room downstairs stirs the senses with vibrant stories of art, the bedroom offers serenity and balance. Romantic earthy pinks, gentle curves and natural stone textures create a harmonious cocoon; a softer world where she retreats and recentres herself.

Outside, the bathroom hides behind a metallic wall shimmering like a piece of contemporary sculpture. It intrigues those who pass by, as though a secret artwork lies just beyond reach.

Thanh Nguyen is not a painter nor a professional collector, but she has her own way of living with art. She doesn’t acquire pieces for investment but for affection. That passion reveals itself in every detail from a red dog sculpture with sentimental meaning to a lacquer chair by Tran Thien Nhut, or the radiant Hong Viet Dung painting that lights up the dining space. The mark of the artist is everywhere: on walls, in corners, along hallways, each infused with her sensibility.

After four homes, Thanh Nguyen no longer searches for a “perfect” one. Instead, she has created a true home, a reflection of herself, where creativity roams freely and moments unfold naturally. Each weekend return feels like revisiting the tender corners of her soul. Minimalist in function yet infinite in imagination, it is a home designed not just to live in, but to feel alive in every moment.

This article was adapted from the original feature published in Tatler Vietnam, August 2025 issue.

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