There are moments that make you pause, breathe deeper and touch the most delicate part of yourself. On the evening of November 15 at GEM Center, under soft light like a meditative ritual and music that spoke to memory, Living Heritage became a space where “heritage” was truly brought to life through feeling.

The exhibition — heritage as living art

Entering “Living Heritage – Legacy for the Future” felt like an inward journey: calligraphy, light, scent, silence and the faces that have spread Vietnamese sensibilities worldwide. The space whispered rather than shouted, telling stories through installation art and multimedia technology.

Launched by GG Corporation, the Living Heritage project is described as a “living archive” — a place where knowledge, experience and the spirit of outstanding Vietnamese figures are transformed into heritage for future generations. The website livingheritage.vn, the annual e-book series and international artistic events form a long-term journey, awakening the “universe within” each person.

The inaugural publication The Universal Within – The Universe of the HEART honors figures such as Associate Prof. Dr. Phan Toàn Thắng, a scientist working on regenerative research; Sir Niels Lan Doky, a jazz knight who brought a free rhythmic voice of Vietnam to the global stage; and filmmaker–painter Nguyễn Thị Xuân Phượng, 96, proving that age is no barrier to passion or compassion.

The exhibition also featured the precious calligraphy “An Trú” by the late Zen master Thích Nhất Hạnh, placed beside an ikebana work by artist Nixon Trần — a tilted vase and a half-open flower suggesting that peace is not a destination but an inner state we choose daily.

Sowing seeds for a generation that lives deeply and beautifully

Guided by the idea of “education through art,” the Living Heritage Foundation was established as a long-term commitment. The foundation supports cultural, educational and healthcare programs, starting with the Nguyen Thai Binh Scholarship (VND 500 million) for students in flood-affected regions of central Vietnam.

For the arts, the Foundation creates international-caliber opportunities for young Vietnamese: the Carl Bechstein Piano Competition Vietnam – Thailand 2026 and the Grand Opus Performing Competition (GOPC), where contestants perform with professional orchestras in environments designed as peak experiences.

The Living Heritage Foundation’s representatives presented a symbolic plaque to accompany the Carl Bechstein Piano Competition Vietnam – Thailand 2026.

IMMERSED — an artistic night awakening many senses

As the lights at GEM Center softened and Niels Lan Doky's piano touched the room like a seasonal breeze, IMMERSED ceased to be just a concert. It was a meeting of international jazz and Vietnamese soul, guided by director Pham Hoang Nam, Music Director Quoc Trung, and designer Tom Trandt.

On stage, jazz knight Niels Lan Doky with Felix Pastorius and Jonas Johansen created an audio dialogue, joined by People's Artist Thanh Lam, Ha Tran, Quyen Thien Dac, People's Artist Hoang Anh and Ho Hoai Anh. Supported by an L-Acoustics sound system, each note dissolved into the space with richness and clarity.

In a hurried world, the greatest luxury is sometimes time to listen and reconnect with true values. Living Heritage performed that act with subtlety, completeness and deep emotion.

Source: Phu Nu