Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 21 September 2026 – After inviting children across Vietnam to express happiness through their own eyes, The Art of Happiness: Painting Dreams, Discovering Worlds culminated this evening in an Award Ceremony at Lotus Gallery. Held during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the event brought the young artists and their families together to celebrate the journey behind the competition.
Co-organized by The Brand Promise and Lotus Gallery, with the support of Club Med, SERENE SAIGON and Tòhe, the nationwide initiative welcomed young Vietnamese and expatriate artists aged 08 to 18. A total of 58 artworks were submitted, each offering a personal response to the idea of happiness. While some young artists drew inspiration from family memories and familiar moments at home, others imagined new places or expressed hopes that are still waiting to unfold.
From these submissions, 20 artworks were selected for a public exhibition at Lotus Gallery from 11 to 21 September 2026. Displayed in a professional gallery setting, the collection gave each finalist the opportunity to share their work with a wider audience and experience how art can create conversations beyond the canvas.
Throughout the ten-day exhibition, visitors at the gallery and online were invited to discover the stories behind the artworks and vote for their favourites. More than 400 votes were received, reflecting the warm response from the public and the support surrounding the young artists throughout the programme.
The journey reached its conclusion on 21 September with the announcement of the competition’s three outstanding artworks:
- First Prize: Thân Mộc Minh Khôi – Đoàn Tàu Hạnh Phúc (The Track to Happiness)
- Second Prize: Nguyễn Ngọc Thùy Dương – Nơi Đôi Tay Cất Lời (Where Hands Find Their Voice)
- Third Prize: Lưu Kỳ Duyên – Học Bài Cùng Meo Meo (Study with Meo Meo)
The First Prize recipient received a three-day, two-night all-inclusive family holiday for four at Club Med Phuket. The Second Prize was a two-day, one-night family staycation at SERENE SAIGON, while the Third Prize recipient received a family Golf Day Pass at SERENE SAIGON. Designed to be enjoyed together, each prize extends the idea of happiness beyond the competition by creating new experiences for the winning artists and their families.
More than a presentation of awards, the evening became a shared Mid-Autumn celebration. The participating artists and their families were invited to take part in a silk-painting workshop before coming together to celebrate the finalists and announce the winners. The night then heated up with Club Med’s signature Crazy Signs group dance, with a Vietnamese local touch. The light-hearted finale offered families a glimpse into the joyful and convivial spirit of a Club Med holiday, while allowing everyone in the room to take part in the celebration together.
“This first edition of The Art of Happiness has shown us how much children can communicate when they are given the space to create freely,” shared Camellia, Founder and CEO of The Brand Promise. “Our ambition is to develop the initiative into an annual platform where young artists can express their ideas, share how they see the world and feel that their voices are valued. We hope it will continue to grow into a meaningful experience that children and their families can look forward to each year.”
The moment reflected a philosophy shared by Club Med and The Art of Happiness: joy becomes more meaningful when it brings people closer. Through experiences that encourage families to reconnect and discover something new together, Club Med has long placed shared happiness at the heart of its resorts. Within this initiative, that same idea began with the children and the worlds they chose to express through art.
As the exhibition comes to a close, the works leave audiences with a simple reminder: happiness does not need to look the same for everyone. By giving children the freedom to express it in their own way, the initiative also invited families to pause, listen and discover the world through their eyes. Sometimes, sharing that perspective is what brings a family closer and gives happiness a deeper meaning.
