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Angeline’s Bio

My life has been a tapestry of destinations and milestones, each shaping the person I am today. Born and raised in Singapore until the age of 15, I then migrated to Melbourne, Australia, where I completed high school and studied interior decoration. 

Melbourne with its vibrant culture and creative energy, nurtured my dreams and its where I discovered my passion for design and found the freedom to explore who I wanted to be. Returning to Singapore in the late 1980s was a transition that felt more like stepping into foreign territory than coming home. The city I had left behind 18 years ago had changed and so had I. Instead of feeling like a citizen coming home, I felt like a stranger rediscovering my birth city that I thought I knew. This disconnection, however, became an opportunity—a chance to reimagine my identity and carve out a new chapter.

With this sense of rediscovery, it fueled my determination to carve out my space in the professional world. My career as an interior designer flourished as I under took on ambitious projects, managing corporate office spaces ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 square meters, and working for design companies Those were exhilarating times—filled with the thrill of creation and the pressure of deadlines.

Nights stretched into the early hours, weekends vanished into work, and the demands were relentless. I loved what I was doing, pouring my heart into every design and every detail. But I didn’t love the culture that surrounded it. Singapore’s traditional environment felt restrictive

to my adventurous spirit, and I yearned for opportunities to travel or relocate, to bring my creativity to new horizons.

In the early 1990s, I took a bold step that would forever shape the course of my life. I ventured into Vietnam, a country that had just opened its doors to the world. It was a place where everything was so unfamiliar—the culture, the language, and the business landscape.

Yet, that very unfamiliarity excited me. For me, it was an adventure waiting to unfold, it was more than just starting a business; it was a chance to blend creativity and purpose into something meaningful and I was ready to embrace the unknown.

Amid this backdrop of change and opportunity, I founded my first interior design company in Ho Chi Minh City. It was a leap of faith, fueled by a desire to transform spaces into something extraordinary. From designing offices and hotels spaces that reflected the heart of clients to crafting commercial spaces that resonated with their purpose, I poured my energy into understanding the stories behind the walls I was shaping. Those early projects were not without their driven by a passion for creating spaces that reflected purpose and personality.

Building a business in an emerging market was no small feat. It required learning, adapting, and growing at an unprecedented pace. But those challenges only fueled my determination to succeed.

Vietnam became more than just a location for my work; it became a place of transformation—personally and professionally. Every project, from corporate offices to personal spaces, was an opportunity to leave my mark and bring beauty to the lives of others.The journey began humbly, challenges—navigating the complexities of an emerging market, managing tight budgets, and earning trust with the clients and the people in a rapidly evolving industry.

But through hard work and dedication, the company grew. Each completed project became a milestone, and with every new client, my vision expanded. It wasn’t just about creating beautiful spaces; it was about solving problems, building relationships, and leaving a lasting impact. The satisfaction of seeing a client’s eyes light up at the unveiling of their dream space was—and still is—unmatched.

After years of success in interior design, I was looking for another area of creativity to fuel my energy into doing. But if one thinks that starting my own interior design company in Ho Chi Minh City was a bold move, little did I know that this next milestone was just the beginning of another, equally challenging and transformative journey.

My venture into the Vietnamese art world was purely coincidental. I knew nothing about art in Vietnam, and no one in the community—artists, dealers, agents, or galleries, buyers,collectors etc—who knew who I was or what I was doing. After so many years living here, I was still a foreigner in their country, eager yet completely out of my depth. 

For six months, immersed myself in trying to understand what Vietnamese art was all about, grappling with its nuances and the stories behind it.

Just as I began to feel the weight of this daunting and challenging task, a kind-hearted art dealer changed everything. He took me under his wing, patiently taught me step by step and opening doors to the art world I could never have accessed alone. Through him, I met incredible artists – from all categories of art mediums and whose works reflected the vibrant culture, history, and aspirations of Vietnam.

The transition from interiors to art consulting and advising felt like a natural evolution, but it was more than just a shift in focus. It was about storytelling in an art world that many, from foreigners to the Vietnamese themselves, knew little about. This journey became not only an exploration of creativity but also a mission to share the richness of Vietnamese art with a much wider audience – from young to old and from international to local people.

Art has always been a language that challenges me and how to connect with, a way of expressing what words often cannot. Transitioning from interiors to advising clients on art has been a very difficult journey, yet it came with its own challenges. Helping artists and galleries to curate collections that resonated with their stories required not only expertise but also a deep understanding of their ideas, aspirations, skills and techniques . 

It was no longer just about designing physical spaces; it was about inspiring and educating people to appreciate the beauty in purchasing a piece of artwork – may it be lacquer, oils or acrylic in canvas, silk, wood blocks, gouache (pastel or watercolor combined on paper), watercolour

through the lens of the artist.

Founding The Saigon Art Journey was the culmination of this shift. It combined my professional expertise with a personal mission to inspire, educate, and connect. Through this initiative, I sought to bridge gaps and build understanding, engaging with people from all walks of life and age groups. 

Art became a medium for dialogue, a way to bring diverse perspectives together while showcasing the beauty and depth of Vietnamese culture.This serendipitous journey into art became another milestone in my life, shaping my work and expanding my understanding of creativity. From interiors to art, my story has been one of embracing the unknown, taking risks, and finding guidance in unexpected places.

Looking back, I see how each phase of my career—from starting my design company, overcoming challenges, and venturing into art consulting and advising to educating and who knows what’s next at my age. These milestones weren’t just professional achievements; they were markers of personal growth, shaped by lessons in resilience, creativity, and faith.

This biography is a reflection of my journey—starting as a designer of spaces and becoming a storyteller of art, not just the successes, but the struggles and moments of trust that defined them. It’s a story of transformation, of embracing the unknown, and of trusting that every

step, even the uncertain ones, leads to something greater. Through these pages, I hope to inspire others to see their own lives as a canvas, ready to be filled with bold strokes, meaningful connections, and boundless possibilities, no matter what age you are.

We talked about the following and other items

• Angeline Gong's Background and Travel Aspirations 
• Favorite Travel Destinations and Diving Experiences 
• Challenges of Living an Unconventional Life 
• Moving to Vietnam and Design Career 
• Design Philosophy and Client Relationships 
• Experiences in Different Countries and Cultural Adjustments 
• Building a Business in an Emerging Market 
• Transition to Art Consulting 
• Defining Creativity and Supporting Artists 
• Successful Artists and Art Appreciation 
• Emergence of Abstract Art and Women Artists 
• Challenges and Strategies for Emerging Artists
• The Importance of Personal Growth and Resilience 
• Professional Goals and Future Outlook  

Angeline’s Social Media

Angeline’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeline-gong-74373224/

Angeline’s FB: https://www.facebook.com/angeline.gong

Angeline’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_geriatric_bird/

Angeline’s Email: angeline.gong@gmail.com

Angeline’s Advice

I wish I was wise. Vietnam is not a bad city, country itself, once you adapt and once you know who the people are. Of course, language is a problem. But it's good to get into the language which where you live in any country in the world. Also, stop complaining and get on with it.