"The extraordinary man" Ngo Xuan Binh and his journey to freedom.
Ngo Xuan Binh – a man who gathered five realms in one journey. In him was a blend of painting, martial arts, medicine, science, and poetry. But behind this multifaceted talent was not a vast ambition, but a very clear destination: Freedom. Freedom to do what he believed was useful. Freedom to pursue knowledge to its fullest extent. And freedom to be unbound by superfluous values. For him, "extraordinary people" are not defined by their differences, but by living fully in accordance with themselves.
Self-improvement: The meeting point of all fields.
PV: He simultaneously pursued many paths: fine arts, martial arts, medicine, science, and poetry. If one had to briefly define them, what would he call those fields?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:In my opinion, it's actually quite simple, not as difficult as we think. It's about self-improvement. For generations, humanity has achieved the civilization we have today precisely because of this pursuit of self-improvement.
PV:Does this mean that, regardless of the field, the ultimate goal is still humanity?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:That's right. Whether it's martial arts for physical training, medicine for healing, painting for expression, or science for understanding the world… they all come back to humanity. If they don't help people become better, then they become meaningless.
PV:There are only 24 hours in a day, so how can he manage to juggle so many roles simultaneously without feeling overwhelmed?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:When people feel comfortable doing what they think, what they like, what is beneficial, without being tense or deliberately doing what they don't want to do, that state is very free. It's a natural transition, without any tension.
PV:Many young people today talk about the pressure of balancing life. In your opinion, where does the problem lie?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:The problem is that people are trying to do things that aren't right for them. When you do what you need to do, what you want to do, there's no feeling of being divided. But if you do things out of pressure, to chase after external things, you'll always feel exhausted.
Professor, Academician Ngo Xuan Binh is the founder of Nhat Nam martial arts – a Vietnamese martial art that has flourished in Europe – and a traditional medicine practitioner who has treated many heads of state. He is also a painter with numerous large-scale exhibitions of paintings and sculptures, including: Du and Doi (2017), Niem (2019), EGO Nguoi (2023), and Hien Linh (2025). In addition, he is a poet with a philosophy of free living that deeply touches upon the spiritual path of each individual.
Freedom - The core value of a human life.
PV:People call him an "extraordinary person." Personally, have you ever found those two words both honorable and... troublesome?
Professor Ngo Xuan BinhI don't appreciate that way of calling myself, nor do I find it bothersome at all. I simply find that my greatest joy is my freedom.
PV:Could you elaborate on the concept of "freedom" that you are referring to?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:I am proud to have achieved three freedoms that I myself desired. First, material freedom: I no longer have to stoop down to pick up every penny, I am not enslaved by it, and I don't waste all my time just trying to make a living. Second, freedom in relationships and interactions: I can connect the things I want to create a vast realm. Third, intellectual freedom to reach the depths of understanding. When these things are achieved, a person is not burdened, nor does he have to carry unnecessary weights.
PV:From what I hear, that sounds like a very difficult state to achieve?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:It's difficult because people make it difficult for themselves. Actually, if we just get rid of unnecessary things, the superfluous ones, we would feel much lighter.
PV:So, if he had to let go of one area in his career, what would he choose?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:I will never give up anything. I only give up things that I find useless, superfluous, meaningless, the illusion of delusion. Therefore, I always remind myself: Do what is useful, do what is not superfluous.
Artistic shock and the journey of self-discovery
PV:Art came to him first. So, was there any crisis that made him want to stop?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:Yes. In 1994-1995, while working as an expert in Russia, I went to an exhibition and met an academician and his son. At the time, I was very pleased with a particular work, but then they bluntly told me: "The painting you're so fascinated with is only average; what you're so happy about is just technique, just skill." And they showed me other paintings and said: "This is the artist's true self, the unusual element that slips outside the frame." I was shocked and devastated, and almost gave up painting.
PV:So what drew him back?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:Not long after, that same academician, upon seeing my small sketches at another exhibition, embraced me and said, "This is what real painting is! Because you have emotion, a unique and unmistakable style, and very charming colors." That was a turning point that helped me overcome that obstacle.
PV:After that experience, how did he view art?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:Art is not technique. Technique is just a tool. What matters is whether you have your own unique style, whether you dare to be different.
PV:His paintings are often described as "unique and unconventional," delving deep into self and faith. Does he worry that audiences may find them difficult to accept?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:Art has both the masses and the elite. Those with "prestigious insight" often lag behind the majority by decades or centuries. Without those who dare to forge ahead with unconventional, open-minded thinking, we would be very boring.
PV:Does this mean that art always needs pioneers?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:That's right. If everyone followed the crowd, there would be no innovation. But that innovation must ultimately return to humanity. The essence of art is humanity, understanding humanity, and working for humanity.
"The Artistic Spirit": From hardship to strength and resilience
PV:As someone who excels wherever he goes, how much of the essence of Nghe An can I discern in his journey?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:I am who I am today because I am from Nghe An. 100% of the Nghe An spirit is in me. When people talk about the land and people of Nghe An, they often mention poverty, the land of potatoes, cassava, eggplant, and fermented bamboo shoots… but that's not entirely accurate. What's truly accurate is the thriftiness and the refusal to let go of anything that nature has given the people of Nghe An.
Your question touched me deeply. I've always been proud of the people of Nghe An for enduring the sun, rain, hardship, and for daring to act, take responsibility, and face challenges head-on. The essence of Nghe An in me is that resilience, hard work, and determination to accomplish everything I set out to do.
PV:Was it that very foundation that enabled him to go far and achieve lasting success in many fields?What is your greatest wish right now?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:Absolutely! Without that foundation, it's very difficult to go the long distance. Talent can help you go fast, but only perseverance will help you go far.
Currently, I am still continuing my unfinished work, especially my scientific projects. Fortunately, I remain strict and demanding of myself, preventing myself from being drawn into complacency.
PV:So what message would he like to send to young people, especially those who are finding their own path?
Professor Ngo Xuan Binh:People from Nghe An are very studious and eager to succeed. I believe in you and entrust that belief to you. Strive not only for your own future, but also to beautify your homeland and fulfill the things that our generation has yet to accomplish for our beloved Nghe An.
PV:Through this conversation, I realized that what makes him memorable is not just the fields he excelled in, but the way he connected all those fields into a unified journey: a journey towards humanity. Thank you very much.
Professor and Academician Ngo Xuan Binh was awarded the title of "Professor of Traditional Medicine" by the Russian Association of Traditional Medicine, was appointed an Academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences, is an honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (RAI), and was awarded the "Nicholai Peregov" Order for his contributions to world medicine.
In Vietnam, he has also set two records in his fields of activity. These are the book on acupuncture with the most pages (certified in 2017) and the book on the fundamentals of Nhat Nam (certified in 2018), recognizing his significant contributions to systematizing martial arts and traditional medicine.
