The US Embassy in Hanoi, in collaboration with local NGO Arts Build Communities (ABC), has launched a  project to paint the outside wall of the American Club to mark the 25th anniversary of US.-Vietnam diplomatic relations.

Public Affairs Officer Pam DeVolder paints the first stroke of the mural.

With the theme “Clean Environment – Green Planet,” this project will be completed by January 15, 2021.

The environment-focused mural was jointly designed by Vietnamese-American artist Christine Nguyen and four Vietnamese female artists led by artist Ta Thu Huong of ABC.  Covering an area of approximately 100 square meters, the mural seeks to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment by featuring vividly painted fauna and flora.

PAO Pam DeVolder with YSEALI members in the mural painting projects.

At the launch event, Counselor for Public Affairs Pam DeVolder stated that despite logistical difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, “American and Vietnamese artists collaborated virtually to finalize the design and successfully bring the project to fruition.” 

She also said that the mural is another concrete example of the US’ steadfast resolve to work with Vietnam in raising awareness about the need to protect the environment.  Raising awareness is also part of a broader US strategy to combat illegal wildlife crime in Vietnam. 

Through our International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Program, and USAID, the US provides more than US$30 million each year to reduce consumer demand, strengthen wildlife law enforcement and prosecution, and improve the legal framework for combating wildlife crime, noted am DeVolder.

Mural painting at the American Club

Pam DeVolder also joined Vietnamese artists and members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) in painting the mural project’s first strokes. Against the backdrop of the 25th anniversary of US-Vietnam relations, this joint project serves to highlight the deepening US-Vietnam partnership and the ever-expanding people-to-people ties that exist between the US and Vietnam.