When colors tell the story of Hanoi 's streets.

Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the Thang Long - Hanoi Festival 2025, the "Refreshing Hanoi" exhibition emerges, opening up a peaceful space where the colors and memories of artists blend together to tell stories about Hanoi in a way that is both familiar and fresh. Each painting, each shade of color, is like each artist's unique perspective on the capital city. Hanoi's streets appear before visitors, sometimes dazzling, sometimes tranquil.

Minh Đàm's painting "Lý Đạo Thành Street" transports viewers to this historic street. The brushstrokes in the painting seem to spread out like the artist's overflowing memories of the place. The trees are clad in deep green, the walls, weathered by time, have taken on a yellowish-brown hue, and the balconies and windows have delicate lines. The motorbike in the corner evokes a sense of peace and a touch of contemplation.

Continuing the stroll through the old town through painting, artist Nguyen Hai Anh opens up a glimpse of Ta Hien Street for visitors. His work doesn't depict the bustling, crowded Ta Hien Street at night, but rather a tranquil Ta Hien Street in the early morning. The light filtering through the rooftops, the lingering mist, and the soft shadows cast on the street are all subtly rendered.

Author Nguyen Hai Anh shared: “As the morning light gradually breaks through, Ta Hien returns to its tranquil old town appearance, where the pace of life is much slower and more peaceful than the usual hustle and bustle. I want to introduce to visitors the image of Ta Hien street that still retains its peacefulness and the depth of a space tinged with the colors of time.”

Visitors at the "Refreshing Hanoi" exhibition.

On a different level, the woodblock prints of the Temple of Literature – National University by artist Tuyen Nguyen evoke a sense of tranquility. Without the need for color, using only strong carving lines and the contrast of light and shadow on the wood surface, the artist has created images of a living heritage site, including the Khue Van Cac pavilion, the doctoral steles, and the Drum Tower, all incredibly ancient and majestic. Standing before these woodblock prints, viewers can almost hear the sharp, dry sound of the carving and feel the weight of time.

Ms. Nguyen Hong Loan (born in 1960, residing in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi) expressed: “These artworks have shown me the very distinctive beauty of Hanoi, and at the same time revealed the deep love of each artist for this land. I am truly moved and delighted to see that art about Hanoi can become an important bridge, contributing to promoting tourism and bringing the image of the capital in particular, and Vietnam in general, closer to international friends.”

Throughout the exhibition space, there is a rich diversity of artistic languages, from free-flowing watercolors and classic woodcuts to profound oil paintings and vibrant acrylics. Despite the variety of materials, viewers can still recognize a common spirit in the artwork: youthfulness intertwined with contemplation, and a love for Hanoi expressed in many ways, but always sincerely.

Touch art, live with heritage.

Besides the exhibition, the creative workshop series "Touching Art, Living with Heritage" attracted a large number of visitors thanks to its fresh approach, bringing art closer to everyday life. Here, visitors can personally explore , create, and connect with traditional cultural values.

With the "Painting of Landscapes" activity, visitors can experience the traditional technique of printing characters using woodblock carving on dó paper, a printing method with a long history in Vietnamese culture. Participants will manually apply ink to pre-carved wooden blocks, place a thin, lightweight sheet of dó paper on the carved surface, and use a tool to smooth the ink evenly.

Le Hoang Mai (born in 2002, a student at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi) shared: “I was very excited to see each letter appear clearly and sharply printed. The dó paper, with its good absorbency and characteristic ivory white color, gives the print a classic look, and the black ink lettering evokes memories of old books or traditional folk paintings.”

The workshop area attracted a large number of participants.

Besides experiencing traditional heritage sites, the "Idea Assembly - Color Printing" activity also attracts a large number of tourists. Using Lego blocks of different shapes, sizes, and colors, visitors assemble them into small compositions that evoke the symbols of Hanoi such as the Temple of Literature, the Turtle Tower, or Van Lake. Once the composition is complete, the Lego pieces are covered with ink and printed onto paper, creating unique pictures with a distinct graphic style.

The seemingly simple stacking of Lego bricks transforms into complex, multifaceted shapes when transferred to paper. Each participant can create their own version of "Hanoi heritage," spontaneous yet still recognizable as the capital's iconic landmarks.

These are the finished products of the "Combine Ideas - Print in Color" activity.

The exhibition thus becomes a space of hope, where viewers can find a reason to love, appreciate, and reflect on their responsibility towards the thousand-year-old cultural heritage. Mr. Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giám Cultural and Scientific Activities Center, shared: “In this era, as we enter a new age, we need change based on tradition. Our goal is to build Ho Van into a cultural activity center of the capital, where visitors can experience a unique ecological, cultural, and performing arts space, an increasingly attractive destination in Hanoi. In the future, the Ho Van space will continue to welcome many young people, artists, and creative groups to organize artistic activities, contributing to bringing new vitality to the heritage site.”


    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/ruc-ro-sac-mau-ha-noi-1012125