Over recent years, a part of Da Nang’s Tran Hung Dao on the eastern bank of the Han River have become more attractive to both locals, and visitors from both home and abroad, thanks to the allures of fine arts activities here.

Visitors waiting for their portraits

In particular, a fascinating fine arts space has been already created on the eastern end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge along a section of Tran Hung Dao.

A group of lecturers and students from the city-based Junior College of Culture and Arts has already spent 10 days completing murals on a set of concrete columns, beams and girders under the bridge. 

These 3D murals feature lively ocean scenery, especially the rich biodiversity of the Son Tra Nature Reserve on the namesake peninsula.

Master Phan Thanh Hai, Head of the college’s Fine Arts Faculty, remarked that, “We turned rough concrete columns of the bridge into colourful arts spaces allowing pedestrians to snap photos”.

Most notably, between 17 and 19 November, the college also organised a fascinating street arts programme on the eastern end of the bridge. 

Under this interesting programme, a public exhibition, entitled ‘Da Nang Then and Now’, attracted a great deal of attention from the general public. 

On display were a total of 30 paintings vividly reflecting the beauty of natural scenery and people of Da Nang over the historical periods.

In addition, local residents and visitors also enjoyed free portrait painting and calligraphy performances.

Last year, 2 paintings, drawn by 10 lecturers and students in total from the college’s Fine Arts Faculty, were recognised by the Viet Nam Record Association, Vietkings, as the national largest ever pair of acrylic publicity beach paintings on canvas.

In detail, the 149.52m² paintings, namely ‘Bien Goi’ (The Sea is Calling) and ‘Tai Nguyen Vo Gia’, were displayed at last year’s street fine arts exhibition at the western end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge, opposite the Museum of Cham Sculpture.

Currently, the paintings are now being hung on the wall along the pedestrian underpass at the western end of the bridge.

Many students from the college happily said that their participation into such practical and meaningful fine arts activities indeed help them enhance their painting skills in preparation for their future careers.

Furthermore, these activities are considered to be effective ways to promote the fine arts values to the general public, especially youths and children.