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| The Cau Hamlet mural, showing a bridge, a riverside landing stage, and houses along the river, was gradually taking shape |
At the sites where the murals were being created, the walls were cleaned, given a base coat, and sketched out before each detail was carefully completed. Under the artists’ brushstrokes, tiled roofs, rows of trees, old houses, and scenes of river trade were gradually emerging, adding colors to the residential area.
Mr. Phan Trong Nghia, Chairman of the Hoa Chau Ward People’s Committee, said the mural project along the alleys on Bao Vinh Street was carried out with funding in the locality from social contributions. The activity contributes not only to improving the local landscape but also to recalling the history, traditional crafts, and community memories of each hamlet.
The murals focus on telling the stories of 7 hamlets, including: Cau hamlet, Dua hamlet, Ot hamlet, Muoi hamlet, Cho Tren hamlet, Cho Duoi hamlet, and Ren hamlet. These names were associated with trade, commerce, and the daily lives of Bao Vinh’s residents in the past.
Each hamlet is captured through its own distinct scene. Cau hamlet evokes a bridge, a riverside landing stage, boats, and merchants; Dua hamlet, Ot hamlet, and Muoi hamlet are linked to cargo boats, markets, and their signature street vendors. Cho Tren and Cho Duoi hamlets recreate the riverside market scene, while Ren hamlet depicts furnaces, hammers, anvils, and craftsmen.
Mr. Truong Thai, Secretary of the Party Cell and Head of the Bao Vinh Residential Group, said that local residents have been excited and delighted to watch the murals gradually take shape in recent days. “People are looking forward to a new look for the old walls. The murals will not only beautify the alleys, but also bring back the names of the hamlets, traditional crafts, and memories of Bao Vinh in the past,” he said.
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| Artists completed images evoking the architecture and landscape of Bao Vinh in the past |
Ms. Phan Thi Dieu Lien, a resident of the ancient Bao Vinh quarter, said that she hopes the murals will make the alleys more beautiful and welcoming, while also preserving the area’s stories. “Through the murals, visitors will not only have additional destinations to visit and pose for photos, but also gain a better understanding of the hamlets’ names, traditional crafts, and the lives of Bao Vinh people,” she said.
The Hoa Chau Ward People’s Committee has also invited the University of Arts, Hue University, to help survey and research the history, as well as provide consultation on ideas, design and implementation of the artworks.
“We want these artworks to not only be decorative paintings, but also be a distinct cultural identifier for its hamlet, reflecting its founding history, traditional crafts, folk stories, and community memories, and the identity of the ancient Bao Vinh quarter. Each mural must have artistic and educational values, encourage interaction with visitors and harmonize with the architectural setting of the ancient quarter,” said Mr. Phan Trong Nghia.
Through the murals, the stories of the hamlets are being retold in a more accessible and vivid way, while creating additional stops and experiential spaces for residents and visitors to Bao Vinh.