The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaics are the longest in the world at 6.5 KM or 4 miles.
We were intrigued and determined to see them up close during our visit.
Hanoi Highlights: The Longest Mosaic in the World
The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural was conceptualized by Nguyen The Thuy in 2007. They were completed in time for Hanoi’s millennial celebration in 2010. You can’t miss them on the drive from the airport into Hanoi.
If you only see them that way, you’ve missed experiencing the longest mosaic in the world as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The Hanoi mosaics show different periods of Vietnamese history, iconic scenes, tributes from other countries and other designs. Artists in the nearby village of Bat Trang made the tiles.
The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaics are along one of the mail highways in Hanoi.
We walked to the mosaics from the Hanoi Opera house—it’s just a few blocks away and viewed them from across the street first. We were on a highway with motorbikes, cars and trucks whizzing by and beeping (you have to get used to the beeping in Hanoi).
It is best to see them from across the highway as well as up close.
The mosaics ran along the famous Long Bien Bridge originally built by Gustav Eiffel, more famous for the Eiffel Town and the Statue of Liberty. The bridge was bombed during the Vietnam War and then restored.
Hanoi Ceramic Mosaics up close.
Tips for Going to See the Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural
The Murals of Hanoi
The murals of Hanoi, officially called the Vietnam-Korea Joint Project Public Art for Better Space (NGHE THUAT), is a joint Hanoi street art project between Vietnamese and Korean Artists. These murals are painted in the arches under the Hanoi railway. We loved the optical illusions in these murals—many people take pictures interacting with the murals as if they were real scenes.
Hanoi Murals
Tips for Going to see The Murals of Hanoi
Here are the 10 Best Hotels in Hanoi to stay in while you visit the murals.
Murals of Hanoi. Sue interacts with the Calligraphy writer
Street Art and Graffiti
Part of the fun of Hanoi street art is in the discovery. Most of the tags (see below) are on construction sites and easy to see, but the street art murals are harder to find. Keep your eyes out for narrow streets and alleyways—sometimes you’ll find all of the houses covered in murals.
Hanoi Graffiti Tag on a wall. The tags in Hanoi were very elaborate.
Hanoi Street Art at 221 Pho Nguyen Khuyen
Hanoi Street art at 221 Pho Nguyen Khuyen
Scenes from Hanoi Street art. Looks like the pagoda in middle of Hoan Kiem Lake
Hanoi Street art by the train tracks
Interested in Street art around the World? Check out:
London: Shoreditch Street Art-Banksy & More
Downtown LA Arts District Must See Los Angeles Murals
Where is your favorite Street Art? Please leave a comment.
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I have never thought of Hanoi as a street art hotspot. I did see a small section of the mosaics last time I was there though. Clearly I need to go back again and check them out – oh, and eat all the food!
Ho Chi Minh City os much more of a street art place, but Hanoi has some interesting street art. I agree–the food in Hanoi is great.
The mural is just amazing! Is there some kind of tourist map/trail for it?
Unfortunately, we could not find a map. We wandered and found some of the street art. You can also use the addresses that we put in the post into google maps and it will help you to find.
Love the street art there in Hanoi. Thanks for the tips in regards to the Mosaic. A great article thanks for sharing.
Jane-Thanks. The mosaics are definitely worth seeing up close.
Loving this info…
Thanks