Long Biên Bridge by Trần Diệp Anh, 11.

HÀ NỘI – A painting of Hà Nội's Long Biên Bridge won the top prize at the painting contest Green City in the Future, organised by the Kim Đồng Publishing House in co-ordination with the Hà Nội Council of the Hồ Chí Minh Young Pioneers Organisation.

The winner, Trần Diệp Anh, 11, from Cầu Giấy District's Yên Hòa School, said she was impressed by the trees below Long Biên Bridge and she wished the city would have more trees in the future.

The awards ceremony and exhibition of excellent artworks took place yesterday in Hà Nội’s Trung Yên Primary School.

Launched in September last year for the first time, the contest received more than 30,000 entries from students of 200 primary schools in the capital.

The participants had to describe their dream city with green spaces or suggest ideas to make the living environment clean, safe and green.

Trần Diệp Anh, 11, talks about her inspiration for the painting of Long Biên Bridge. VNS Photo Minh Thu

A green city was an attractive subject for the children, according to painter Phạm Hà Hải, member of the judge.

“Most of the paintings show joyful angles, bright colours and interesting ideas of a dream city. The contestants used various kinds of materials such as watercolours, crayons, acrylic and recycled materials.

“The entrants express good observation and knowledge on the history and culture of the city. Their artworks reflect popular symbols of Hà Nội such as Long Biên Bridge, the Temple of Literature and Sword Lake,” said Hải.

“We believe that the contest can help the children nurture the love for the city where they are living in and become an inspiration for the entire society to join hands to protect the existing beauty of Hà Nội,” he said. VNS