HÀ NỘI — Graffiti allegedly by expatriates has sprang up across Hà Nội’s Tây Hồ District and a 2km flood wall on Nghi Tàm, Âu Cơ and Yên Phụ streets.

After being reported, Yên Phụ Commune People’s Committee began identifying the graffiti artists and erased some paintings. However, only a week later, new graffiti appeared at both new and old spots.

Residents on Âu Cơ Street have been angered as their doors and walls were painted over.

Even banks and companies in the area faced the same situation.

Đào Quang Lộc, 50, in Quảng An Commune, Tây Hồ District, told Thanh niên (Young people) newspaper that even houses in alley were graffitied.

Some paintings were done three months ago.

“At the beginning, people were really annoyed but now we are used to it. Viewing security cameras, it turns out the painters are foreigners,” said Lộc.

According to Nguyễn Thị Hạnh in Tứ Liên District, her house’s main gate was written over on the third day of the Lunar New Year (February 7).

“The security camera shows that the painter is a middle-aged foreign man, going solo,” said Hạnh.

Hoàng Xuân Sáng, head of Yên Phụ Commune People’s Committee, said before Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) holiday, they worked with Tứ Liên Commune to erase graffiti on electricity boxes and in public areas but new paintings kept appearing.

“They are mostly done by foreigners at twilight. We asked the commune police to investigate and reported the case to the district’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism for more efficient solutions,” said Sáng. — VNS