Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural

The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural runs along the Red River dyke wall in Hanoi, Vietnam, along Tran Nhat Duat, Tran Quang Khai, Yen Phu and Nghi Tam streets, from the Long Bien area north towards Tay Ho. Created for the city's millennium celebrations in 2010, it covers about four kilometres of the dyke in ceramic tesserae and was recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest ceramic mosaic in the world. Many of the tiles were made in the nearby Bat Trang ceramic village.

Sections were designed by Vietnamese and international artists and move between traditional Dong Ho folk motifs, Dong Son bronze drum patterns, dragons, historical scenes, children's drawings and contemporary abstraction. Visitors walk along the wall and see the changing panels, with themes of Vietnamese history, culture and daily life set in bright blues, yellows, reds and earth tones. A representative stretch takes 30 to 60 minutes to walk, and the whole length is far longer than most visitors attempt.

The condition varies along the mural. Some panels have weathered, been covered by posters or graffiti, or been damaged by construction, and restoration campaigns run periodically. The mural runs beside a busy road, so the pavement side is the safe place to walk, and parked motorbikes, vendors and traffic noise are common. Access is open 24 hours and free of charge.

Early morning is the best time, when traffic on the dyke road is lighter and the light is even, which suits photography of the tile detail. Midday sun glares off the ceramic surfaces, and summer heat makes a long walk tiring. The section near the Long Bien Bridge is easy to reach on foot from Dong Xuan Market and combines well with the bridge and the Old Quarter. Cyclists and motorbike riders also use the dyke, and the road above gives views over the river and the sandbank farms below.