LÝ SƠN — More than 20 murals featuring the beauty of the marine ecosystem and various sea animals, particularly sea turtles, have been created on the exterior of the houses on Lý Sơn Island Special Zone's An Bình Island in the central province of Quảng Ngãi. 

The mural is an initiative implemented by environmental campaigners from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the AkzoNobel, the Lý Sơn Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management Board and Quảng Ngãi Fisheries Association

It is part of a project aiming to improve awareness of the community and tourists on the importance of marine ecosystem protection and conservation in the area.

About 10 artists have joint in the project since November last year to complete the creation. A ceremony was held on Sunday to hand over the murals to An Bình local households and Lý Sơn authority.

 

Under the project themed 'Born to be Wild', the murals help create a more vibrant and attractive landscape for An Bình Island, support tourism development, reduce pressure on marine resources and improve livelihoods, according to the organisers. 

The project has also restored community spaces and mural artworks created in 2017 and 2018 that had deteriorated due to the island’s harsh weather conditions.

AkzoNobel supplied nearly 10,000 litres of Dulux colour paint. Through the project, the company is advancing its Let’s Colour initiative in Việt Nam. This is a global programme launched in 2009 to improve living spaces and support communities through colour.

From October 2025 to February 2026, environment campaigners and their partners had finished an extensive renovation of An Binh Island, covering more than 17,000 sq.m. This included repainting 83 houses, An Vĩnh Kindergarten and Primary School.

Alongside the renovation of An Bình Island, IUCN, Quảng Ngãi Fisheries Association, and Lý Sơn MPA Management Board, ran awareness-raising and outreach activities on marine ecosystem conservation, sea turtle protection and plastic pollution reduction.

Lê Công Bình, a fisherman on An Bình told Việt Nam News he was very happy to see his the walls of his house and the neighbour's painted with lively and eye-catching images about the sea and animals.

"My family members, particularly children, are very excited with the murals," Bình said.

"Through such beautiful pictures, we all feel proud but also responsible to participate more in activities to protect the sea environment."

Meanwhile, Bùi Thị Đảnh who is owner of the homestay Minh Vy, said when she posted the pictures online, many tourists expressed their delight and decided to book rooms to have the opportunity to visit and experience it.

"Business has also become more successful than before," she told Việt Nam News.

Jake Brunner, Head of IUCN’s Lower Mekong Sub-region, said: “The collaboration with AkzoNobel reflects our long-standing commitment to marine conservation through multistakeholder partnerships involving government agencies, businesses, communities" and civil society organisations."

He added that by revitalising living spaces while creating murals about marine ecosystems, it offers a creative approach to raise awareness among residents and visitors about protecting marine life and coastal resources.

 AkzoNobel and IUCN will continue strengthening marine conservation efforts not only in Lý Sơn SZ but also across other MPAs including Côn Đảo, Hòn Cau, Chàm Islands, Núi Chúa National Park and beyond.

Replicable activities include mural paintings, environmental education, bycatch-reduction training for fishers, knowledge exchange programmes, volunteer engagement and technical support.

Nguyễn Mỹ Lan, AkzoNobel's Unit Director, Decorative Paint, ASEAN believed that through 'Let’s Colour' and partnership with IUCN, the project is not simply repainting walls but contributing to preserving cultural and natural heritage while raising awareness about protecting marine environments.

The 'Colours of the Year 2026 – The Rhythm of Blues™' initiative also served as a reminder of the ocean’s calm beauty and its invaluable significance to An Bình Island, according to Lan.

Both parties aim to continue implementing conservation and environmental protection projects in marine protected areas and national parks nationwide, contributing to the global 'Let’s Colour' initiative, which encourages community participation and creates positive social impact.

An Bình Island is about 1sq. km in size and home to more than 100 households. Although it is a small island, it is among top choices of many domestic and international tourists looking for a tropical getaway. 

With about a 45-minute drive to Sa Kỳ Port from the city of Quảng Ngãi and another 15 minutes by boat to the island, visitors can have a holiday overwhelming at times to enjoy wild beach and view of volcanic sedimentary rock millions of years old. 

The volcanic rock formations on An Bình have been covered in the lush green of coconut, casuarina, pineapple, sea almond, onion and garlic trees.

With its many long stretches of white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, the island still retains its pristine and majestic beauty amidst the open sea, making it an attractive destination for tourists. — VNS