Tam Thanh : A Walk Through Vietnam’s First Mural Village

devanandpaul
Nov 6
4 min read

Updated: Nov 7

Discover Tam Thanh Mural Village, Vietnam’s first mural village (near Hoi An)—a colourful coastal community where art has transformed lives and walls tell stories.

It was a bright morning when I left the ancient town of Hoi An, following a narrow coastal road that meandered through rice fields, salt pans, and tiny fishing hamlets. My destination lay just 45 km south—a quiet seaside village called Tam Thanh.

A fisherman preparing his boat and nets moments before setting out for fishing

At first glance, Tam Thanh looks like any other coastal village—modest homes, winding lanes, and the familiar scent of drying fish mixed with sea breeze . But as I walked farther into the village, the walls of its buildings came alive with beautiful paintings, each portraying a story.

Welcome to Tam Thanh, Vietnam’s first mural village.

Turning homes into living canvases

The mural art of Tam Thanh began in June 2016, when Vietnamese and South Korean artists collaborated under the Korea Foundation’s Art for a Better Community project. Their goal was simple yet transformative: to bring art to people, not in galleries, but on the very walls of their buildings.

The artists collaborated with local families, turning stories of their life, work, and culture into vivid wall paintings. Today, over 100 murals adorn the village.

Walking Through the Murals

The best way to experience Tam Thanh is on foot. Camera in hand, I explored the village at my own pace.

At the entrance, my eyes were drawn to rows of old circular basket boats (called coracles) transformed into vibrant canvases, each depicting life at sea—fishermen casting nets, sailboats at sunset, schools of fish.

Then I noticed something even more creative—old wooden oars set up as a canvas, on which was a painting of four people on a sandy beach, wearing conical hats, tending to their fishing activities, the sea, and two fishing vessels in the distance, as the background, giving life to the scene.

Another set of oars nearby sported a colourful fish painted across it.

Here, I share a few murals that truly caught my eye, grouped under four themes:

Daily life of fishermen
Life and imagination
Underwater wonders
Landscapes

Daily life of fishermen

Fishermen returning at dusk, the sky, and water, glowing in shades of orange and yellow

A fisherman’s family selling its fresh catch in the morning

Fishermen hauling their heavy nets, their bodies taut with effort (the imagery embodies the rhythm of life at sea)

Fishermen venturing into rough waters, braving the wild, untamed waves crashing against their boat

A fisherman’s family processing the day’s catch

Life and Imagination

A tropical beach scene framed within a ship’s wheel—a boat with two fishermen sailing in the distance, swaying palms, kites flying, and a beach chair with an umbrella on a sandy shore

A glass bottle with a yellow paper boat inside, drifting on sea—a poetic symbol of journeys and dreams

A portrait of South Korean coach Park Hang-seo, celebrated for leading the Vietnamese U23 football team

A person sporting checked pants, a patterned sweater, and a hat, seated and painting delicate butterflies across a wall

Children, energetic and carefree, playing football

Underwater Wonders

A vibrant underwater scene with a large turtle in the centre, surrounded by colourful fishes, and coral and other marine life at the bottom

A purple octopus encircled by dolphins, a turtle, fishes, and various other marine life, set against rolling waves. There is also an overflowing treasure chest!

Currents of life—a swirling blue spiral filled with blue and white-and-yellow fishes and bubbles, creating a dynamic underwater movement

A depiction of marine life—a majestic whale gliding underwater amidst vibrant coral and fishes

A mermaid with a striped tail and flowing red hair, sitting amidst coral, starfish, and other brightly coloured fishes

Landscapes

A woman’s face framed by cacti and orange flowers, evoking a desert scene

A giraffe reaching for leaves against the backdrop of a blue sky and rolling green hills

Two hands, one holding pearls, set against a cracked wall with exposed bricks, a gradient sky background, and small plants with pink flowers

Cacti and palm trees creating a tropical-inspired landscape

Life Amidst the Murals

Wandering through the village, I met locals whose warm smiles bridged the language barrier. Many eagerly shared the stories behind the murals. The artwork has certainly given the community pride and a renewed identity.

After my mural walk, I headed to Tam Thanh Beach, a stretch of golden sand along the South China Sea. Unlike crowded tourist spots, the place was serene, only the gentle rhythm of waves breaking the silence.

A Village Transformed

The transformation of public spaces into open-air art galleries has not only boosted tourism but helped preserve Vietnam’s cultural heritage. The success of Tam Thanh has inspired other villages in Quang Nam Province to adopt the mural project, this time exclusively by Vietnamese artists.

Small businesses have flourished—new guesthouses, restaurants, and souvenir shops have popped up to cater to visitors. Residents who once depended solely on fishing now have alternative sources of income.

Some places impress us, some entertain; only a few linger in our memory. Tam Thanh is the latter.

Two koi fish swimming among lotus blossoms

Tam Thanh reminds me that beauty is not always in grand landmarks; sometimes, it quietly waits in hidden corners of the world, ready to be discovered.