Three canvases painted by the staff at the U.S. Consulate General to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vietnamese-U.S. diplomatic relations are being displayed at the Consulate General.

In the middle of the week, staff at the U.S. Consulate General took time to work with artists from the Ben Thanh Art and Frame company to finish the three pictures, the U.S. Consulate General said in a press release on March 19.

The three paintings depict Washington D.C., Ho Chi Minh City, and a specially designed logo that celebrates the twentieth anniversary of re-establishing diplomatic relations.

The preparations for the project began two months ago, when the Consulate General decided to highlight the 20th anniversary through artwork. 

A number of designs were considered and the choice was made to depict Washington D.C. and Ho Chi Minh City, specifically, through a mix of famous iconic buildings.

Artists Nguyen Hai Anh, Le Anh Can, and Nguyen T. Hoai Thuong helped organize the project, and showed Consulate General staff how to paint the canvases. 

"It is an important anniversary and we have a lot to celebrate," said Consul General Rena Bitter. "As Secretary of State Kerry said on his most recent visit to Vietnam, no two countries have come further together faster than the United States and Vietnam.”

“Significant groundwork for the anniversary was laid in 2013 when President Sang and President Obama agreed to a Comprehensive Partnership between our two countries, identifying areas in which we have been cooperating, and will continue to cooperate,” she added. “Our 20th anniversary celebrations highlight this cooperation, and are taking place throughout the country during the whole year." The paintings will hang at the Consulate General in a public area of the visa section, where many Vietnamese will have a chance to see them. 

Below are some photos captured at the event provided  by the U.S. Consulate General: