Thanks to the initiative of three students, 100 old and dirty manhole covers in Ho Chi Minh City have been transformed into colorful paintings that both beautify the surroundings and inspire the community's love for a green environment.

Driving along Truong Sa Street in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City since early October, one can see a small group of young people painting manhole covers on the side of the road.

The group includes three young students: Duong Quoc Thang, Pham Dinh Hai Quan from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, and Tran To Quyen from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

These days, the weather in Ho Chi Minh City is constantly changing and it rains unexpectedly during the day, so the group members have to work harder than usual.

"We take advantage of the first hours of the morning to draw. When it rains heavily, we run to nearby houses for shelter," Quan said.

"We do our best to beautify the manhole covers, hoping that our work will not only help decorate the street but also encourage locals to stop littering."

In the creative hands of the young artists, cute drawings have gradually emerged, along with meaningful messages such as 'Release fish, but not garbage' or 'Shame on you for littering on the street.'

The painted manhole covers along the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal have captured the attention of many people who walk or drive through the street every day.

Vu Duy Chinh, a resident of Ward 7, Phu Nhuan District, praised the renewed manhole covers.

"I am happy to see projects that both beautify the streets and help reduce garbage, which is very good," Chinh said.

The group of young artists worked with the People's Committee of Ward 2 in Phu Nhuan District to ornament the manhole covers.

"We will put up three large murals along Truong Sa Street to prevent illegal drawings," Tran Huu Thien, chairman of the Ward 2 People's Committee, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

"We will also launch a campaign to plant trees around the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal to create a green and beautiful space for the community."

It may come as a surprise that the road along the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal was once a 'black spot' for illegal garbage dumping.

To solve the problem, young artists have decided to promote their love for a clean environment through art.

With bright colors, they paint drawings of the earth and activities to protect the planet on the manhole covers.

The young artists hope to spread their messages of environmental protection, green living, and building a livable city for everyone.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!