The World Records Union (WorldKings) has officially awarded a World Record certificate to the 'Map of Vietnam,' a distinctive masterpiece crafted from over 115,000 bamboo toothpicks.

Conceptualized by a Vietnamese architect, this incredible artwork was meticulously created over eight months, with the collaborative efforts of nearly 12,000 individuals.

Hoang Tuan Long, the visionary behind the 'Map of Vietnam' artwork, was presented with the well-deserved World Record certificate on Saturday.

The certificate was officially granted by the Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings) and the Vietnam Record Association, acting under the authorization of WorldKings.

The architect was honored with the title ‘The Author of 'Map of Vietnam'’ – The bamboo toothpick artwork created by the largest number of people in the world, as reported by WorldKings.

Under Long's leadership, the unique map of Vietnam measuring 1.8m x 2.8m was meticulously crafted from over 115,000 bamboo toothpicks by a remarkable collaboration of 11,898 individuals.

This incredible endeavor spanned more than 240 days and took place across 10 locations in four provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Thua Thien-Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City.

The participants included individuals from schools, museums, pagodas, churches, festivals, and various public places in the localities visited by Long and his team during their journey from April 6 to November 12 of this year.

The map was crafted in the Bamboo Acrylic Art (Boarc) style, a technique that seamlessly integrates bamboo toothpick material with contemporary laser-cut Mica pieces, as detailed by WorldKings.

On the west side of the map, intricate patterns inspired by the Dong Son bronze drum adorn the surface. This iconic design reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Dong Son civilization, which existed from 700 BC to 100 AD among the ancient Vietnamese people.

At the top of the artwork, the Vietnamese words ‘Non sông Việt Nam’ (‘Country of Vietnam’) are prominently displayed, adding a meaningful and patriotic touch to the piece.

This remarkable achievement also earned the architect a Vietnamese record certificate from Vietkings, recognizing it as ‘the Map of Vietnam, a bamboo toothpick work created by the largest number of people across northern, central, and southern Vietnam."

The record holder shared with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that his extraordinary map will be showcased at BoArc Gallery in Ho Chi Minh City's downtown District 1, or it may also find a place in select museums in the near future.

Later on, he plans to grant authorization to Vietkings for the auction of the artwork, with the proceeds dedicated to assisting approximately 20 orphans residing at Quan Am Pagoda in southern Dong Nai Province, as well as other children facing similar circumstances in different localities.

"It is the orphans who motivate me to undertake community projects, including the creation of this map," Long confided.

The architect expressed his readiness to embark on two additional art projects in the near future, including a depiction of Vietnam's Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, measuring 0.8 x 2 meters, and a world map with dimensions of 2.5 x 5 meters.

Long said he would appeal to everybody to continue supporting him in making the two new works.

This marks the second occasion that Long, a graduate with a master's degree in architecture from the Belarusian National Technical University, has set a world record in the field of art.

In 2020, he was recognized by WorldKings as ‘The first person who created and built miniature models of many famous architectural heritage works in the world using Boarc Art."

Two years later, Long achieved another milestone by setting an Asia Record for ‘Mandala Universe,’ a Boarc-style painting crafted from 27,000 bamboo sticks over a period of three months.

The 49-year-old architect, a native of Ho Chi Minh City, is also the creative mind behind numerous renowned toothpick architectural models in Vietnam.

Notable examples include the Mot Cot (One-Pillar) pagoda in Hanoi, Ngo Mon (Meridian Gate) in Hue City, and Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, among others.

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