In celebration of World Water Day on 19 March 2026, the Department of Water Resources Management/Viet Nam Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) co-organised in Hanoi the closing and award ceremony of a nationwide painting contest on initiatives for safe and efficient water, in partnership with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Viet Nam and Phuc Dien Secondary School.
The event was part of two projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under its International Waters programme, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and executed by IUCN. The two freshwater projects are “Fostering water and environmental security in the Neun - Ca and Ma rivers transboundary river basins and related coastal areas” and “Enhancing sustainability of the transboundary Cambodia – Mekong River Delta Aquifer” (CMDA).
The DWRM/MAE and UNICEF launched the painting contest “Initiatives for safe and efficient water use” from October through December 2025. The contest was for students aged from 6 to 15 to raise awareness among Vietnamese children about saving water, using it efficiently, and protecting water resources. The contest attracted over 60,000 entries from approximately 300 primary and lower secondary schools nationwide. Notably, many submissions came from localities heavily affected by storms and floods such as Thai Nguyen and Gia Lai, reflecting students’ strong interest and engagement in clean water and water security issues.
Photos by IUCN Viet Nam
The contest attracted not only a remarkable number of entries, but also an impressive diversity in quality, creativity, and forms of expression. Through vivid and imaginative artworks, students conveyed powerful messages on water conservation, resource protection, pollution reduction, and equitable access to clean water. Many submissions went beyond artistic merit, offering thoughtful and innovative ideas that can help inspire greater awareness of the shared responsibility to safeguard water resources - an essential foundation for life and sustainable development.
Photos by IUCN Viet Nam
At the ceremony, Mr. Chau Tran Vinh, Director General of DWRM/MEA stated,
“Communications, education, and raising public awareness, especially among younger generations, are of critical importance. Therefore, this painting contest Initiatives for safe and efficient water use is not merely an extracurricular activity, but also a creative communications approach that enables students to engage with water resource issues through their own emotions, thinking, and sense of responsibility. Investing in education and raising awareness about water resources is also an investment in long-term national water security”.
The event brought together nearly 2,000 participants, including representatives from government agencies, international organizations, water experts, award-winning individuals and groups, as well as students, teachers, and media representatives. Through the contest, the message about safe and efficient water use reached more than 1 million teachers, parents, and students nationwide, contributing to increased community awareness, especially among the younger generation.
In addition to the award ceremony, the programme featured various activities for student engagement, such as an exhibition of contest entries, a panel discussion titled “Children’s voices on water resources,” performances, and a “Golden Bell Challenge” quiz competition on water resource knowledge.
The event not only honoured outstanding artwork and creative ideas from young artists, but also strongly promoted the message of safe, economical, and efficient water use, helping raise community awareness about protecting this precious resource for today and future generations.
Photos by DWRM/MAE
About the contest, see video
About the project
Fostering Water and Environmental Security in the Neun – Ca and Ma Transboundary River Basins and Related Coastal Areas (the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam) is the first bilateral Global Environment Facility (GEF) project between Lao PDR and Viet Nam, focusing on the shared rivers of Neun – Ca and Ma during 2024-2028.
The project aims to enable Viet Nam and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to address freshwater resource management and ecosystem health in the transboundary Neun – Ca and Ma river basins and coastal zones by advancing transboundary cooperation and action.
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The “Enhancing sustainability of the transboundary Cambodia – Mekong River Delta Aquifer” (CMDA) project is Southeast Asia's largest transboundary aquifer initiative under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters (IW) focal area, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Governments of Cambodia and Viet Nam who are represented respectively by GDEP/MOE and DWRM/MAE. IUCN serves as the lead executing agency, with UNESCO and the Mekong Region Futures Institute (MERFI) as co-executing partners.
The five-year project (2023 – 2028) is designed to ensure sustainable groundwater management across the shared aquifer system of Cambodia and Viet Nam. The project aims to enhance environmental sustainability and water security in the Lower Mekong Basin by focusing on improved governance and the sustainable utilisation of the Cambodia-Mekong River Delta transboundary aquifer.
Related content:
- https://iucn.org/our-work/region/asia/countries/viet-nam/fostering-water-and-environmental-security-neun-ca-and-ma
- https://iucn.org/our-work/region/asia/countries/viet-nam/enhancing-sustainability-transboundary-cambodia-mekong
For more information, please contact: Duc Tuan Nguyen: tuan.nguyenduc@iucn.org & Nguyen Thuy Anh: thuyanh.NGUYEN@iucn.org
Words by IUCN Viet Nam, Jamie Kemsey