Denmark gifts over 100 'Living Green' paintings to Vietnamese child patients
On September 11, over 100 artworks from the 'Denmark in Your Eyes' contest (2025-2026) were presented by the Royal Danish Embassy in Viet Nam to pediatric patients at E Hospital.
The award ceremony was attended by Dr. Nguyen Cong Huu, Director of Hospital E; representatives of the Viet Nam - Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA); Mr. Tran Phu Cuong, Head of the Europe Department at the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; as well as patients, their families and medical staff at the hospital.
The paintings were selected from 130,000 entries submitted to the "Denmark in Your Eyes" contest for 2025-2026. Under the theme “Living Green,” the contest encouraged children to share their dreams, hopes, ideas and practical actions for a greener lifestyle and a more sustainable future. Last April, the contest announced its individual and group awards.
According to Danish Ambassador to Viet Nam Lina Gandløse Hansen, over the past 10 years, the contest has given Vietnamese children an opportunity to express their creativity and share their perspectives on a greener, more livable future. Behind each painting is a child with their own imagination, hopes and unique way of seeing the world.
“These are not simply paintings about the environment; they also reflect how the younger generation sees its future. Today, we are bringing those voices into the space of Hospital E,” the Ambassador said. “We hope these paintings will make the hospital a brighter and more welcoming place, bringing color, optimism and a sense of connection to every patient.”
Dr. Nguyen Cong Huu, Director of Hospital E, said the donated artworks not only symbolize the friendship between Viet Nam and Denmark, but also carry profound humanitarian value. They help create a “green space” where pediatric patients receiving examinations and treatment can feel less anxious and fearful, maintain a more positive spirit and recover more quickly.
The activity takes place as Viet Nam and Denmark celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, contributing to people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties between the two countries. The paintings will be displayed at the General Pediatric Department, Pediatric Cardiology Department, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Department and Department of Mental Health at Hospital E. On this occasion, the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam also donated children’s books by Danish authors and Danish toys to the hospital’s young patients.
The “Denmark in Your Eyes” contest was first organized by the Embassy of Denmark and the Viet Nam-Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA) in 2016, marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The contest has since been held every one or two years, with different themes focusing on environmental issues.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the contest. From more than 130,000 entries, the organizers awarded 86 individual prizes and seven group prizes to students nationwide.
Paintings from previous editions have also been donated to several hospitals in Hanoi, including the National Children’s Hospital, Viet Duc University Hospital, the National Hospital of Traditional Medicine, as well as several local art centers.
Phuong Linh