Absence of portrait artists leaves sense of loss around iconic Hanoi lake

The traditional portrait-painting activity has long been popular with residents and domestic and international visitors, forming part of the distinctive atmosphere of Hoan Kiem Lake. 

The incident began on October 3, when artists working in the area had their permits confiscated and were instructed to stop painting and leave the site.

Since then, no artists have been issued new permits to practise portrait painting in the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian area and its surrounding streets.

The artists subsequently submitted applications for new permits, but none had been granted by Tuesday.

The Culture and Social Affairs Division of Hoan Kiem Ward on Tuesday held a meeting to discuss the artists’ participation in portrait-painting activities in the pedestrian area and its surroundings.

Thirteen artists attended the meeting.

Nguyen Ngoc Ha, head of the division, explained that the artists’ permits had expired on January 1, and that the ward had not yet reissued them.

She clarified that the permits confiscated on October 3 were already expired.

“Although their permits had expired, we still allowed the artists to continue working for around six months,” she said.

“This was intended to give us time to conduct a comprehensive assessment and review before issuing new permits.”

After nearly two hours of discussion, the two sides began to reach a common understanding.

The artists expressed support for the ward’s plans to assess and review the activity before issuing new permits to those who regularly paint portraits in the pedestrian area around the iconic lake.

The artists said each had their own personal circumstances.

Some are living with illnesses, others are raising four young children, while some have no family members to rely on.

Despite these challenges, they share a love for Hanoi and Hoan Kiem Lake and hope to earn enough from their work to support themselves and their families.

They also pledged to comply fully with the ward’s regulations if they were allowed to resume painting.

These include sitting only in designated locations and ensuring that easels, advertising signs and painting equipment meet standardized size requirements to preserve the lakeside landscape.

Artists also proposed publicly displaying their prices to ensure transparency and prevent misconduct that could damage the area’s reputation among residents and tourists.

“If we are allowed to resume our activities, we will comply with Hoan Kiem Ward’s regulations,” one artist said.

“We are also willing to take part in charitable initiatives to contribute to the community, such as teaching painting to disadvantaged children.”

Ha acknowledged the artists’ views and said the division would report the meeting’s discussions to the ward’s leadership.

Absence of familiar sight

Kim Phuong, a resident of Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam Ward, said she had not seen the artists for quite some time.

She described feeling a sense of loss at the disappearance of a familiar sight around Hoan Kiem Lake.

Nguyen Thi Hien, a 70-year-old resident of Vinh Tuy Ward, said she had previously seen portrait artists whenever she visited the lake.

Their absence had left her feeling that something familiar was missing from the area.

Hoai Linh, 18, said she had visited Hoan Kiem Lake many times and had previously sat for a portrait there.

She felt that something was missing now that the artists were no longer around.

“When I was 10, my family visited Hoan Kiem Lake, and my parents let me have a portrait drawn,” she recounted.

“It was a memorable experience.

“Now that the artists are no longer there, I feel quite disappointed.

“I think that if the activity is organized again, the artists should be assigned to a designated area and placed under the supervision of local authorities.”