Saigon Marina IFC Tower lights up to mark 250 years of US Independence Day

The U.S. Consulate General in the city, in collaboration with Sovico Group, one of Vietnam's major private conglomerates, organized a large-scale light projection on the landmark tower at 2 Ton Duc Thang Street in Saigon Ward as part of the 'Freedom 250' celebration.

The light show ran from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm on July 4 and will return from 6:00 pm to midnight on July 10, featuring projections celebrating the friendship and partnership between Vietnam and the United States.

According to the U.S. Consulate General, this July marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the 31st anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The commemorative light show comes as Vietnam and the U.S. continue to deepen bilateral ties.

Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam has welcomed several senior U.S. officials, including Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Luke J. Lindberg, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, and, most recently, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao.

The U.S., in turn, welcomed Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam during his visit in February for the opening of the U.S.-led Board of Peace.

On Saturday evening, the light show drew crowds of residents and tourists, many of whom stopped to watch the display.

Many photographed and filmed the light show as images and messages appeared across the tower's facade.

Hanh, a resident of Gia Dinh Ward, said she was surprised to see the U.S. flag projected onto a skyscraper against the city's skyline for the first time.

She said the images of Vietnam's top leader Lam and U.S. President Trump were especially striking, reflecting the growing friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

In a related development, the U.S. Consulate General has announced the launch of the 'Freedom 250' photo contest.

People aged 18 and older residing in Vietnam can participate by posting a public selfie in front of Saigon Marina IFC Tower on their Facebook accounts and tagging the U.S. Consulate General's Facebook page.

The contest will run from July 8 to July 12, with the five best entries receiving prizes at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City.