The activity is part of the Go Green programme, launched and jointly organised by Toyota Vietnam, the General Environment Department and the Ministry of Education and Training.

The festival aims to raise public awareness of the need to protect Vietnam’s environment to help young people develop an overall understanding of environmental pollution and prompt behavioural change to make the country greener.

Originally, at the suggestion of students and teachers from the Hanoi College of Industrial Fine Arts, a giant painting in the form of the letter U would be 112m long and 1.5m high so it could win the Vietnam Guinness title for the largest ever painting on the environment. The title used to be held by a 100m long and 1.4 m high painting in Nha Trang.

The contest organisers hope that the programme will attract over 400 young people from 20 environmental clubs, universities and colleges in Hanoi.