Vietnam has achieved a historic milestone in Vietnamese lacquer art as the world’s largest single-panel lacquer painting, a true lacquer masterpiece by young Vietnamese artist Chu Nhat Quang, was officially recognized by Guinness World Records in Hanoi on September 4, 2025.
Titled “President Ho Chi Minh Reading the Declaration of Independence,” the monumental Vietnamese lacquer painting measures 2.4 meters by 7.2 meters, covering a total area of over 17 square meters and weighing approximately three tons. The artwork was completed on a single, seamless lacquer panel, marking an unprecedented achievement in the global history of lacquer painting.
One side of the painting depicts the historic moment when President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square on September 2, 1945, symbolizing the birth of an independent Vietnam. The reverse side, entitled “Spring of the Nation,” expresses the joy, aspirations for peace, and collective happiness of the Vietnamese people.
The artwork is currently showcased as a central highlight of the “Spring of Independence” exhibition at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi, alongside other large-scale Vietnamese lacquer artworks, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnam’s National Day.
Representatives of Guinness World Records have confirmed that this work is the largest unassembled lacquer painting in the world, representing a significant advancement for Vietnamese lacquer painting on the international art map. This achievement is not only a source of pride for artist Chu Nhat Quang, but also a powerful affirmation of the originality, innovation, and enduring cultural value of traditional Vietnamese lacquer art in the contemporary era.
