At a new parent orientation day at United Nations International School of Hanoi in 2019, a Vietnamese parent touring campus looked around the school’s library and suggested bringing more Vietnamese culture to the space through decoration.

“We’re located in Hanoi, Vietnam. But when you’re on campus, it could be anywhere,” says Emma Silva, former Director of Advancement.

“Especially in the library,” adds Hà Đinh, Philanthropy Manager.

The parent, an owner of a local gallery that showcases authentic Vietnamese artifacts, proposed donating baskets to hang from the library’s ceiling. What happened next sparked the three-year development of the UNIS Cultural Collection, an on-campus museum and learning resource to explore Vietnamese heritage.



Initially, the donor and her business partner at the gallery gave 204 artifacts—including baskets, clothing, arrowheads, and rice cutters, representing 13 of the country’s 54 ethnic groups.