This was the year that UNIS Hanoi celebrated 30 Years of Learning to Inspire, and what a year it was!

It all started on the ‘first day of school’ which in 1988 was on September 19, and so we took that day to kick off our year-long celebrations. Phelix, our phoenix mascot, got the party swinging, and the students who share the same birthday with UNIS Hanoi did the honours by blowing out the candles on our giant cupcake creation!

No sooner were the candles blown out, then students, faculty and staff, all dressed in blue, were choreographed into position for the official birthday photo marking the start of a most memorable year!

Throughout the year birthday reminders punctuated our activities, including the world premiere performance of a new School anthem, specially commissioned with the support of the School Community Organisation. Middle and High School students worked with composer Dr Corey Cunningham in a collaborative project which focused on unusual harmonies to celebrate the cultural diversity of our community. One hundred and fifty-six musicians and choristes performed “Gathered Here From Every Place” just before the Tet holiday.

And the next show-stopping community event was our Spring Fair Birthday Party!

Record breaking crowds of more than 4,000 people poured onto campus to enjoy games, activities and food from around the world, with 15 different cultural tables serving up national dishes from every corner of the globe. Our festival stage entertained all day with a fantastic programme, and the special day was coordinated for the community by more than 120 volunteers. All that community power raised more than $39,000 USD to support community events, project grants and charities.

Finally, the year’s birthday celebrations culminated in a special 30th Birthday Ball which saw the Sheraton Hotel ballroom transformed by a kaleidoscope of Hoi An lanterns, representing the United Nation’s multi-coloured Sustainable Development Goals! Our UNIS Hanoi dragon kicked off the evening, which featured Cabaret performances from our talented students, parents, faculty and Dr Barder himself!

A toast to 30 Years of Learning to Inspire and a toast to the next 30!