On Friday afternoon, May 16, 2025, a crowd gathered at Eden Center in Falls Church Virginia to witness the transformation of the wall under the iconic Eden Center clock tower into a vibrant open-air exhibit. The mural, Still We Rise, created by 17-year-old Nhung “Marilyn” Phan of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland, is a bold tribute to perseverance, migration, and cultural pride.
A Visual Journey of Hope and Heritage
Marilyn Phan’s mural bursts with color and symbolism. At its heart are wings shaped like a phoenix, meeting at a traditional conical nón lá hat—a recognizable emblem of Vietnamese culture. Below, waves roll under a wooden fishing boat, recalling the perilous journeys many refugees undertook after 1975. On the left side of the mural, nestled among lotus blossoms and bamboo stalks, appears the iconic Chợ Bến Thành market from Ho Chi Minh City. To the right, the familiar red-and-gold gateway of Eden Center stands proudly, representing the community’s new home. Paper lanterns and doves in flight add layers of meaning, suggesting both celebration and a yearning for peace.
Speaking to those assembled, Phan explained, “This piece marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. It highlights the strength of Vietnamese American families—from those who left by sea or air decades ago to the vibrant communities thriving here today.” Over 120 hours of drawing, color-mixing, and painting went into building Still We Rise, most of it done in Phan’s parents’ garage before transporting the panels to Eden Center for installation. While Marilyn has dabbled in digital art, she remains devoted to the tactile experience of pencils and acrylics.
Community Voices at the Unveiling
The ceremony opened with the deep resonance of a traditional gong. Graham Eddy, Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Eden Center, offered a warm introduction. “We are grateful to Marilyn for entrusting her powerful vision to Eden Center,” he said. Eddy highlighted that this mural aligns with a long-standing goal of Douglas Ebenstein, President of Capital Commercial Properties and one of Eden Center’s main proprietors. “Douglas has always seen Eden Center as more than a collection of stores,” Eddy noted. “He views it as a cultural hub where traditions can be shared and preserved.”
Minh Pham, founder of PSK Creative and Together We Thrive, also addressed the crowd. Pham orchestrated every aspect of the project—securing funding, navigating permits, coordinating press outreach, and liaising with community partners. “This mural goes beyond aesthetics,” Pham remarked. “It carries our collective memory and reflects the solidarity that unites us. It honors the United States for offering refuge, opportunity, and a chance to rebuild.” To emphasize collaboration, Pham quoted an age-old Vietnamese proverb:
“Một cây làm chẳng nên non, ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao.”
One tree alone may not make a mountain, but together many trees form a mighty peak.
Why a Mural in 2025?
May is recognized nationwide as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month—a time to uplift stories from communities across the globe. For Vietnamese Americans, 2025 holds special resonance: it marks a half-century since the fall of Saigon. That milestone can feel both poignant and uplifting. It acknowledges past hardship while celebrating how much has been achieved since.
Stuart Holt, President and CEO of ArtsFairfax, captured this sentiment during his remarks. He explained, “Public art has an incredible ability to bring people together, to teach, and to inspire. Still We Rise adds to our region’s growing collection of murals that foster understanding and pride.” Holt’s organization helped amplify the project across arts-and-culture channels, ensuring that the mural’s message reached a wider audience.
Eden Center: A Beacon of Vietnamese Culture
Since 1984, when it first opened in a refurbished supermarket, Eden Center has evolved into the largest Vietnamese retail hub on the East Coast. Thanks to Douglas Ebenstein and his team at Capital Commercial Properties, the complex has intentionally cultivated a “Little Saigon” atmosphere. Today, more than 120 businesses—ranging from restaurants and bakeries to jewelers and specialty grocers—welcome thousands of visitors each week.
“We offer more than food,” said Jennifer Nguyen, proprietor of Phở Sàigòn. “We serve a sense of home and belonging.” For Nguyen and others, Still We Rise visually expresses what Eden Center has always embodied: a place where traditions are upheld, stories are shared, and the next generation is inspired.
In support of the arts, Eden Center’s management plans to host rotating exhibitions by student artists in the main concourse. “It’s important that we showcase emerging talent,” Eddy explained. “We want Eden Center to be known for nurturing future Vietnamese American artists, not just for its cuisine.”
Preserving Personal Histories
Adjacent to the mural, visitors can scan a QR code to access a digital archive. This online space invites Vietnamese immigrants and refugees to record their own stories in writing or audio format. Together We Thrive will curate these submissions as part of the Vietnamese American Legacy Project, ensuring that intimate narratives accompany Phan’s large-scale artwork.
Pham envisions this archive as an educational resource. “When students scan the code, they’ll hear firsthand accounts,” he said. “It’s one thing to read about history, but quite another to listen to someone describe their journey.” Plans are also in motion for an augmented-reality feature: by pointing a smartphone at the phoenix wings, onlookers could see archival photographs and hear recorded interviews layered over the mural.
Gratitude and Looking Forward
The unveiling concluded with a vibrant lion-dance performance, bursts of dragon-shaped confetti, and expressions of thanks:
- Douglas Ebenstein and Capital Commercial Properties, for financing the mural materials and installation.
- Graham Eddy and the Eden Center staff, for their logistical support and hospitality.
- Minh Pham and PSK Creative, for orchestrating the entire project from concept to completion.
- ArtsFairfax, for amplifying the mural’s message through their networks.
- And, of course, Nhung “Marilyn” Phan, whose creativity has forged a connection between two homelands.
Plan Your Visit
Still We Rise will remain on display at the Eden Center Clock Tower (6751 Wilson Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22044) throughout the year. Whether you stop by for fresh bánh mì, a cup of iced coffee, or specialty groceries, pause beneath the phoenix wings. Reflect on the journey from Chợ Bến Thành to Seven Corners, and consider how individual stories combine to form the larger narrative of Vietnamese American experience.
In Pham’s words, “One tree alone may sway in the wind, but together we rise like a mountain.” Thanks to a young artist’s vision, community collaboration, and Eden Center’s support, that mountain now stands boldly painted—inviting every visitor to stand a little taller, dream a little bigger, and remember that, still, we rise.