Hanoi to reposition calligraphy writing street at Temple of Literature

During the coming new lunar year festival (Tet), the calligraphy writing street at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi will be organised at Literature Lake (Ho Van) in the temple, according to Truong Minh Tien, Vice Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The calligraphy writing activities take place every Tet for over a decade on the pavement along Van Mieu Street, Dong Da district, Hanoi. (Credit: vietnamnet.vn)
The calligraphy writing activities take place every Tet for over a decade on the pavement along Van Mieu Street, Dong Da district, Hanoi. (Credit: vietnamnet.vn)

The calligraphy writing activities, which have taken place every Tet for over a decade on the pavement along Van Mieu Street, Dong Da district, Hanoi, often causes congestion during the busy last days of the year, thus this year’s repositioning will help ensure order and traffic safety, Tien said.

The activities will be organised from February 8 to March 5 under the theme ‘At Mui Spring Calligraphy Festival’ by the Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam Scientific and Cultural Activities Centre and the Vietnam UNESCO Calligraphy Club.

There will be one to two ‘ong do’ (calligrapher) each in about 100 booths wearing traditional costumes, writing and selling nice words in calligraphy to customers. The calligraphers will be certified by other well-known calligraphers.

Along with the calligraphy writing activities, a calligraphy exhibition themed ‘Encouraging Study’ showcasing 70 calligraphy works by famous calligraphers will be held.

The fine Tet custom of calligraphy is preserved through such activities when Tet comes. Visitors often ask calligraphers to write nice words in calligraphy with the hope of bringing health, prosperity, good luck, promotions, and good academic results to their homes and to use them as decorations for the Tet holiday.