At the Lunar New Year, Hanoi’s Temple of Literature becomes a place Vietnamese people come to get a calligraphic word in a hope for good luck for the whole year
Performances of folk art at the Calligraphy Festival near Literature Lake at Hanoi’s Temple of Literature
Many foreign tourists come to learn more about Vietnam’s Lunar New Year tradition and customs
This year’s Calligraphy Festival drew 63 calligraphers, exhibited 34 artworks, and offered many sideline activities: a re-enactment of traditional entrance exam, traditional handicrafts and paintings, folk games, food courts…
Calligraphic words are displayed at home in the hope of enjoying a lucky, happy, healthy, and peaceful year. Calligraphers select appropriate words based on a person’s purpose and age
Children, students, and young adults usually ask for words of Wisdom, Intelligence, Understanding, and Achievement to bring greater for knowledge and success in exams. Older people usually ask for words of Peace, Happiness, Morality, and Heartedness to bring for a year full of peace and family happiness
A female calligrapher draws a word

Calligraphers use dryers to make the ink dry more quickly
Kim Hoang folk paintings are loved by many children
Kids learn more about calligraphic drawing and coloring
Folk woodcut paintings draw children’s interest
A wide range of products are offered at the festival
Poonah notebooks of Bac Ninh traditional handicraft village
Traditional toy figurines (To he)
O An Quan, a folk game

Tug of war
Chung cake wrapping competition
The Calligraphy Festival ends on February 25