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On the third day of the Lunar New Year, known as the Year of the Snake (At Ty), Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam in Hanoi buzzed with excitement as crowds gathered to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere and partake in a beloved tradition: calligraphy. A long queue of visitors eagerly waiting at Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam. Photo: Duy Minh/ Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper People from all over Vietnam, along with international tourists, converged at this historic site to seek blessings for a successful, prosperous, and wise year ahead. Many arrived early, eager to explore the ancient architecture and soak in the vibrant energy of Tet, the most significant holiday in Vietnamese culture. Beyond the festive atmosphere, visitors sought the expertise of calligraphers, asking for the word of the year to be inscribed as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. A highlight of the day was the traditional calligraphy display, where skilled “ong do” (calligraphy masters) sh...

In a resignation letter submitted on December 31, 2024, to the Vinh Phuc Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and the provincial Sports Training and Competition Center, Huong (born in 2001) brought attention to the fact that she had not received medal bonuses from domestic competitions between 2022 and 2024, nor nutritional support for the year 2024. Huong respectfully yet firmly stated in her letter, “Due to personal and family circumstances, I am requesting a leave of absence from training in canoeing for Vinh Phuc Province, effective January 1, 2025.” Despite the financial setbacks and her expressed desire to step away from training for her hometown, Huong remains dedicated to her sport and continues her training with the national canoeing team in Hai Phong City. Huong is an exceptional athlete and a leading figure in Vietnamese canoeing. Her achievements include a silver medal at the 2024 Asian Canoe Sprint Championships in Japan and participation in the Paris 2024 Olympi...

The Norwegian diplomat is excited to explore the cultural similarities between their country and Vietnam during the New Year holiday, a time for family reunion. In the photo, the diplomat’s family poses for a group picture with local residents in Duong Lam. Mia Pagoda was constructed during the Tran Dynasty (1225-1406) and still houses numerous ancient artifacts. It has the largest collection of ancient statues in Vietnam, with 287 statues. Duong Lam is renowned for its architectural charm and culinary traditions, making it a must-visit destination for tourists in Hanoi. Tourists often get to taste a local specialty, chè lam cake, in the ancient houses. The cake is made from simple ingredients such as glutinous rice, mung beans, ginger, honey or sugar, and peanuts. It is a popular treat during Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. Exploring the ancient houses and experiencing the old architecture is a fantastic experience for the Norwegian diplomat’s family. ...

Posters are displayed everywhere throughout the city, some with the messages “Happy New Year 2024 – the Year of the Dragon,” “Happy New Spring,” or “Celebrating 94 Years of the Communist Party of Vietnam.” Office buildings across Hanoi are adorned in red as part of the festive celebrations. A large banner has been erected at the headquarters of the Hanoi Party Committee, displaying the message “Celebrating 94 Years of the Communist Party of Vietnam.” The festive atmosphere can be felt on every corner of the capital city. The Lunar New Year holiday is the largest celebration in Vietnam, lasting for seven days this year for State employees. Many venues have undergone major transformations to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Large posters have been placed on the main streets of the capital city to welcome the Lunar Year of the Dragon. As the new year begins, local residents are hopeful that the economy will rebound from ...

In an effort to give visitors the opportunity to learn, admire, and enjoy the Japanese sword art, the Chosen de l’art Art Auction and Sun Group signed a cooperation agreement to invest a project named the Interactive Art Space of the Japanese Sword – Art of the Samurai sword in Ha Long (Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam). Project signing ceremony (Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper). This is an international art project that was implemented by CHEN de l’art in April 2022 in Bat Trang, Hanoi. The 5 ancient swords introduced that time, were certified by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Japan Sword Art Preservation Association). The focus of the project was on the appearance of the “sacred sword” – a masterpiece dedicated to Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi (who ruled all of Japan from 1858 to 1866). At the exhibition, there was also a space to introduce ancient paintings, traditional masks, and experience activities for the art-loving public such as wearing typical Japanese martial arts ...

“Vietnamese calligraphy nourishes my soul” Jean Sébastien Grill’s calligraphy booth is named Truong Giang. “Truong Giang is my Vietnamese name, given by a friend. Giang has the same pronunciation as Jean. Truong Giang means a long, healthy life,” said Jean. Jean has studied Vietnamese for 7 years and lived in Vietnam for 6 years. Before coming to Vietnam, he worked as a graphic designer and studied oriental medicine, massage and acupressure to help friends and colleagues suffering from spine problems. Jean married an overseas Vietnamese in 2006. On their first trip to Hanoi, they were so impressed by the bustling sidewalks and folk medicine that they return to Vietnam every year to travel and learn more about Oriental medicine. Jean, his wife, and their children moved to Vietnam in 2015, when he was introduced to Vietnamese calligraphy. “I knew about Korean, Chinese, and Japanese calligraphy long before but when I learned that Vietnam also has this kind of art, I signed up for cl...