Red paper, rising hopes: Tet calligraphy lights up Hanoi
As Lunar New Year festivities unfold across Hanoi, the Temple of Literature once again becomes a spiritual and cultural focal point, where the scent of fresh ink and the flutter of red paper draw crowds eager to begin the year with words that carry hope, wisdom and enduring tradition.
THE HANOI TIMES — Each Tet (Lunar New Year), the Temple of Literature comes alive with hues and reverent anticipation as thousands gather to request calligraphy and offer wishes for a peaceful and prosperous year.
The brushstroke on red paper carries a blessing and expresses Vietnam’s enduring reverence for learning, teachers and self-cultivation.
Seeking calligraphy is a tradition for Vietnamese people when visiting the Temple of Literature in the spring. Photos: Tuyet Linh/The Hanoi Times
At Ho Van Lake within the special national heritage complex, the Spring Calligraphy Festival 2026 features 35 booths, creating a cultural space steeped in scholarly tradition.
The event draws large crowds who admire the art, request characters and take part in early spring rituals.
Thanh Hoa, a resident of Dong Da Ward, said requesting calligraphy at the temple holds special meaning because the site stands as a centuries-old symbol of scholarship.
“Every spring, I bring my children here to ask for calligraphy, hoping their studies go smoothly and they succeed in exams. This year, my eldest daughter will take the high school entrance exam, so we chose the words Thanh Dat (Academic Success) to encourage her to stay confident and focused,” she said.
Do Thanh Huyen, who works for the United Nations Development Program in Vietnam, said she requested two pieces of calligraphy.
For her nephew, born in the Year of the Horse and known for his energetic spirit, she chose the word Can, meaning diligence, hoping he will develop patience and discipline.
For her niece, a first-grade student, the calligrapher presented the words Khai Tue, meaning the awakening of wisdom.
“At the start of her learning journey, we hope she grows in wisdom and clarity so she can move forward with confidence,” Huyen said.
Today, visitors seek more than academic success. Many request characters symbolizing prosperity, health, peace and inner balance, reflecting hopes for harmony in everyday life.
Thanh Hoa (center) and her two daughters come from Dong Da Ward to seek calligraphic writings.
Duy Duc, a resident of Cua Nam Ward, requested the words Ngoc Tam for himself and Loc for his grandfather.
He said Ngoc Tam, meaning a pure and steadfast heart like polished jade, reminds him to remain calm and resilient.
“When the mind stays clear, wisdom expands. Inner stillness helps me stay grounded amid life’s pressures,” he said.
The word Loc, symbolizing blessings and good fortune, conveys his wish for his grandfather’s health and peace in the new year.
A bridge between past and present
As society evolves through technology and urban growth, spiritual traditions retain their resonance.
Requesting spring calligraphy at the Temple of Literature links Hanoi’s thousand-year heritage with modern life and invites reflection on truth, virtue and beauty.
For many families, bringing children to request calligraphy turns history into a living inheritance.
Hoa from Dong Da Ward said she wants her children to understand and cherish traditional values.
“These visits help them learn about the roots of calligraphy, tied to generations of scholars and teachers,” she said.
“They pay closer attention to each character’s meaning and appreciate the richness of the Vietnamese language. Such experiences nurture cultural pride and motivation to study.”
For young visitors like Duc from Cua Nam Ward, the ritual offers a moment of pause.
Duy Duc and his friend from Cua Nam Ward are excited to get a calligraphic writing for the new year.
“Coming here allows me to slow down and set intentions for the year. Speaking with calligraphers and hearing how they preserve tradition across generations deepens my respect for our heritage,” he said.
Huyen said the core of the custom lies in passing knowledge and life values between generations.
“The greatest value of this tradition is that young people learn from scholars and elders. It becomes a journey shaped by experience and inherited wisdom,” she said.
To sustain the practice, Huyen suggested organizing cultural activities year-round rather than limiting them to Tet, creating ongoing spaces for reflection and exchange.
As of February 19, or the third day of the Lunar New Year, the relic welcomed more than 55,000 visitors, according to the Temple of Literature Cultural and Scientific Activities Center.
The site maintained a festive yet solemn atmosphere as people offered incense and prayed for good fortune. Ho Van Lake, Thai Hoc Courtyard and the Doctors’ Stelae Garden remained lively throughout the holiday.
Families brought children to explore the nation’s scholarly legacy, while visitors from other provinces and abroad chose the temple as a spring destination.
Visitors also enjoyed free parking and strengthened security to ensure smooth trips.
Spring calligraphy remained the highlight. Calligraphers wrote characters such as Phuc (blessing), Loc (prosperity), Tho (longevity), Tam (heart), Tri (wisdom) and Dat (achievement) on red paper and explained their meanings, honoring Confucian ideals and respect for teachers.
Art installations and performances enriched the experience. Exhibitions such as “Long Van Khe Hoi – Creative Energy”, “Returning Home in Glory”, thematic displays at Thai Hoc House, traditional cheo and ca tru singing, folk music and a spring chess tournament created a vivid cultural tableau in the heart of the capital.
