The annual Spring Calligraphy Festival which is held at the Literature Lake, part of the national historical site of Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) – Quoc Tu Giam has become a cultural event of interest for local residents during the lunar new year celebrations. The Centre for Scientific and Cultural Activities Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam was directed by the Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports, together with authorized departments, as well as the liaison committee of the department of the HaNoi Calligraphy Club to co-ordinate and organize the Spring Calligraphy Festival 2018 at the Literature Lake.

The Press conference was attended by Mr.Truong Minh Tien, Deputy Director of Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports; Mr Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Centre for Scientific and Cultural Activities Van Mieu – Quoc TuGiam; Mr Tran Quoc Chi, manager of the liaison committee department of HaNoi Calligraphy Club; Mr Kieu Quoc Khanh, the first examiner of the examination department of Vietnamese script calligraphy and nearly 100 reporters from different newsagencies.

(An Overview of Press Conference of the Spring Calligraphy Festival 2018)

The Centre for Scientific and Cultural Activities Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam presented the new features of the Spring Calligraphy Festival 2018 at the press conference. The festival will be organized with various activities which include: the opening ceremony with  traditional art performances on the central stage; an exhibition of 35 calligraphy works written in Vietnamese and Han-Nôm scripts with the theme of “Talent”; Additionally, there will be 63 rooms for writing calligraphy; and a view of the examination field with the Thap Dao house, sentry box, bamboo tent, traditional crafts, and folk games. The main focal point of the festival is a wishing garden where visitors can hang their wishes on red and pink ribbons.

(Reporters with questions about the organization of the Spring Calligraphy Festival 2018)

Mr Le Xuan Kieu, the Director of Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam Cultural and Scientific Centre, said of the organization of examination of calligraphers: “This year we organized the examination in coordination with the liaison committee of the department of the HaNoi Calligraphy Club.  The examination was held under strict clear and public conditions. In total there were 97 examinees, of these only 55 passed the exam, and this included 45 Han-Nôm script writers and 10 Vietnamese script writers”

Mr Tran Quoc Chi, the manager of the liaison committee of the department of Ha Noi Calligraphy Club said: “the calligraphers have to improve their professional skills. Some of them failed the examination last year and, in spite of long distances, they  still tried to  go to the city to attend calligraphy training courses over a period of two years and consequently this year they passed the exam.”

(Mr.Truong Minh Tien, Deputy Director of Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports is being interviewed)

The Spring Calligraphy Festival 2018 will run from 9 February ^,2018 to 25 February 2018, opening times from 08h00 to 20h00.