Vietnamese calligraphy on Tet display products

Young people come to ask for calligraphy at the free calligraphy writing area in Tran Quang Khai Square, Rach Gia City ( Kien Giang ).

Calligraphy has become an indispensable part of the Lunar New Year. During the New Year, some young people and Vietnamese calligraphy lovers organize a calligraphy space at Tran Quang Khai Square, Rach Gia City (Kien Giang).

Mr. Dang Tien Binh, resident of Vinh Bao Ward (Rach Gia City) said that he and some other people organized 2 areas to give away free calligraphy on paper to people celebrating Tet. “I mobilized a business to sponsor about 3,000 paper scrolls, then together with my group members, I wrote calligraphy to give to people from February 3. If people want to write on bamboo blinds or silk, they only need to pay the capital, we write for free,” said Mr. Binh.

The ink used for calligraphy is traditional ink.

Different types of brushes will give different thicknesses and thinnesses of calligraphy strokes.

A business sponsored 3,000 parallel sentences for Mr. Binh's group to write and give away for free to people.

Mr. Dang Tien Binh's group hopes that Vietnamese calligraphy will be present in people's Tet display products every year. He has organized free giveaways since Tet 2015 until now.

“Tet display products not only have aesthetic significance but also express the wish for a peaceful and prosperous new year. We can write calligraphy on products such as lanterns, vases, conical hats, etc. to carry wishes for luck and happiness,” said Mr. Binh.

Young teachers in Dang Tien Binh’s group use traditional ink and feather brushes to write on paper, creating beautiful, graceful strokes. Commonly seen words such as “An”, “Thinh”, “Phuc”, “Loc”… are not only beautiful in form but also have good meanings, reflecting the optimistic and life-loving spirit of the Vietnamese people.

“Calligraphy during Tet is not only an art but also a symbol of national spirit and culture, connecting the past with the present and looking towards the future,” Lam Nhat Tien, living on Tran Khanh Du Street, An Hoa Ward (Rach Gia City) shared after coming to ask for calligraphy.

Mr. Dang Tien Binh, residing in Vinh Bao ward, Rach Gia city (Kien Giang) gives calligraphy to people.

Each calligraphy scroll is stamped with the calligraphy group's own seal.

Particularly for the 2024 Lunar New Year, the young calligraphy group specializes in writing on watermelons. Writing calligraphy on watermelons is a unique beauty in Vietnamese Tet culture. Young people will choose watermelons with beautiful shapes, then write on the watermelon rind with special red ink. The words written are usually good wishes.

Before writing calligraphy, the watermelon is covered with a layer of paint.

Calligraphy on watermelons is written with special, highly adhesive ink, usually red.

The technique of writing calligraphy on watermelon requires meticulousness and high dexterity, patience and good craftsmanship. The calligraphy watermelon is not only a beautiful work of art but also a cultural symbol, bringing a traditional and meaningful Tet atmosphere to family and friends on this important holiday. "Customers only need to pay for the watermelon, each pair costs from 350,000 to 500,000 VND, we write and decorate for customers for free," said Mr. Binh.

Writing calligraphy on watermelon is more difficult than writing on regular paper, and if you're not careful, it can easily be damaged.

Pair of watermelons with calligraphy finishing.

“We feel excited to come to the calligraphy space this Tet holiday. Not only did I get to see the teacher write words as gifts, but I was also guided to experience writing calligraphy,” said Ta Thao Tram, a student living on Ngo Quyen Street, Rach Gia City (Kien Giang).