Under the theme of “Accomplishment and Virtue”, this year’s festival highlights the importance of cultivating virtue along with developing talent as part of the Vietnamese educational tradition.

The festival takes place at an elaborately designed space that resembles a traditional rural village in northern Vietnam.

The festival witnesses the attendance of 52 calligraphers who are qualified after they had previously taken and passed an aptitude test.

Asking for lucky Chinese characters at the start of a new year is an age-old Vietnamese custom, reflecting the country’s respect and acknowledgement for learning as well as wishing and hoping for a year of health and prosperity.

Wishes for a peaceful and happy new year are manifested in elegant brushstrokes.

Nguyen Thi Duc, one of the few female calligraphy artists at the festival.

Foreign visitors express their keen interest in the Vietnamese tradition of asking for lucky Chinese characters.

A kid rejoices after being given a Chinese character meaning wisdom at the festival.

As part of the festival, there are also other cultural activities such as an exhibition of more than 50 Han-Nom and Latin calligraphic works, and the promotion of traditional handicraft products and folk games.

A young woman wearing an ao dai garment poses for a photograph in a setting replicating the traditional rural village in northern Vietnam in the past.

The festival is also an opportunity for friends in calligraphy, poetry and painting circles to meet, catch up and chat during the early spring. The festival will last until February 5.