The image of the "scholars" in Ao dai and khan dong (ready-to-wear turban) offering letters to tourists and locals has become a familiar image to Vietnamese in New Year festival. Asking for letters from the scholars is a traditional cultural feature of Vietnamese, showing the fondness for learning, dutifulness and loyalty as well as the wish for a happy new year, etc.
The image of the “scholars” in Ao dai and khan dong (ready-to-wear turban) offering letters to tourists and locals has become a familiar image to Vietnamese in New Year festival. Asking for letters from the scholars is a traditional cultural feature of Vietnamese, showing the fondness for learning, dutifulness and loyalty as well as the wish for a happy new year, etc.
On Tet occasion, many Vietnamese often come to meet “scholars” who are good in literature and have fine handwriting to ask for letters which will be hung on their houses to pray for the happiness and peacefulness for themselves and their families. Therefore, the places where the “scholars” sit are always crowded with locals and tourists.
 |
| A “scholar” offering letters on Tet occasion. |
At Ponagar Temple, Nha Trang, “Scholar” Hung (from Dien Khanh, Khanh Hoa), has often been busy offering letters to customers who have had to register and been served in order. According to Hung, he has ten years of seniority. He often offers letters from the first to the sixth of lunar New Year. He said that calligraphy is not difficult but it requires aptitude, aesthetic, and especially passion. The calligraphy writers have to practice much in order to write good letters.
Most of people asking for letters from the “scholars” are middle-aged ones. Some people say their wished to the “scholars” and the “scholars” will find the appropriate words to write down while some others ask the “scholars” to write their own words. The “scholars” have also prepared a set of letters for the customers to choose.
 |
| There are many available letters and words for the customers to choose. |
The customers often ask the “scholars” to write words like “heart”, “happiness”, “virtuousness”, “patience”, “wealth”, “longevity”, “prosperity”, etc. Besides, many good and meaningful poetry, folk verses and proverbs have also been chosen by many customers. In addition to writing on paper and silk, some customers have asked the “scholars” to write on plates.
Asking for and offering letters in New Year occasion has become a custom bearing many spiritual meanings and bringing pleasure to both the askers and the offerers in the first days of new year. The askers recommend their beliefs and hopes while the offerers feel happy for their helping to bring happiness to everyone.
H.N
