Pen-brush opening ceremony features a longstanding cultural tradition

A traditional pen-brush opening ceremony  (or “khai but”, a Vietnamese tradition of starting a piece of calligraphy or drawing to celebrate the New Year, was organized on February 17 (or the 8th day of the first lunar month).

The “khai but” ceremony was held at at Bai Tho Mountain Cultural Space, King Le Thanh Tong temple in Ha Long city with the participation of 600 delegates and a large number of people and tourists.

Addresing the ceremony, Vice Chairwonman of the provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Thi Hanh, underlined the importance of the ceremony which embodies the longstanding cultural tradition of Quang Ninh people. It encourages all local officials, Party members, and citizens to prioritise education, strive in labour and boost production. The first strokes of writing in the Lunar New Year often carry wishes for goodness, luck and happiness.

Pen-brush opening, or “Khai But”, is a tradition which has existed for thousands of years in Vietnam, when scholars and writers penned a line of prose or poetry to begin a new-year writing period.

The pen-brush opening ceremony aims to promote the studious tradition of the Vietnamese people and honor the country’s education cause.