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 5 (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, Chairwonman of the provincial People's Committee, Pham Duc An, 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.

He also praised the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts and various artists for their great efforts to create valuable works, especially those depicting the land and people of Quang Ninh province. The works have honored the province's distinctive cultural values, its glorious historical traditions, and affirmed the province's position and achievements across various fields.

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.