Temple of Literature.

It's long been a tradition among Hanoians to visit the Temple of Literature to have meaningful words written for them in calligraphy asking for good luck for the year ahead.

People stand in a queue spanning a few hundred meters to get blessings in calligraphy on red or yellow do paper. Calligraphers have no time to rest their hands on this busy day due to the huge number of customers.

Racquel Ocana from Spain shows the charms she’s got, which represent her wishes for the new year: health, longevity and happiness.

Van Anh, a student, proudly shows her blessing after hours of waiting. She asked for the traditional script which means “Pass” (do dat), wishing that she, in the new year, will pass the entry exam to the university of her choice.

Calligraphers have no time to rest their hands on this busy day.

At 4 p.m. on Friday, long lines of people still patiently wait to buy calligraphy blessings. Many people also light incense at the shrine of former teacher Chu Van An, a high ranking mandarin of the Tran Dynasty in Vietnam, in the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university built in 1070.

Source: VnExpress