On the first day of the 2025 Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday, thousands of people from within and outside the province visited the Hoàng Công Chất Temple (Noong Hẹt Commune, Điện Biên District, Điện Biên Province). They all shared a common wish for national peace and prosperity, as well as good health, happiness, and well-being for their families.

From the early morning of the first day of the 2025 Lunar New Year, the Hoàng Công Chất Temple was more bustling than usual, with thousands of visitors arriving in. For many, this New Year pilgrimage is not only an occasion to pray for health and good fortune but also an opportunity to express gratitude and reverence for farmer hero Hoàng Công Chất (1706-1769).

Mrs. Ngô Thị Khô, a resident of Him Lam Ward, Điện Biên Phủ City, shared that she came here to pray for her family’s happiness, health, and well-being, while also paying tribute to hero Hoàng Công Chất. “He made great contributions to defending the homeland, expanding the country’s territory, and safeguarding national borderline, serving as a symbol of solidarity among ethnic minority groups,” she emphasized.

During the Tết holiday, alongside visiting parents, siblings, and relatives, many people choose to visit the Hoàng Công Chất Temple. Coming to the temple at the start of a New Year allows visitors to enjoy the beauty of spring, leaving behind worries and hardships, and embracing the New Year with a peaceful mind and renewed hope.

Ms. Lê Thị Huyền, currently residing in Buôn Ma Thuột City, Đắk Lắk Province, said: “After visiting relatives, my family and I made our first offering of the year at the Hoàng Công Chất Temple. Besides praying for peace and health, I want to teach my children about their roots and ancestors - respecting elders, being filial to parents, staying humble and honest, and always striving for good learning.”

Having married far from home, Ms. Huyền rarely gets chance to visit her parents due to the long and difficult journey. However, whenever she does, she takes her children to the Hoàng Công Chất Temple. While waiting for a calligrapher to write the word “Bình An” (Peace) for her daughter, Lê Trần Bảo Ngọc, Ms. Huyền expressed her hope that the New Year would bring her family peace, happiness, and joy. The word “Bình An” was accompanied by a pair of parallel sentences: “May the family enjoy peace throughout the year; May fortune and blessings flow abundantly.” She planned to hang the calligraphy in her living room, so that visitors could appreciate it while sipping tea and celebrating the arrival of spring.

Meanwhile, having a calligraphic work written on red paper to display during the Lunar New Year (Tet) is a tradition of the Vietnamese people to pray for good things. The calligraphers write meaningful letters meaning prosperity, longevity and happiness.

Calligrapher Vũ Văn Phóng from Him Lam Ward, Điện Biên Phủ City, shared: “In the past, those who sought calligraphy at the start of a New Year would bring offerings of betel nuts and tea for the scholar. The calligraphy, written in beautiful strokes, was then displayed in homes to bring good fortune. The calligraphers were often Confucian scholars or teachers known for their elegant handwriting.”

Today, with the growing popularity of calligraphy, this tradition has become even more widespread. Those visiting the Hoàng Công Chất Temple during the New Year are always captivated by the image of a calligrapher, dressed in a traditional long tunic and headpiece, carefully preparing ink and red papers to write auspicious words for visitors.

Mr. Lê Duy Hưng, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Noong Hẹt Commune and Head of the Hoàng Công Chất Temple Management Board, stated: “In 2024, with over VNĐ 2 billion in investment from both State and private sources, the temple complex underwent extensive renovation. Upgrades were made to the main temple, guest reception areas, and surrounding facilities to better serve worshippers and tourists.”

On the first day of the 2025 Lunar New Year, the Hoàng Công Chất Temple welcomed thousands of visitors from inside and outside Điện Biên Province, who came to offer incense and enjoy the vibrant spring atmosphere.