President Võ Văn Thưởng attends the Lunar New Year pen-brush opening ceremony. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — President Võ Văn Thưởng on February 18 offered incense and attended the Lunar New Year pen-brush opening ceremony at a memorial area dedicated to national hero and world cultural eminent personality Nguyễn Trãi in Nhị Khê commune in Hà Nội’s outlying district of Thường Tín.

Nguyễn Trãi, whose pen name was Ức Trai, was born in Chí Ngãi commune in Chí Linh district in the northern province of Hải Dương in 1380. He followed Lê Lợi in the resistance war against the Ming invaders and made great contributions to the nation’s glorious victories.

Beyond his military prowess, Nguyễn Trãi was a prolific literary figure, producing a vast array of literary works, including 110 poems and the monumental "Bình Ngô Đại Cáo" (Great Proclamation upon the Pacification of the Wu), which stood as one of the earliest declarations of independence in the nation's history.

In recognition of his invaluable contributions, UNESCO honoured Nguyễn Trãi on his 600th birth anniversary in 1980, acknowledging him as a world cultural eminent personality, an eminent military strategist and a talented politician.

Commencing on November 14, 2022, the construction of his memorial site saw significant progress, with nearly all major components nearing completion.

Meanwhile, the pen-brush ceremony embodies a longstanding cultural tradition of Thường Tín. 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.

In the morning the same day, President Thưởng visited workers who are building Ring Road No. 4 in the Hanoi Capital Region. — VNA/VNS