Tet books: Vietnamese art space in spring’s master works

Hanoi (VNA) - Reading books in spring is an elegant hobby of many Vietnamese people. Spring publications will take turn to come to shelves, helping create a joyous atmosphere for the traditional Lunar New Year, called Tet in the Vietnamese language.

As the traditional Lunar New Year is just around the corner, publishing houses are releasing special books to meet the need of readers.

Reading books in spring is a long-rooted tradition of Vietnamese people, but the fine hobby experienced a disruption in the middle of the 20th century. Over the past few years, publishing houses have been trying to revive the trend.

In fact, major publishing houses are making significant investment in both content and presentation for their Tet books so the publications can become real spring’s master works.

Like Tet newspapers, Tet books are a collection of the most satisfactory works by authors who express their feelings, experience and desires in the new year. With a modern printing and designing technology, those publications get a new look and deserve being a display on shelves or enjoyed in the early days of spring.

This year, the Kim Dong Publishing House released two new books, the “Sipping Tet – Tan Suu 2021” and the “This is Tet” – the English version of the “Dung la Tet” (It’s true Tet) published last year (text by Bui Phuong Tam, illustration by Mai Ngo).

The Kim Dong Tet books were first published more than 60 years ago. In 1959, the “Welcoming New Tet – Ky Hoi Spring” debuted, with works by very many then famous writers and painters, including Ta Luu, Nguyen Bich and The Vy. Through each period, Tet publications come in different names such as “Spring Childhood” and “Country in Spring” and new looks with the participation of many poets, writers and painters.

For this Tan Suu spring, “Sipping Tet” groups works in poetry, literature, music and painting, thus creating a warm atmosphere for readers. Characters Sao and Nghe will bring readers to the spring in mountainous areas, cruising the highlands with clouds over their head, enjoying the view of trees in late President Ho Chi Minh’s home village, touring the south ornamented with yellow ochna flowers and tasting typlical Tet food.

Besides, the Kim Dong Publishing House is also republishing books with the theme of spring and Tet, while Dong A Books is also releasing the “Tet Tan Suu 2021 Book” – a collection of literature, poetry, music and painting works themed spring and Tet compiled by Writer Ho Anh Thai.

Joining the publication are more than 60 authors in various fields, including writers Ma Van Khang, Mac Can, Nguyen Huy Thiep, Ho Anh Thai, Uong Trieu, Truong Anh Quoc, and Nguyen Ngoc Thuan; and painters Thanh Chuong, Le Tri dung, Do Phan, Luong Xuan Doan, Do Hoang tuong, Hoang Phuong Vy, Ta Huy Long, Kim Duan, Nguyen Cong Hoan, Xuan Khoi, Dang Hong Quan, and Thang Fly.

The book is an interference of traditionality and modernity. Besides, it also touches upon the book hobby of Vietnamese people.

Prominent among the Tet publications is the illustration book “Tet is best, best is Tet” by 28-year-old Meo Moc (real name Dang Quang Dung). It can be described as a desert in a Tet food menu as it brings about many joys and an atmosphere of humour through stories of the sisters Ly and Chun in their first trip to their home village for Tet, with very many joys and new findings. The book is suitable to readers of every age groups./.