Year of Dragon stamp collection released ahead of Lunar New Year
VOV.VN - As the upcoming Lunar New Year – the Year of the Dragon – is drawing near, dragon images, all of which symbolise happiness, peace, and luck, have been chosen to be featured in a new stamp collection.
The stamp set comprising two stamps and one block, has been issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with Vietnam Post.
The stamps, designed by Nguyen Quang Vinh, measure 37x37 mm, while the block is 80x80 mm. They cost VND4,000 and VND15,000, respectively.
The first stamp design describes the image of a golden dragon soaring into the sky which is associated with the tale of Hanoi’s Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (Rising Dragon).
The second design conveys an image of Ha Long Bay which tells the legendary story of dragons descending from the heavens in order to help Vietnamese people fight foreign invaders and protect their homeland.
The block background displays an image of a carp turning into a dragon, symbolising great efforts, luck, and success. It also introduces both local and foreign viewers to the worship of “Ong Cong, Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) which is the nation’s long-standing custom of great significance as it represents bidding farewell to all bad things from the old year and helping people to enter a new year of peace and happiness.
The Lunar New Year festival, known locally as Tet, is both the largest and most important traditional festival of the Vietnamese people. This year, workers will be given seven days off work from February 8 to February to enjoy Tet celebrations.
