Published:  00:00 Thursday - December 18, 2008

A ‘cau doi’ (parallel sentences) competition to celebrate Tet has been launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

A literary art form of Chinese origin, a ‘cau doi’ consists of two sentences or lines. Each line corresponds with the other’s meaning as well as tone, pattern and individual word meaning. The “cau doi” are usually used to convey good wishes on the Tet holiday.

All Vietnamese people living at home or abroad, as well as foreigners living in Vietnam, are eligible to join the competition. Candidates can enter “cau doi” but they have not yet been published.

Entries about Tet, President Ho Chi Minh or the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi can be on silk, bamboo, paper or wood.

Entries will be displayed at a “cau doi” festival, held to celebrate the Lunar New Year.