Ever since calligraphy was introduced to Vietnam by the Chinese settlers – it was one of many cultural exchanges that shaped Vietnamese culture – however, since then much has changed over history to adapt the art to better express the richness of the Vietnamese language. Its usage was historically confined to scholars and noblemen when the use of Han script was still prevalent, but today, the art has rooted itself in both the modern Vietnamese calligraphy using Chinese characters and also the Vietnamese alphabet, Chu Quoc-ngu .

Despite the many changes, the essence of the art still remains true to its core. The elegance of brush strokes as they define each character is as appealing as art itself. What is even more intriguing is how different characters gracefully harmonize to change the meaning of a word.

The character that describes women for instance can mean “peace’ if the symbol of a ‘roof’ is placed over it. Seemingly abstract in nature, the art follows a rule that is both fascinating to learn and practice.

In this experience, you will learn calligraphy in Vietnamese Language and/or English. Our host, a skilled artist and a calligraphy master will take you back in time and present an art that is still revered and respected.

Don’t miss this chance to put your own strokes as you learn this ancient art.

Highlights

• Learn more about the history of Vietnamese calligraphy from a highly skilled artist and calligrapher and gain more insights into the history of Vietnam’s language & culture
• Feel like you’ve time traveled as you use basic calligraphy tools – ink, a brush and paper to write alphabets in English or in Vietnamese script
• You will be taught the techniques on how to hold the brush, how much ink to use, and the proper strokes to write Vietnamese script and/or English characters
• Enjoy the atmosphere of a cozy cafe venue and sip locally brewed coffee while participating in this experience
• You’ll get to take home a final parchment with a script you made for you to display in your home or as a gift for a loved one