A calm hour with ink beats another photo stop. In Old Town Hoi An, you study Ancient and Modern Vietnamese calligraphy with Master of Art Huynh Dong and then make your own piece using fur pen, Chinese ink, and Do rice paper. It is hands-on, quiet, and a nice break from the usual swirl of sights.

I love the pace and the feel of the class. The tone is soft spoken and kind, and you get that slow, satisfying motion of ink on paper, plus a chance to sip tea and slow down. One consideration: this is a workshop, so if you only want quick sightseeing, it can feel like less time than you expected.

Key Highlights You Will Actually Notice

• Master Huynh Dong teaches both Ancient and Modern Vietnamese calligraphy, not just one style
• You create your own calligraphy artwork with fur pen, Chinese ink, and Do rice paper
• You learn the cultural history behind traditional Vietnamese calligraphy, not just how to copy strokes
• You also practice traditional folk painting and water color landscape drawing, so the session stays creative
• You receive a calligraphy gift made by Master Huynh Dong using your name or your idea
• Small group size, max 5 travelers, which keeps instruction personal

Where Old Town Hoi An Quietly Hands You a Brush

Hoi An is famous for pretty streets and photo moments. This experience is different. You start at 33 Nguyễn Thái Học in Phường Minh An, and you shift gears into a workshop setting centered on paper, ink, and careful hand movement.

The biggest “value for your time” is that the class does more than demonstrate. You get to make something. And because the group cap is five, the teacher can guide your grip, stroke direction, and pacing without rushing you.

At $37 for about two hours, it is not a bargain-tour price. But it does include the real ingredients of learning: instruction from Master Huynh Dong, calligraphy materials you use during class, and the special end touch, a finished calligraphy work created by him based on your name or your idea. For many people, that gift becomes the souvenir you actually want to keep.

Master Huynh Dong: Credentials You Can Sense in the Room

Master Huynh Dong is the heart of this class. He calls the Ancient City of Hoi An his native home, and his education spans multiple fields: Vietnamese philology, psychology and education, foreign languages, and a master’s degree in arts.

You do not need to recite credentials to feel what they mean. In a good calligraphy class, the teacher translates technique into calm, repeatable habits. The reviews point to his soft spoken style, kind demeanor, and a long practice history. That matters because calligraphy is picky. If you get tense, your strokes show it.

So even if you have never held a brush before, the class is set up for steady progress. You are not expected to perform like a scholar. You are invited to slow down, try, adjust, and then produce something personal.

What You Learn: Ancient and Modern Vietnamese Calligraphy

The core of the workshop is Ancient and Modern Vietnamese calligraphy. That sounds broad, and it is. In practice, it means you learn to appreciate different ways Vietnamese writing has been expressed through time.

You also get the cultural history and traditional art context from Master Huynh Dong. This is not just “how to draw a character.” It is why people cared about these marks in the first place, and how calligraphy connects to Vietnamese identity and aesthetics.

This cultural layer is one of the reasons this class works so well as an Old Town activity. You are still in Hoi An, but you are not only looking at the town. You are learning how a local art form thinks, which makes the experience stick.

Your Hands-On Calligraphy Session: Fur Pen, Ink, Do Rice Paper

This is where you slow your brain down and let your hand do the work.

You will create your own calligraphy artwork using fur pen, Chinese ink, and traditional Vietnamese Do rice paper. Each of those choices matters:

• Fur pen helps you shape strokes with controlled flow, which is essential in calligraphy where thickness and taper are part of the design.
• Chinese ink changes the rhythm. You cannot rush it, and you start to understand how water content and pressure affect the final line.
• Do rice paper is the surface that responds to the ink in a way that many calligraphy students notice immediately. Reviews mention the smooth sensation of ink on paper, and you will likely understand what they mean once you start.

In a two hour format, you want a class that moves you from “watching” to “doing.” This one does. You will not just leave with a printed souvenir. You leave with a piece you made during the session.

The Extra Art Portion: Folk Painting and Water Color Landscapes

One of the most pleasant surprises is that the class does not stop at calligraphy.

You also learn how to draw traditional folk paintings and landscape paintings by water color. Even if you think you are terrible at drawing, this part can still feel rewarding because it is not about becoming an artist overnight. It is about learning a few key skills and seeing how Vietnamese visual styles use line, color, and composition.

This is a good “second track” for people who get more excited by brushwork than by lettering mechanics. It also makes the workshop feel balanced, not like a single repetitive exercise for two hours straight.

If you enjoy creative travel, this combo makes the workshop more than a one-note activity. It is an art class with multiple ways to express your ideas.

Tea, Calm Teaching, and Why the Atmosphere Matters

The room tone is part of the product here. One review describes Master Huynh Dong as soft spoken, calm, and kind. Another mentions sipping tea and taking your time while the ink does its work.

That is not fluff. In calligraphy, your best output comes when you are not rushing. When you feel safe and unhurried, your strokes tend to look more intentional.

So if Hoi An crowds leave you a bit frazzled, this workshop gives you a controlled, quiet pocket of time. It is also a nice way to meet the city through craft instead of through constant walking.

The Closing Gift: A Calligraphy Work Made with Your Name or Idea

Here is a detail that turns a lesson into a keepsake.

After the course, Master Huynh Dong creates a calligraphy work on rice paper with your name or your idea. He presents it to you as a gift.

That means you are not only practicing. You are also leaving with a piece that reflects you, not just the class. If you are tired of generic tourist souvenirs, this is the kind of item you can frame and actually appreciate, because it comes from a real maker and a real process.

Practical tip: think ahead about what you want your calligraphy to represent. Since it is based on your name or your idea, having a simple theme in mind helps you get a result you will enjoy living with.

Timing and Group Size: What Two Hours Feels Like

The class runs about two hours. That is a good length for first-timers because you will have time to learn basic technique, try it, and finish a personal calligraphy piece without the fatigue that can come from longer workshops.

The maximum group size is five travelers. In practical terms, that matters because calligraphy needs correction. Small group teaching is usually the difference between getting lost in the process and actually improving while you are still in the room.

Also, the activity ends back at the meeting point, so you can plan your next Old Town stop nearby without complicated logistics.

Price and Value: Why $37 Can Make Sense Here

At $37 per person, you are paying for more than instruction time.

You are paying for:

• a Master teacher, Huynh Dong
• hands-on materials, fur pen, Chinese ink, and Do rice paper
• guidance that helps you produce your own calligraphy artwork
• extra instruction in folk painting and watercolor landscape drawing
• and, importantly, a finished calligraphy gift made by the master with your name or idea

If you compare this to buying a souvenir calligraphy piece, you are also buying the experience of making it and learning the craft behind it. For me, that is the sweet spot: you get a story and a tangible result.

If you are on a very tight budget, you might question any workshop price. But if you enjoy arts and calm cultural activities, this one offers real value.

Who Should Book This Class in Hoi An?

This calligraphy learning class is a strong fit if you:

• want a quieter break from Old Town crowds
• enjoy hands-on cultural learning
• like art that you can take home as something personal
• prefer small groups with attention from the teacher

It may be less ideal if you:

• only have time for high-energy sightseeing
• get bored in structured activities
• expect a walking tour format with lots of outdoor stops

But if you want to slow down and make something meaningful, this workshop is the kind of experience that feels better the longer you think about it.

Booking Notes, In Plain English

You will receive confirmation at booking. You get a mobile ticket. Cancellation is free if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and cut-off times use local time.

Most travelers can participate. Still, go in ready to sit and focus for two hours, and plan to treat it like a skill class, not a quick demo.

Should You Book It?

Yes, if you want authentic Hoi An that is not just surface-level sightseeing. I especially like that you learn both calligraphy concepts and practical execution, then add folk and watercolor drawing to keep things creative. The part that really convinces me is the teacher-made gift with your name or idea. That is not a generic postcard. It is a personal artwork.

The one reason to pause is if your schedule is packed with must-see stops and you need maximum sightseeing density. This class is for people who are okay trading a bit of walking time for a calm, skill-based memory.

If that sounds like you, book it and give yourself permission to go slow.

FAQ

Where does the calligraphy class meet in Hoi An?

The class starts at 33 Nguyễn Thái Học, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam.

How long is the calligraphy learning class?

It takes about 2 hours.

How much does the class cost?

The price is $37.00 per person.

How big is the group?

The activity has a maximum of 5 travelers.

Do I learn both Ancient and Modern Vietnamese calligraphy?

Yes. The class includes learning Ancient and Modern Vietnamese calligraphy.

What materials will I use to create my calligraphy artwork?

You create your artwork with a fur pen, Chinese ink, and traditional Vietnamese Do rice paper.

Is there anything besides calligraphy in the class?

Yes. You also learn how to draw traditional folk paintings and landscape paintings by water color.

Will I receive anything at the end of the course?

Yes. Master Huynh Dong creates a calligraphy work on rice paper with your name or your idea, and it is presented as a gift.