In Vietnam, handwriting classes thrive in time of AI

At a handwriting class run by the Center for Pedagogical Skills Development at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, nearly 40 people filled the classroom, practicing cursive letters in silence broken only by the sound of pens moving across paper.

Students included university students, office workers, parents, and retirees, many of whom said handwriting offered a sense of calm and focus missing from their screen-filled daily routines.

Teacher Nguyen Thi Mai Chi said handwriting classes once mainly served children but now attract a much broader range of learners, including preschool teachers, online business owners, and young professionals.

"Each person comes for different reasons, but many want to improve patience, concentration, and reconnect with handwriting," Chi said.

Nguyen Thu Ha, a 36-year-old accountant, said she first enrolled because she wanted to write a birthday card for her child but realized years of computer work had made her handwriting untidy.

"I used to think writing by hand was something simple," she said. 

"But after practicing, I found the classes also helped me relax and stop thinking about work pressure."

Some parents said they joined classes to better support children learning to write, while others viewed neat handwriting as a possible business opportunity by opening tutoring classes at home.

Tran Minh Quang, a 29-year-old designer, said handwriting lessons became a way to relieve stress after long days spent in front of screens.

"When writing, you have to slow down and focus on every stroke," he said. 

"That makes my mind feel lighter."

Teachers and students said the popularity of such classes reflected a belief that handwriting remains linked not only to communication skills but also to patience and personal discipline.

The spread of AI tools in education has also renewed attention on handwriting in some classrooms, where handwritten assignments are still used to assess students directly.

Le Thi Bich Nga, a lecturer at Nong Lam University, said handwritten work in class helped instructors better evaluate independent thinking as students increasingly rely on AI-assisted writing.

"Typed assignments make it difficult to measure how much work students complete themselves," Nga said. 

"Handwritten work reflects their actual ability more clearly."

Nguyen Minh Khoi, a second-year university student, said many students now type more often than they write, making long handwritten assignments physically difficult.

"Sometimes I know what I want to say but cannot write quickly enough," he said. 

"After writing for a while, my hand gets tired and the handwriting becomes messy."

Beyond classrooms, handwriting courses and calligraphy workshops have expanded both online and offline across Vietnam, with social media pages offering live and virtual lessons attracting large followings.

Shop owner Xuyen Chi said handwritten notes remained a way for businesses to create a more personal connection with customers.

"When packing orders, I always include a handwritten thank-you note," she said. 

"Even a few simple words can make people feel warmer than a text message."