The art of Vietnamese calligraphy was born in the 1930s under the influence of the New Poetry Movement (Phong trào Thơ mới) when Vietnamese poets began to write poems in the romanised script quốc ngữ rather than in Chinese and nôm. The new style of writing turned the romanised script itself into a form of art, so that the letters themselves reflected some of the ideas inherent in a word, phrase or poem.

After 1945 interest in calligraphy of all types declined, but today it is once more gaining popularity throughout the country thanks to leading exponents such as masters Lê Xuân Hòa in Hà Nội, Trụ Vũ, Nguyễn Thanh Sơn, Song Nguyên and Chính Văn in Hồ Chí Minh City and artist Nguyễn Đình in Huế. A small Calligraphy Garden recently opened in Huế, run by Đình and Buddhist monks from Châu Lâm and Huyền Không Pagodas. A number of calligraphy clubs have also opened over the past few years in the capital city, leading to the emergence of promising young calligraphers such as Lê Quốc Việt, Đinh Thanh Hiếu, Nguyễn Tuấn Cường, Trần Ngọc Linh and Nguyễn Quang Thắng. The best contact point for Vietnamese calligraphy is the UNESCO Việt Nam Calligraphy Club.