GOAT TATTOOVietnamese Calligraphy Tattoo (Thư Pháp)
Short answer: Vietnamese calligraphy (thư pháp) writes Vietnamese words with a brush so they look like traditional East Asian calligraphy. Popular tattoo words are Tâm (heart), Nhẫn (patience), Phúc (blessing) and An (peace). GOAT Tattoo Studio in Hanoi Old Quarter designs and tattoos thư pháp, and because our team is Vietnamese, we check every accent and meaning with you before we start. Small pieces start from $36. The studio is at 2nd Floor, 56 Trang Thi Street, about 5 minutes on foot from Hoan Kiem Lake. The studio has a 5.0 Google rating from 750+ reviews, an English-speaking team, single-use needles and hospital-grade sterilization.
Lettering and calligraphy from our studio
See the full small tattoo gallery →
Who will tattoo you
Short words and small brush pieces are done by Nick and Kane, who each have more than 5 years of experience with small, detailed tattoos. Larger calligraphy pieces that combine words with a dragon, lotus or landscape are done by our large-scale artists Kane and Linker, who each have more than 7 years of experience.
Popular words for a thư pháp tattoo
- Tâm (heart, mind): one of the most loved calligraphy words in Vietnam.
- Nhẫn (patience, endurance).
- Phúc (blessing, good fortune), often written at Tết, the Lunar New Year.
- An (peace, safety) and Bình An (peace and well-being).
- Mẹ (mother), Cha (father) or Gia Đình (family).
- Your own word or a short phrase, a name or a place that matters to you.
What makes a good calligraphy tattoo
Thư pháp grew from the brush calligraphy once written in Chinese characters and Nôm script. Today it mostly uses the Vietnamese alphabet, with each word drawn as one flowing brush form. Every Tết, calligraphers set up outside the Temple of Literature in Hanoi to write words like Phúc and Tâm for the new year.
Accents matter. Vietnamese is a tonal language, and one missing or wrong mark changes the word, so we check spelling, accents and meaning with you before the stencil goes on.
Brush strokes need room. Very small brush lettering can blur over the years, so we suggest a size and placement where the thick and thin strokes stay readable.
Prices
| Small calligraphy word, under 30 minutes | from $36 |
| Larger calligraphy pieces | $77 per hour |
Indicative prices. Your final quote is confirmed in the free consultation, before any tattooing starts. All prices
How it works
- Message us on WhatsApp or the booking form with your idea, the placement and any reference photos.
- Free consultation: we match you with the right artist, agree the size and confirm the price.
- The design is drawn for you, and you approve it before we start.
- Large pieces are done over several sessions. If you are traveling, tell us your dates so we can plan them.
- Aftercare: keep the tattoo out of the sea, pools and strong sun while it heals.
Questions
Where can I get a Vietnamese calligraphy tattoo in Hanoi?
At GOAT Tattoo Studio in Hanoi Old Quarter (2nd Floor, 56 Trang Thi). Our team is Vietnamese, so every word is checked for spelling, accents and meaning before we tattoo it, and the team speaks English to explain each option. The studio has a 5.0 Google rating from 750+ reviews, and mini tattoos start from $36.
What is a Vietnamese calligraphy tattoo?
It is a word or short phrase in Vietnamese written in the brush style of thư pháp, so it looks like traditional calligraphy while staying readable in the Vietnamese alphabet.
Which word should I choose?
Popular choices are Tâm (heart), Nhẫn (patience), Phúc (blessing) and An (peace). Many people choose a word that matches their own story, and we explain the meaning of each option in the free consultation.
Will you check that my Vietnamese is correct?
Yes. Our team is Vietnamese, and we check the spelling, the accents and the meaning of every word with you before we tattoo it.
Where is the studio?
2nd Floor, 56 Trang Thi Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. It is about a 5-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake and open every day from 10:00 to 21:00.
Read more about Vietnamese words and lettering
Design your calligraphy tattoo
Send us the word you have in mind and where you want it. The consultation is free.
Book a free consultation