7 Day Open Studio Art Retreat: Evolving Your Abstract Voice
7 Day Open Studio Art Retreat: Evolving Your Abstract Voice
The Interlude - Art Retreat Hoi An, Tra Que Village, Hoi An Tay, Da Nang, Vietnam
Up to 6 in group
Jan 24 - 30, 2027
Retreat Highlights
- Guided workshops with organic, locally sourced materials – lacquer, coconut paper, earth, ash, and charcoal
- Cultural outings woven through the week, including My Son Sanctuary
- 24/7 access to a dedicated, fully equipped art studio
- Small group of 3 to 6 people – some experience recommended
- Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, airport transfers, yoga, and a coffee workshop
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Vinh comes to retreat facilitation with an unusual mix – a background in interior design, a deep understanding of materials and process, and the kind of hands-on curiosity that once led him, as a teenager, to drill holes in collected wooden sticks to make pencils he could sell.
In the studio, he leads by showing rather than instructing, and steps back early. His approach is patient and unhurried – and when he does offer a suggestion, it tends to arrive at exactly the right moment, phrased in a way that helps you see something for yourself rather than feeling corrected.
The retreats he has designed reflect the same sensibility: structured enough to give the week shape, open enough to let your own work find its direction.
In the studio with Vinh, you'll find yourself seeing differently – noticing things you'd have walked past before, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and reaching for materials you wouldn't have trusted yourself with, making work that surprises you.
Details of this retreat
Evolving Your Abstract Voice is a week-long art retreat in Tra Que, a quiet organic herb-farming village just outside Hoi An, Vietnam – rice paddies on the doorstep, the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town ten minutes away, the beach a short ride down the road. It's for anyone who already works in abstract and wants dedicated time to go deeper – whether or not you'd call yourself an artist, and even if it's been a while. Some prior experience is recommended; the focus is on independent practice and evolving your own way of working.
What sets the week apart is the studio at its heart: a dedicated, fully equipped space open 24 hours a day, not a borrowed hotel corner for a couple of scheduled hours. When an idea takes hold, you can keep going that evening or first thing the next morning, your work left set up as you found it. The group stays small, three to six people, so the week feels personal rather than processed – self-directed by design, with guidance there when you want it rather than a curriculum to keep pace with.
The real draw is the materials. Alongside local craftspeople, you work hands-on with organic, locally sourced materials – lacquer and coconut paper, earth, ash, charcoal – traditional to this region and hard to come by elsewhere. They have a way of shaking ideas loose and pushing your work somewhere you might not have taken it on your own.
The week unfolds in two halves. The first gathers new input: a guided walk through the Old Town, time with makers who have worked these materials for years, a visit to a pottery village, a trip to My Son Sanctuary to study weathered stone and form, a walk through the Tra Que fields and a cooking class with vegetables picked that morning. The second half opens into long stretches of independent studio time, where you test ideas, refine your process, and translate those impulses into finished pieces. Mornings begin with optional yoga, shared meals become part of the rhythm, and throughout, your studio host Vinh leads by showing rather than instructing and steps back early – on hand for a second pair of eyes when you want one, never hovering.
You'll leave with completed works, new material approaches to carry into your own studio, and a clearer sense of where your abstract work is heading – along with new friendships and lasting memories of Hoi An's craft, food, and landscape.
What sets the week apart is the studio at its heart: a dedicated, fully equipped space open 24 hours a day, not a borrowed hotel corner for a couple of scheduled hours. When an idea takes hold, you can keep going that evening or first thing the next morning, your work left set up as you found it. The group stays small, three to six people, so the week feels personal rather than processed – self-directed by design, with guidance there when you want it rather than a curriculum to keep pace with.
The real draw is the materials. Alongside local craftspeople, you work hands-on with organic, locally sourced materials – lacquer and coconut paper, earth, ash, charcoal – traditional to this region and hard to come by elsewhere. They have a way of shaking ideas loose and pushing your work somewhere you might not have taken it on your own.
The week unfolds in two halves. The first gathers new input: a guided walk through the Old Town, time with makers who have worked these materials for years, a visit to a pottery village, a trip to My Son Sanctuary to study weathered stone and form, a walk through the Tra Que fields and a cooking class with vegetables picked that morning. The second half opens into long stretches of independent studio time, where you test ideas, refine your process, and translate those impulses into finished pieces. Mornings begin with optional yoga, shared meals become part of the rhythm, and throughout, your studio host Vinh leads by showing rather than instructing and steps back early – on hand for a second pair of eyes when you want one, never hovering.
You'll leave with completed works, new material approaches to carry into your own studio, and a clearer sense of where your abstract work is heading – along with new friendships and lasting memories of Hoi An's craft, food, and landscape.
Schedule
Day 1 – Arrive & settle in
• Check in & welcome gathering
• Get to know the studio and host
• Introduction to contemporary abstract art and organic materials
Day 2 – Observe & lacquer
• Walking tour observing color, texture & architectural layers
• Organic lacquer and coconut paper workshop with a local artist
• Layering and depth-building techniques
Day 3 – Earth & reuse
• Visit Terra Cotta studio and explore clay, earth & fire
• Meet a recycled-art studio working with reclaimed materials
• Open studio time to begin personal experiments
Day 4 – Form & history
• Visit My Son Sanctuary to study materials, erosion & rhythm
• Guided tour exploring Champa history and temple architecture
• Independent studio time
Day 5 – Light & structure
• Lantern-making workshop with local craftspeople
• Explore light, form & spatial thinking
• Continue developing your work in the studio
Day 6 – Refine & reflect
• Dedicated studio day to complete artworks
• Mini exhibition & group reflection
• Cooking class & farewell dinner
Day 7 – Coffee & farewell
• Vietnamese coffee workshop
• Pack & departure
• Check in & welcome gathering
• Get to know the studio and host
• Introduction to contemporary abstract art and organic materials
Day 2 – Observe & lacquer
• Walking tour observing color, texture & architectural layers
• Organic lacquer and coconut paper workshop with a local artist
• Layering and depth-building techniques
Day 3 – Earth & reuse
• Visit Terra Cotta studio and explore clay, earth & fire
• Meet a recycled-art studio working with reclaimed materials
• Open studio time to begin personal experiments
Day 4 – Form & history
• Visit My Son Sanctuary to study materials, erosion & rhythm
• Guided tour exploring Champa history and temple architecture
• Independent studio time
Day 5 – Light & structure
• Lantern-making workshop with local craftspeople
• Explore light, form & spatial thinking
• Continue developing your work in the studio
Day 6 – Refine & reflect
• Dedicated studio day to complete artworks
• Mini exhibition & group reflection
• Cooking class & farewell dinner
Day 7 – Coffee & farewell
• Vietnamese coffee workshop
• Pack & departure
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
The Interlude Art Retreat, The Interlude - Art Retreat Hoi An, Tra Que Village, Hoi An Tay, Da Nang, Vietnam
Directions
Book your flight to Da Nang International Airport (DAD) in Da Nang, Vietnam.
We will arrange a comfortable airport transfer that will take you directly to the villa in about 40 minutes.
If you are already traveling within Vietnam, you can also take the train to Da Nang or a long-distance bus to Hội An – of course, we will be happy to pick you up there as well.
We will arrange a comfortable airport transfer that will take you directly to the villa in about 40 minutes.
If you are already traveling within Vietnam, you can also take the train to Da Nang or a long-distance bus to Hội An – of course, we will be happy to pick you up there as well.
Accommodation
Upgraded from a traditional homestay villa, every room comes with all the modern comforts – air conditioning, flat-screen TV, mini cooler, hair dryer, toiletries, fresh towels, and high-speed WiFi.
Early Bird Rate: Solo Escape Twin Room (single occupancy)
Early Bird Rate: Solo Escape Double Bed (single occupancy)
Early Bird Rate: Studio Duo Twin Room (shared occupancy - price for 2)
Early Bird Rate: Studio Duo Double Bed (shared occupancy - price for 2)
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
The Interlude sits between the organic herb fields of Tra Que, just outside Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage town and easy access to the beautiful beaches and surrounding nature.
The villa offers a spacious garden, a pool and rooms with all modern amenities
The villa offers a spacious garden, a pool and rooms with all modern amenities
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Our food is prepared fresh from local (and often organic) ingredients. We serve a mix of Western and Vietnamese dishes that change with the season.
What's Included
- • 6 nights / 7 days accommodation at The Interlude
- • 3 guided art workshops, including all materials used during the sessions
- • Canvas to take home (30cm x 50cm)
- • Unlimited 24/7 access to the art studio, allowing time to work independently outside guided sessions
- • Cultural & local experiences in Hoi An, woven naturally into the week:
- -- Guided walk through Hoi An’s Ancient Town, observing color, texture, and architectural details
- -- Visit local pottery village and experience traditional pottery making with local artisans
- -- Trip to My Son Sanctuary exploring Champa history, temple forms, and weathered materials
- -- Guided walk through Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village, learning about traditional farming practices and the connection between land, food, and daily life
- • Vietnamese cuisine as part of daily life at the retreat:
- -- Daily shared Vietnamese meals prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients
- -- A hands-on Vietnamese cooking class, learning to prepare traditional local dishes and explore the flavors and stories behind the cuisine
- • 5 morning yoga sessions, suitable for all levels
- • Specialty Vietnamese coffee workshop, learning to prepare a traditional local coffee and explore Vietnam’s coffee culture
- • Free use of bicycles to explore Hoi An and the surrounding countryside
- • Round-trip airport transfers between Da Nang Airport and The Interlude
What's Not Included
- Flights to and from Da Nang, visa fees, or travel insurance
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional drinks, or laundry
- Optional activities outside the program
- Personal art supplies beyond those provided in workshops and the studio
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