What if you began 2026 by creating space to listen, reflect, and be in community? 💛
This retreat invites you to start the new year surrounded by others who believe in the power of words, stillness, and play. Together, we’ll spend five days in Hoi An—writing, moving, thinking, and sharing.
Who can join? 📝
Whether you’re coming back to your words after a long pause,
beginning a new project, or simply craving time to be with your thoughts on paper. Whether you’re working on a book, a Substack, poems, personal essays, or just trying to make sense of what’s been unfolding. You don’t need to be a “writer,” you just need to want to write.
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📍Creative Play Residency, Hội An, Vietnam
🗓 January 25–30, 2026
💌 Apply by November 30, 2025
Expect:
— Five full days of guided sessions and open writing space
— A pool, yoga & movement area
— Home-cooked meals and dinners out at local restaurants
— Visits to artisans and artists in Hoi An
— Creative materials, tea, and an open kitchen
— A nourishing circle of 12 writers
🌏 Open to local and global writers, nomads, expats, and third-culture creatives, anyone craving a slow, intentional, and nourishing start to the year.
❤️ Come for the retreat or stay a little longer, and make it part of your journey through Vietnam. 🇻🇳
💎 Contribution on a sliding scale. More info:
https://inotherwords2025.my.canva.site/
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With only 12 spots available, we're looking for a diverse group of writers from different backgrounds and genres. Please complete our short application form to help us create the right mix.
Apply via:
https://tinyurl.com/inotherwordsHoiAn 💛
We'll notify all applicants by December 8th, 2025. International applicants may hear back earlier on a rolling basis to allow time for travel planning. We can’t wait to hear from you soon!
Your hosts, Laura François and Monika Jiang in collaboration with Creative Play Residency 🪷
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About your hosts 🌼
Laura is the director of Awe Exchange, a nonprofit laboratory pioneering awe-based changemaking as an antidote to siloed, linear thinking around the climate emergency.
Monika is a writer, curator, and community builder exploring the shift from loneliness to oneliness — the possibility of reconnection with self, others, and the world.
For both, Hội An has been a place of returning, and hosting this retreat together is both a continuation of their friendship and a shared offering.
Also check out other Arts events in Danang, Literary Art events in Danang, Health & Wellness events in Danang.
