Hoi An: Lantern and Coffee Making Class

Coffee first, lanterns second, and plenty of laughs. This three-and-a-half-hour class brings together two of Hoi An’s best-known crafts: strong, slow-brewed Vietnamese coffee and colorful silk lanterns you can fold into your luggage. I like the chance to make five different coffee styles, then carry the recipes home. I also like the family-run feel, with patient local teachers and plenty of help.

The main caution is caffeine. These coffees are small but powerful, and you are advised not to drink every drop. The lantern work also takes time, especially if you choose the larger lantern, so this is not a quick souvenir stop. You will want a free half-day and a reasonably steady hand.

The meeting point is at 12 Ba Trieu Street, behind Vietinbank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant. From there, the coffee session comes first, followed by a short walk to the lantern workshop.

Key points to know before you book

• Five Vietnamese coffee styles: Prepare black coffee, sweetened white coffee, Hue Imperial salt coffee, Hanoi egg coffee, and coconut coffee.
• A real Phin filter lesson: You learn how the small metal filter produces coffee with a strong, concentrated taste.
• A souvenir you make yourself: Choose fabric and a lantern shape, then take home a foldable lantern.
• Two connected family businesses: The coffee and lantern workshops are run by related local families, giving the class a personal touch.
• A useful caffeine warning: You make more coffee than you should probably drink, so sample carefully.
• Good value at $24: Coffee, cookies, herbal tea or water, instruction, and the lantern-making session are included.

Starting at 12 Ba Trieu Street

The class begins at a central Hoi An meeting point, behind Vietinbank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way there. The central location should be practical if you are already exploring Hoi An’s Old Town.

The full experience lasts 210 minutes. That is long enough for the coffee lesson to feel like a proper class, not just a tasting, and for the lantern craft to become something more than gluing fabric onto a ready-made object.

English instruction is provided, along with an English audio guide. The activity is also listed as wheelchair accessible. Bring a camera, especially if you enjoy photographing the process rather than only the finished lantern.

Five coffees and one small metal filter

The first half centers on Vietnamese coffee culture. You learn to use the Phin, a compact metal filter that sits directly over the cup. It works slowly, allowing hot water to pass through dark coffee grounds and create a concentrated brew.

This is quite different from making a large pot of mild coffee. The method is simple, but the result is intense. You see how the filter works, how the coffee is prepared, and how condensed milk changes the drink from sharp and dark to sweet and creamy.

The class covers five styles:

• Black Vietnamese coffee
• White coffee with sweetened condensed milk
• Hue Imperial salt coffee
• Hanoi capital egg coffee
• Coconut coffee

The names offer a useful window into regional tastes. Salt coffee from Hue may sound odd before you try it, but the small salty note is meant to balance bitterness and sweetness. Egg coffee from Hanoi turns coffee into something closer to a dessert, with a creamy egg mixture over the brew. Coconut coffee adds a cool, sweet contrast to the dark coffee base.

The exact order can vary, but you will prepare each style step by step. You are not simply handed five cups. You take part in the mixing, brewing, and finishing, which makes the recipes easier to remember later.

One useful touch is that you can take the recipes home. If you enjoy Vietnamese coffee, this makes the session more valuable than a one-time tasting. You can buy coffee or related items afterward at reasonable prices, and some participants have also taken home a Phin filter.

Why the coffee lesson works well

The strongest part of the coffee session is its mix of practical instruction and local context. You learn about the role of dark roasted beans, the use of condensed milk, and the way different coffee drinks developed in Vietnam.

The instructors keep the mood light. Several of them are described as funny, lively, and good at making people laugh while still explaining the technique clearly. That matters in a hands-on class. You are more likely to ask questions and try the method yourself when the atmosphere feels relaxed.

The coffee is served with cookies, and herbal tea or water is available. Music plays in the comfortable coffee setting, giving you a place to slow down between brews.

Do not treat the five coffees as five full drinks. Some people have drunk too much and felt intensely caffeinated, with one person comparing the sensation to being drunk from caffeine. The sensible plan is to taste each one, enjoy your favorite, and leave the rest. You will need a calm hand for the lantern work afterward.

Egg coffee, salt coffee, and the taste of place

The special drinks give the class more character than a standard coffee workshop. Black coffee and white coffee are familiar starting points, but egg, coconut, and salt coffee show how Vietnamese coffee adapts to local ingredients and preferences.

Hanoi egg coffee is especially fun to make because the topping changes the texture so dramatically. It offers a clear example of how coffee can become a sweet treat without losing its roasted base.

The Hue salt coffee provides a different lesson. Salt does not simply make the drink salty. Used carefully, it can soften bitterness and bring the coffee and milk into better balance.

Coconut coffee is often the crowd favorite. It is sweet and creamy, and it gives you a more approachable option if strong black coffee is not your thing. I would pay close attention to the recipes here, because these are the drinks most likely to inspire you to recreate the class at home.

Walking to the lantern workshop

After the coffee session, you move to the lantern-making workshop down the street. The staff may walk you there, which is helpful because you do not need to find a second venue on your own.

The two workshops are run by related family businesses. That connection gives the experience a warm, small-scale feel. The people teaching the lantern craft are described as patient and good-humored, and Tam is singled out for being especially helpful and funny.

The change of activity is well judged. After tasting several strong coffees, sitting down to work with fabric and a lantern frame gives you something slower and more focused. It is still hands-on, but the pace becomes calmer.

Choosing fabric, shape, and construction

At the lantern workshop, you choose from different fabric colors and patterns. You may also choose between several lantern shapes. This gives you room to make something that feels personal rather than taking home an identical souvenir.

You can either build the lantern from bamboo sticks or use a premade frame. The first option takes more work and gives you a better understanding of how the lantern is formed. The premade base is the practical choice if you want to focus on the fabric and finish the project more quickly.

The staff help when needed but allow you to do the work yourself. That balance is important. You get guidance without feeling that someone is making the lantern for you.

The smaller lantern takes about 1.5 hours, while the larger model can take about 2.5 hours. Since the combined activity is listed at 210 minutes, ask about the available size and timing when you arrive. If you choose the larger lantern, the total schedule may feel tight or require a longer session.

A souvenir that travels well

Hoi An lanterns are beautiful, but full-size souvenirs can be awkward to pack. The foldable design solves that problem. At the end, the staff show you how to compress the lantern for transport, allowing you to fit it into your luggage more easily.

That practical detail makes the craft more useful. You are not left with a delicate object that needs special handling all the way home. Once unpacked, you can open it again and use it as a decoration.

You should still pack it with care. The frame and fabric are more forgiving than a rigid lantern, but your finished work deserves some protection from being crushed under heavy clothing.

What the local teaching adds

This is not an anonymous craft assembly line. The local masters talk about coffee and lantern culture while showing you the techniques. You learn how the products are made, but also gain some sense of why they matter in Hoi An.

The family-run setup is part of the appeal. The coffee teachers are described as passionate about their city, while the lantern instructors bring patience and humor to the second class. Their personalities are a major part of the experience, particularly for families and groups who enjoy conversation rather than silent instruction.

The class also works across ages. A family with children aged 12 and 15 found that the coffee lesson held their attention, and the lantern session gave them a creative task afterward. Younger children may need help with parts of the construction, but the format gives everyone a role.

Is $24 good value?

At $24 per person, this is a strong-value activity if you want more than a tasting. You receive five coffee preparations, instruction in the Phin method, cookies, herbal tea or water, an English guide, help from local craft teachers, and a foldable lantern to take home.

The price becomes even better if you planned to buy coffee and a lantern separately. You get the souvenir and the skill behind it, rather than paying only for a finished product.

The value is less clear if you dislike coffee, cannot tolerate caffeine, or would rather spend your afternoon walking around Hoi An. You can apparently book the coffee and lantern activities separately, so you may not need to commit to both if one does not appeal to you.

Keep in mind that transport is not included. You must reach 12 Ba Trieu Street yourself, but there is no hotel transfer cost to add to the stated price.

Timing, comfort, and practical concerns

The 210-minute duration makes this a half-day commitment. It fits well on a hot or rainy day, when a cool indoor activity can be a welcome break from sightseeing.

The class has a comfortable atmosphere with music, cookies, and drinks. Fans and extra drinks have also been provided when people arrived early to escape the heat. Still, the coffee portion requires concentration, and the lantern portion can be physically repetitive as you work with the frame and fabric.

Wear something comfortable and avoid planning an important activity immediately afterward if you are sensitive to caffeine. The staff warn you not to finish all the coffee, and you should take that advice seriously.

The cancellation terms are flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Hoi An schedule depends on weather or transport.

Who should book this class?

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time visitors who want a cultural activity with something tangible to take home. It suits couples, families, friends, and solo visitors who enjoy learning by doing.

It is also a good rainy-day choice. You get an indoor coffee session, a creative workshop, and a souvenir without spending the whole day in a museum or shopping center.

Coffee fans will get the most from the first half, especially if you want to learn the Phin method and recreate egg, coconut, or salt coffee at home. Craft lovers may care more about choosing fabric and building the lantern, while families can split their attention between the two activities.

I would be more cautious if you are very sensitive to caffeine or have limited time in Hoi An. The class is not a quick stop, and the larger lantern can take longer than the advertised combined session suggests. You should also confirm which lantern option fits your available time.

Should you book the Hoi An Lantern and Coffee Making Class?

Yes, if you want a friendly, practical introduction to two recognizable parts of Hoi An culture. The best features are the five coffee recipes, the family-run teaching style, and the foldable lantern that is easy to carry home.

My main advice is simple: taste the coffees, do not drink them all, and choose the lantern size with your schedule in mind. At $24, this offers more substance than a basic souvenir purchase and gives you skills you can use after Vietnam.

FAQ

Where does the Hoi An Lantern and Coffee Making Class meet?

The meeting point is at 12 Ba Trieu Street, behind Vietinbank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant.

How long does the combined activity last?

The stated duration is 210 minutes, or three and a half hours.

Which Vietnamese coffees will I make?

You will prepare black coffee, white coffee with condensed milk, Hue Imperial salt coffee, Hanoi capital egg coffee, and coconut coffee.

What is a Phin filter?

A Phin is a small Vietnamese metal coffee filter used to brew concentrated coffee directly into a cup.

Can I take the lantern home?

Yes. You can take home the lantern you make, and the staff show you how to fold it for easier transport.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the meeting point yourself.

Can I cancel the booking for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.