Hoi An: Lantern and Coffee Making Class

Hoi An’s lanterns are pretty, but making one yourself gives you a better sense of the work behind those glowing streets. This 210-minute class pairs five Vietnamese coffee styles with a hands-on lantern workshop, so you spend part of the session tasting, laughing, and learning, then part quietly shaping a useful souvenir.

I like two things here. First, the coffee lesson goes beyond a quick tasting: you use a small metal Phin filter, learn how condensed milk changes the drink, and prepare egg, coconut, white, black, and Hue-style salt coffee. Second, the lantern folds flat for the journey home, which solves the usual souvenir problem.

The main consideration is caffeine. The coffee is strong, and you are warned not to finish every cup. Drink small samples, especially if you plan to make a lantern afterward with a steady hand.

Key points at a glance

• Five coffee styles: Make black coffee, happy white coffee, coconut coffee, Hue Imperial salt coffee, and Hanoi-style egg coffee.
• A proper Phin lesson: Learn how Vietnam’s small metal filter produces a slow, concentrated brew.
• Family-run workshops: The coffee and lantern sessions are operated by related local families near Hoi An’s Old Town.
• A souvenir you make yourself: Choose fabric and a lantern shape, then take home a foldable finished lantern.
• A useful rainy-day plan: The mostly indoor activity works well when the weather is too hot or wet for sightseeing.
• Good value at $24: Coffee, instruction, local craft guidance, cookies, tea or water, and a lantern are included.

Why this Hoi An class works so well

Many Hoi An activities ask you to watch someone else make something. This one puts the tools in your hands. You brew the coffee, taste the results, choose lantern materials, and leave with an object that carries a personal story.

That combination gives the class a nice rhythm. Coffee-making is social and energetic. The lantern work is slower and more focused. After several small cups, the quieter craft session can feel like a welcome change of pace.

The setting is also practical. The meeting point is at 12 Ba Trieu Street, behind Viettin Bank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant. The coffee workshop and lantern workshop are close together, and the instructors walk participants from one to the other. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to reach the meeting point yourself.

The coffee lesson starts with the Phin

The first part focuses on the brewing method that gives Vietnamese coffee its character. A Phin is a small metal filter placed over a cup. Hot water passes slowly through ground coffee, producing a concentrated drink rather than the larger, milder cup many people know from home.

You learn how the beans are roasted dark and how condensed milk is used to balance the bitterness. The point is not only to copy a recipe. It is to understand why Vietnamese coffee tastes so powerful and why the sweetened versions are so popular.

The class covers five main preparations:

• Black coffee
• Happy white coffee with condensed milk
• Coconut coffee
• Hue Imperial salt coffee
• Hanoi-style egg coffee

The egg coffee is a highlight for many people because it turns coffee into something closer to a soft dessert. The salt coffee offers a different lesson in balance. Salt does not simply make the drink salty. Used carefully, it changes how you notice the bitterness and sweetness.

The coconut version is another good choice if you prefer a smoother, cooler style. One participant particularly liked it best, which makes sense for anyone who finds straight Vietnamese coffee too intense.

You prepare the drinks yourself, with the English-speaking instructor explaining each step. The instructors are described as funny and lively, and the tone appears more like a friendly family workshop than a formal cooking school. That matters in a practical way: you can ask questions, make mistakes, and try again without feeling rushed.

Pace yourself with the coffee

This is the most important practical tip. You may prepare five coffees, and some accounts of the session refer to even more tasting portions. You do not need to drink every cup in full.

Vietnamese coffee can be much stronger than the coffee many people drink at home. Finishing several full servings may leave you shaky, overstimulated, or unable to relax during the lantern portion. Sample each one, decide which styles you like, and leave the rest if needed.

The class provides cookies along with coffee, plus herbal tea or water. The cookie gives you something to eat while tasting, but it does not cancel out the caffeine. If you are sensitive to coffee, share samples or take only a few sips of each.

This is also why the session length matters. The coffee portion can take around one and a half to two hours depending on the group, while the lantern activity may add another one and a half to two and a half hours depending on your chosen design. The advertised total is 210 minutes, but the actual crafting pace can vary.

From coffee cups to bamboo frames

After the coffee session, you walk a short distance to the lantern workshop. The change of mood is part of the appeal. You move from tasting and conversation to a more careful task that asks you to work with your hands.

You may have the choice between building the lantern frame from bamboo or using a prepared frame and adding the fabric yourself. The first option takes more time and gives you a better sense of how the structure is made. The prepared frame is the sensible choice if you want a simpler project or are concerned about finishing on time.

The lanterns come in different shapes, sizes, fabrics, and patterns. That choice gives the souvenir a personal touch. You are not simply buying a finished decoration from a shop. You decide how it looks, then get help attaching the covering and shaping the final piece.

Tam is specifically mentioned as one of the lantern instructors. The teaching style is patient and hands-on, with help offered when you need it rather than someone taking over the whole project. That is useful for children, first-time crafters, and anyone who is not confident with detailed manual work.

You can expect other participants to be working nearby, since several class times may overlap. This can make the workshop feel lively rather than private. If you want a quiet one-on-one craft lesson, this may not be the right format. If you enjoy sharing the room with other people and comparing fabric choices, it adds to the fun.

The foldable lantern is a smart souvenir

Hoi An lanterns are tempting to buy, but a full-size lantern is not always easy to pack. This class solves that problem by teaching you how to compress the finished piece for transport.

The lantern folds down, so you can carry it home without giving up valuable luggage space. It is also more practical than a fragile decorative object that needs special packing. Once you unpack it, you can open it again and use it at home.

The finished result may look more polished than you expect, but do not mistake the workshop for a quick craft table. The lanterns require patience. Working with a frame, fabric, and careful folds takes concentration, especially after several strong coffees.

That is why I like the choice between a small and a large lantern. The smaller design may take around 1.5 hours. The larger one can take up to 2.5 hours. If you have a late train, dinner booking, or limited patience for craft work, choose the smaller version or ask what can be completed within your available time.

What makes the family-run setting valuable

The activity is operated through family-run coffee and lantern workshops. The coffee side is led by brothers, while the lantern side includes siblings and other relatives. You are not moving through a large commercial attraction with a scripted performance at every step.

The family setting also seems to shape the tone. The instructors use humor, tell stories about local coffee and lantern culture, and help participants through the fiddly parts. Their role is not limited to handing out materials. They explain what you are doing and why the product matters in Hoi An.

That local connection is one of the better reasons to book the combined experience rather than taking a generic craft class. You learn about two recognizable parts of the city: its strong coffee culture and its lantern tradition.

The information is delivered in English. An English guide and local master are included, and an English audio guide is also listed. The class is wheelchair accessible, which is useful to know when comparing it with other hands-on activities.

Is $24 good value?

At $24 per person, this is a strong value if you want both an activity and a souvenir. The price includes the coffee, cookies, herbal tea or water, English instruction, local craft guidance, and the lantern you make.

If you booked a coffee tasting and bought a finished lantern separately, you would pay for two smaller experiences without learning the skills behind them. Here, the price covers roughly three and a half hours of structured activity, though the exact balance between coffee and lantern work depends on the pace of the group and the lantern design.

The value is especially clear for families and couples who want something to do together. You each make your own drinks and lantern, but the class still leaves plenty of room for jokes and shared effort.

It is less appealing if you dislike coffee, caffeine, or handcrafts. You can enjoy the cultural explanation, but coffee is not a minor extra here. It is one of the two main parts of the session.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to couples, families with older children, and anyone looking for a break from walking around Hoi An’s Old Town. One family managed to keep both a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old engaged through the coffee and lantern sessions, which suggests the format works well for teenagers.

It also suits people who like taking home a useful object rather than another mass-produced souvenir. The foldable lantern is easy to transport, and the coffee recipes can be repeated at home if you buy or bring home a Phin filter.

Rainy afternoons are a good match. The activity is indoors, gives you a clear plan, and still connects you with local culture. Hot afternoons work too, particularly since the workshop offers a cooler change from outdoor sightseeing.

You should think twice if you need a short activity. Three and a half hours is a meaningful block of time, and a large lantern can extend the crafting. You should also allow extra time around the class because no hotel transfer is provided.

Practical details before you go

Meet at 12 Ba Trieu Street, behind Viettin Bank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant. Check the meeting point carefully, since the workshop does not provide hotel pickup or drop-off.

Bring a camera if you want photos of the coffee process, your materials, or the finished lantern. Wear something comfortable for sitting and working with your hands. The supplied information does not list special clothing requirements, but you should still avoid bringing anything you would worry about around coffee.

The activity is offered at set starting times, so check availability before booking. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and the reserve-now-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.

The class is wheelchair accessible. If you need specific help with the transfer between the two nearby workshops, it is sensible to confirm the arrangement before arrival.

My verdict: book it if you want more than a photo

Book this class if you want a well-priced, hands-on afternoon that combines Vietnamese coffee culture with Hoi An lantern making. The best parts are the range of drinks, the funny and patient family instructors, and the foldable lantern that you can actually pack home.

Skip it if you are highly sensitive to caffeine or have no interest in crafts. For everyone else, pace the coffee, choose the lantern size that suits your schedule, and treat the session as a relaxed cultural activity rather than a quick demonstration.

FAQ

How long does the Hoi An coffee and lantern class last?

The advertised duration is 210 minutes, or three and a half hours. The coffee and lantern portions may take different amounts of time depending on the group and the lantern size selected.

What types of Vietnamese coffee will I make?

The class includes black coffee, happy white coffee, coconut coffee, Hue Imperial salt coffee, and Hanoi-style egg coffee.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach the meeting point at 12 Ba Trieu Street, behind Viettin Bank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant.

Can I take the lantern home?

Yes. You make a lantern and can take it home. The lantern folds down, making it easier to pack and transport.

Is the activity available in English?

Yes. English instruction is included, and the listed audio guide language is also English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-pay-later option is also available.