Hoi An Lantern Making Class: Create a Foldable Silk Lantern

Build a lantern from scratch and fold it into your luggage

A two-hour lantern-making class in Hoi An where you learn to construct a silk and bamboo lantern in 11 steps, from shaping bamboo stakes to stretching silk and adding a tassel. The class includes herbal tea, instruction in English, and two finished lanterns — the one you make and a second one the master creates for you as a gift. Children from age 4 are welcome.

The Experience

You start with herbal tea and a story. The instructor explains why Hoi An families hang lanterns in their homes — they believe the lanterns bring luck, happiness, and wealth — and then walks you through the complete process. The lanterns are made of silk stretched over bamboo frames and come in shapes named after natural forms: lotus, diamond, sunrise, sunset. You'll work through all 11 steps, beginning with attaching 12 bamboo stakes together with wire thread, shaping them into either an inverted triangle or triangle formation, then securing them into a hanger.

The middle steps are where the lantern takes shape. You select your silk color, apply glue, and stretch the material across the bamboo frame to cover the sides completely. Then you cover the top and bottom of the hanger with silk strips and choose a tassel for the base. By step 11, you have a finished lantern that folds flat enough to pack into luggage. The instructor also makes a second lantern during the class and gives it to you as a gift, so you leave with two.

The whole class runs two hours and happens in English. No prior experience is needed — the master guides you through each step and the work is hands-on from start to finish. You'll walk away with a skill you can show people at home and two handmade souvenirs that fold down small.

What’s included

• Your finished foldable lantern.
• a second lantern made by the instructor as a gift.
• traditional herbal tea.
• English-speaking instruction.
• all materials and tools needed to complete the lantern.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Hoian Handicraft Tours

Is this one for you?The class is taught entirely in English, so you can follow the instruction and understand the cultural background of the lanterns without a language barrier. Children from age 4 can participate alongside adults, making it a genuine hands-on activity the whole family works through together.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

2,074 verified traveler reviews

5 ★2,045

4 ★27

3 ★1

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly do I make during the lantern class?

You make a complete Vietnamese lantern with a silk cover and bamboo frame, learning all 11 construction steps from attaching the stakes to adding the final tassel. The lantern folds flat so it fits in a suitcase.

Do I get to keep the lantern I make?

Yes, you take home the lantern you make during the class. The instructor also creates a second lantern as a gift, so you leave with two finished lanterns.

Is the class taught in English?

The instructor teaches in English and speaks the language throughout the class, so you can follow every step and ask questions as you work.

Can I bring my children to the lantern class?

Children are welcome from age 4 and up. The class works as a family activity where kids can participate in making their own lantern alongside adults.

How long does the lantern-making class take?

The class runs for two hours total, including the introduction to lantern history, the 11 steps of construction, and time to finish your lantern.

What materials are used to make the lanterns?

The lanterns are made from silk and bamboo. You choose your silk color during the class and work with pre-cut bamboo stakes that you shape and assemble into frames.