Hoi An: Lantern and Coffee Making Class

Five cups of Vietnamese coffee, followed by a lantern you make and fold flat for the trip home: this Hoi An class pairs two local crafts in one practical afternoon. You learn to use a small metal Phin filter, then move to a nearby workshop to work with lantern materials and choose your own design.

I like the contrast: coffee making gives you recipes and context you can use later, while lantern making leaves you with a handmade souvenir. I also like that local family businesses lead both parts, and the coffee you prepare carries on into the craft session.

One thing to plan for is the caffeine. The coffee is strong, and making several styles can add up quickly, so sip rather than polish off every cup. The full activity lasts 210 minutes, a substantial block of your day.

What to know before you book

• Five Vietnamese coffee styles: Make and taste different preparations, including black, white, Hue-style salt, Hanoi-style egg, and coconut coffee.
• A hands-on Phin lesson: Learn how the small metal filter brews coffee and how dark-roasted beans pair with sweetened condensed milk.
• A lantern to take home: Make a foldable lantern, with a choice of fabrics and patterns, and reportedly a choice between different sizes and construction approaches.
• Two nearby workshops: The coffee and lantern sessions take place at separate venues, with a short walk between them.
• A lively, English-led class: The instructor explains the steps and cultural context, while local makers help you through the craft.
• A useful price for a half-day activity: At $24 per person, coffee, instruction, the lantern workshop, and your finished lantern are included.

Start with Phin coffee and five distinct cups

The first part introduces Vietnamese coffee through the Phin, a compact metal filter that sits over a cup. Rather than plunging like a French press, it lets hot water drip slowly through the grounds. You’ll see how that slow brew creates a concentrated cup, and how dark-roasted coffee works with sweetened condensed milk.

You prepare several familiar Vietnamese styles, including black coffee, white coffee, Hue Imperial salt coffee, Hanoi-style egg coffee, and coconut coffee. The names give you a useful map of the country’s coffee habits, while the making is the point: you get to handle the filter, follow the steps, and taste what changes when ingredients and preparation change.

The class also covers how coffee beans are roasted and why condensed milk is a common partner for the strong brew. That context helps make the recipes more than a tasting flight. You leave with a clearer idea of how to recreate the drinks at home, though the exact equipment and ingredients you have available will affect the result.

The experience is designed to be social, not a formal lecture. Coffee is made in a comfortable setting, with music, cookies, and herbal tea or water available. The English-speaking instructor keeps the steps accessible, and the class is described as friendly and humorous. If you’re new to Vietnamese coffee, the practical demonstrations should make the process easy to follow.

A word about the tasting: five different coffees can mean a serious caffeine load. Some participants have found the drinks much stronger than the coffee they usually have at home. You don’t need to finish every cup to take part, so pace yourself, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine or have plans that need a steady hand.

Move from the coffee counter to lantern craft

After the coffee session, you head down the street to the lantern-making workshop. The short transfer is part of the charm: these aren’t distant stops requiring a bus or taxi, but two local businesses close to one another. The organizers may walk you between venues, making the handoff simple.

Lantern making turns the afternoon from tasting into making. You choose fabric from a range of colors and patterns, then work with a frame to create your own lantern. Some sessions offer a choice between assembling a lantern from bamboo and using a prebuilt frame. That gives you a choice between a more involved build and a simpler route to the finished piece.

The craft takes patience, but you don’t need prior experience. Instructors guide you step by step and help where needed, while leaving room for you to do the work yourself. Tam is one lantern instructor named by a participant, though staffing can vary. The broader appeal is the hands-on process: you see how the finished lantern comes together, rather than buying one without knowing what went into it.

The lantern is designed to fold for easier packing and transport. That matters if you’re moving around Vietnam with limited luggage space. You can take home something decorative that also carries a memory of the work involved. If you’d like to put it up at home, check that your chosen size suits your space and suitcase.

Timing depends in part on the lantern you choose. One account describes a small lantern taking about an hour and a half and a large one taking about two and a half hours. Those figures are useful for planning, but the listed combined experience lasts 210 minutes, so ask the organizer how your selected option fits the schedule when you reserve.

Why the coffee-and-craft pairing works

A coffee class on its own would teach you a daily ritual; a lantern workshop on its own would give you a craft project. Together, they make a fuller introduction to two recognizable parts of Hoi An’s local culture. You taste and prepare the drinks, then shift to a slower, tactile activity with a finished object to carry away.

The order also suits the pace of the day. Coffee making is lively and guided, with several recipes to work through. Lantern making offers a different kind of focus, and the coffee you’ve prepared can be enjoyed during the second session. Just remember the caffeine advice: a tasting is not a challenge to finish every cup.

The instructors are a key part of the format. The coffee hosts explain the methods and background, while lantern makers help you handle the materials. The class is not simply a demonstration where you watch from the sidelines. You make the drinks and take part in building the lantern, with help available when a step gets tricky.

Families and mixed-age groups may find the combination especially useful. One account describes children aged 12 and 15 staying engaged through both workshops. That doesn’t guarantee every child will love each step, but the shift from food and drink to a creative task gives the session variety. Adults who enjoy learning by doing will also have plenty to occupy them.

What $24 gets you

At $24 per person, this is a good-value way to fill about three and a half hours in Hoi An. The price includes coffee, cookies, herbal tea or water, an English guide, a local master, and the lantern-making activity. Most important, you leave with practical coffee methods and a lantern you made yourself.

The value is not just the number of cups or the souvenir. You get instruction in two different activities, and the classes are held close together. A comparable afternoon spent buying drinks and a lantern separately would not teach you how to make either one. Here, the process is part of what you pay for.

There are limits to keep in mind. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the meeting point on your own. The class is also a fixed-length activity, so it may not suit a day already packed with other tours. And while the lantern folds down, it is still a physical item to pack.

Finding the meeting point and planning your visit

The meeting point is at 12 Ba Trieu Street, behind Viettin Bank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant. The workshops are in central Hoi An, and the two class locations are close enough for a short walk between them. There is no hotel transfer, so allow time to reach the meeting point.

The activity is offered in English, with an English audio guide also listed. It is described as wheelchair accessible. If access needs are important to your plans, confirm the practical details with the provider before you go, since the information available does not describe the layout of each workshop.

Bring a camera if you’d like photos of the process or your finished lantern. You may find it useful to take a short video of the lantern work as well, since the steps can be easier to recall when you try them again. You don’t need special materials listed for the class.

Booking can be kept flexible: you can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation up to 24 hours in advance is eligible for a full refund. Check the available starting times for your date. The experience is run by Hoian Handicraft Tours.

Who will enjoy this class most

This is a strong fit if you want an activity that gives you more than a quick demonstration. You’ll make several coffees, learn a repeatable brewing method, and spend time creating a lantern with guidance. It suits curious coffee drinkers, craft-minded visitors, couples, and families looking for a shared activity in town.

It may be less appealing if you dislike caffeine, have little interest in making things, or want a short stop rather than a half-day commitment. The coffee can be strong, and lantern construction takes time. You can pace the tasting, but you should still be ready to spend a good part of the afternoon at the workshops.

The class also works well on a rainy day or when you want a break from walking around town. Both activities are indoors according to the workshop format described, but no specific weather arrangements are provided, so check with the operator if conditions might affect your plans.

Should you book it?

I’d book this if you want a hands-on Hoi An activity with a practical takeaway, and the idea of learning coffee and craft in one session appeals to you. The strongest reasons are the guided Phin brewing, the chance to try distinct Vietnamese coffee styles, and the foldable lantern you make yourself. At $24, the combination offers solid value for the time involved.

Think twice if caffeine affects you strongly or you’d rather spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace. If you go, sip the coffees instead of trying to finish them all, and leave enough room in your bag for the lantern. That small bit of planning should help you enjoy both halves of the class.

FAQ

How long is the activity?

The listed duration is 210 minutes, or three and a half hours. The coffee and lantern sessions take place at nearby venues.

How much does the class cost?

The listed price is $24 per person.

Which coffees will I make?

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

What is a Phin?

A Phin is a small metal filter used to brew Vietnamese coffee by dripping hot water through the grounds.

Do I get to take my lantern home?

Yes. You make a lantern to take home, and it is foldable for easier transport.

What is included in the price?

Coffee, cookies, herbal tea or water, an English guide, and a local master are included.

Is hotel pickup provided?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The meeting point is 12 Ba Trieu Street, behind Viettin Bank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant.

Is the class taught in English, and is it wheelchair accessible?

English instruction is listed, and the activity is described as wheelchair accessible.