Hoi An: Foldable Lantern Making Class with Acrylic Painting

Hoi An’s lantern-making class gives you a hands-on souvenir: a small bamboo frame, fabric of your choice and acrylic paint, all turned into a lantern you can take home. I like that the process is broken into clear steps, so you do not need to arrive with an artist’s hand or a plan.

Two things make the class especially appealing: local craftsmen help you choose fabric, brushes and colors, and the finished lantern is yours to keep. You can also take different creative routes. One person might choose silk, while a companion focuses on painting.

The main consideration is scale. The frame is usually about 20cm, so this is a small craft project rather than a full-size lantern-making session. At $20 per person, the price includes materials and a light refreshment, but not transport or a meal.

At a glance

• Make a mini lantern: Work with a bamboo frame usually around 20cm in size.
• Choose your own look: Select fabric, then decorate it with acrylic colors and brushes.
• Get hands-on guidance: Local craftsmen help with fabric placement and choosing tools and colors.
• Enjoy a small welcome: Vietnamese tea and dry crispy coconut are included.
• Plan for two hours: The class is taught in English at 40 Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street.
• Take home your work: One lantern is included for each person.

A small lantern, made one step at a time

This is a craft workshop, not a demonstration where you watch someone else do the work. You receive a bamboo frame and take part in shaping the finished piece, first by choosing and placing fabric, then by painting it with acrylics. The order makes sense: you build the base before adding your own design.

The frame is usually about 20cm across, so keep expectations in proportion. You will be making a mini lantern, not a large fixture for a room. That smaller scale is useful if you want a manageable project within a two-hour class, and it means the finished piece is easier to carry home.

I like that the result is personal without requiring a complicated skill set. You choose the fabric and colors, while the local craftsmen help you with practical decisions such as which brushes to use. If you are unsure where to begin, you can ask for guidance rather than guessing your way through the materials.

Tea, coconut and a gentle start

On arrival, you are welcomed with Vietnamese tea and dry crispy coconut. It is a modest but pleasant way to settle in before the making begins. The snack is part of the experience, but it is not a meal, so plan your food around the class if you will be hungry.

The activity details also say food is not allowed. That refers to bringing food into the workshop; the tea and coconut described as part of the welcome are included. Other food and drinks are not part of the price.

The class is taught in English, which helps when you are learning how to place the fabric and make choices about materials. The instructor is described as an English speaker, but no individual guide’s name is provided. You will be working with local craftsmen rather than following a recorded set of instructions.

Choosing fabric for your frame

After the welcome, you receive your bamboo frame and learn how fabric is placed into it. The material matters because it forms the visible surface of the lantern, so choosing a fabric you like is more than a small decorative decision. Your guide can explain the options and help you understand what may work best.

There is room to make the project your own. A verified participant, Saga from Nepal, described using silk for one lantern while their partner painted another. That offers a useful idea for couples or friends: you do not need to make matching pieces or take the same approach. One person can focus on fabric, while the other makes painting the main feature.

The activity details do not name specific fabric types beyond that example of silk, so do not count on a particular material being available. If you have a strong preference, you can ask the provider before booking. The point is to choose from what is offered in the workshop, with help from the people who work with the materials.

Painting with acrylics

Once the fabric is in place, you move on to acrylic paint and brushes. This is the part where a plain lantern becomes your own design. You can work with the colors and tools provided, and the craftsmen can help you choose suitable brushes and colors.

You do not need to arrive with a finished design in mind. If you enjoy drawing or painting, you can treat the lantern as a small canvas. If you would rather keep things simple, a few colors and a straightforward pattern may be enough. The class gives you a chance to make those choices at your own pace, with guidance available.

Acrylics are included, as are the tools and one lantern per person. That matters when judging the price: you are not being asked to bring your own paint kit or pay separately for the piece you make. The experience is still a craft class, so your final design will reflect your own choices and the time you spend on it, not a promise of a professionally finished product.

The class takes about two hours in total. That gives you time for the welcome, fabric placement and painting, though the available details do not specify how long you will spend on each step. If you tend to be careful with creative projects, you may want to keep your design manageable so you have time for the finishing touches.

What the $20 price covers

At $20 per person, the class offers a practical blend of instruction, materials and a take-home item. You get one lantern, acrylic colors, tools, Vietnamese tea and dry crispy coconut. The value is strongest if you want to make something yourself rather than simply buy a lantern as a souvenir.

It is less useful if you are mainly looking for a large or elaborate finished piece. The frame is usually around 20cm, and the focus is the making process, not a full-scale craft commission. Think of the price as paying for a guided activity and a small handmade keepsake, with the materials already included.

There is an important price exception: workshops on Vietnamese public holidays cost 50% extra, payable in cash at the meeting point. Check your dates before booking, and bring cash if your session falls on a public holiday. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and other expenses not listed are also extra.

Getting there and planning your visit

The meeting point is 40 Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in Hoi An. You will need to make your own way there, since hotel transfers are not included. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible and uses a separate entrance to skip the line.

The class lasts two hours, but starting times depend on availability. Check the date and time options before you commit your plans. The provider, Sky Travel, says it will send booking confirmation one day in advance, so supply a phone number that you can reach on WhatsApp.

Booking can be made with the reserve-now, pay-later option, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Those terms add flexibility, but the public-holiday surcharge remains a separate cash payment at the meeting point.

Pets are not allowed. The food restriction is worth noting too: bring no outside food, although the included tea and coconut are part of the welcome. You might want to eat before or after the class if a snack will not be enough.

Who will enjoy this class most

This is a good fit if you like doing something with your hands and want a souvenir that carries a little of your own effort. It is also well suited to pairs with different tastes. The silk-and-painting example shows how two people can make distinct pieces rather than follow one template.

Families or groups with mixed artistic confidence may appreciate the step-by-step format, though the available details do not specify age limits or group size. If you are booking with children, ask the provider about age suitability rather than assuming. The English instruction and direct help from craftsmen should make the process easier to follow.

You may want to skip it if you have little interest in crafts, need a full-size lantern, or are trying to fit several sights into a tight schedule. Two hours is a meaningful block of time, and the activity works best when you can focus on the making instead of watching the clock.

Should you book it?

Book this class if you want a low-key, creative break in Hoi An and like the idea of leaving with a lantern you helped design. The materials, instruction, tea and coconut are included for $20, which makes the price sensible for a guided activity with a take-home piece.

Before booking, be comfortable with the small frame and check whether your date falls on a Vietnamese public holiday, when the price rises by 50% in cash. If those details suit your plans, this is a pleasant way to spend two hours making a personal souvenir rather than choosing one from a shop shelf.

FAQ

How long does the lantern-making class last?

The class lasts two hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How much does the class cost?

The listed price is $20 per person. Workshops on Vietnamese public holidays cost 50% extra, payable in cash at the meeting point.

What will I make?

You will make one mini lantern per person using a bamboo frame, fabric and acrylic paint. The frame is usually about 20cm in size.

What is included in the price?

The price includes Vietnamese tea, dry crispy coconut, acrylic colors, tools and one lantern per person.

Is the class taught in English?

Yes. The instructor language is English.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is 40 Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in Hoi An.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I bring food or pets?

No. Food and pets are not allowed. Vietnamese tea and dry crispy coconut are provided as part of the activity.

What happens after I book?

The activity provider will send confirmation one day in advance. Provide a phone number that can receive WhatsApp messages. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.