Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop with a Coffee

Vietnamese coffee is not just a strong cup at the end of a meal. At Trí Long Coffee, you get to make one yourself, choosing from styles such as phin-filter, egg, salt, or coconut coffee while a local roaster explains the craft and culture behind it.

I like two things here: you get a real hands-on lesson, rather than only a tasting, and the choice of coffee styles lets you focus on a drink that interests you. You also get to sit down with your finished cup and music after the making is done.

The main consideration is time. The activity is described as lasting from one to two and a half hours, with a two-hour session listed, so check the start time and expected length before building it into a busy day.

• Choose your coffee style: Make phin-filter coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee, or coconut coffee.
• Learn from a local roaster: Hear how coffee moves from crop to cup, along with stories about Vietnamese cafés and coffee culture.
• Make and drink your own cup: Equipment and instruction are included, as is the coffee you prepare.
• Stay at one Hoi An café: The class takes place at Trí Long Coffee, so there is no transfer between stops.
• Plan around the variable duration: Sessions run from one hour to 150 minutes, with a two-hour class indicated.
• Pay $16 per person: The price covers the workshop and one coffee, but not transport, food, or extra drinks.

A coffee lesson with more than one route

The heart of the class is choosing how you want to meet Vietnamese coffee. You can work with the familiar phin filter, or try a style that changes the cup with egg, salt, or coconut. That choice matters: it makes the workshop a little more personal than a single fixed demonstration, and it gives you a reason to pay attention to how technique and ingredients affect flavor.

If you already know one of these drinks from a café menu, this is your chance to see the making side of it. If the names are new, you can use the session to compare styles and ask the instructor about the differences. The class is designed as a hands-on experience, so you should expect to do some of the work yourself rather than simply watch someone brew.

The listed class length is about two hours, but the stated range runs from one hour to 150 minutes. That is a broad spread for an activity of this kind. Confirm the specific session length when you check availability, particularly if you have a meal, tour, or onward journey planned soon afterward.

Starting at Trí Long Coffee

You meet at Trí Long Coffee in Hoi An and should arrive ten minutes before the class. The workshop stays at the coffee shop, which keeps the logistics simple: there is no transport between locations, and the lesson does not ask you to spend half the session walking from one stop to another.

That simplicity is useful if you are fitting the activity between sightseeing plans. It also means that the café itself is the setting for the lesson and tasting, rather than a roastery visit followed by a separate café stop. The provided details do not specify the group size or the layout of the shop, so if either matters to you, ask before booking.

Bring comfortable clothes and shoes. A camera is suggested for capturing the coffee-making process, and you may want water, cash, a hat, and sunscreen, especially if your session includes time outdoors. The directions mention possible outdoor sections, but do not describe exactly where or how long they are.

From coffee crop to cup

The instructor introduces the journey from crop to cup and places Vietnamese coffee in its cultural setting. You can also expect stories about popular cafés and their connection to the country’s history and everyday life. This context gives the practical steps a reason to stick: you are learning not only how to make a drink, but why certain styles have become part of local coffee culture.

The workshop is in English, which makes the explanation accessible to English-speaking participants. No instructor name is provided, so you cannot request a particular teacher based on the information available. The experience is offered by Hiep Travel and led by a local coffee roaster.

A French participant found the method of making coffee quite different from what they were used to at home. That is a useful expectation to bring with you: come ready to compare, not to assume the local method is simply another version of your usual brew. Even if you drink coffee every day, the choice of preparation may give you something new to notice.

Choosing between phin, egg, salt, and coconut coffee

The phin filter is the straightforward choice if you want to focus on a traditional brewing method. Egg, salt, and coconut coffee give you other ways to explore how Vietnamese coffee is prepared and served. The activity does not provide detailed descriptions of each recipe, so it is best to ask your instructor what distinguishes the options before choosing.

If you are unsure, let your curiosity decide. Choose a style you have never tried, or pick the one you most want to recreate later. Since the workshop includes making and tasting a cup, the decision is not just about what sounds good on a menu. You get to take part in preparing the drink and then judge the result for yourself.

The class emphasizes the aroma and flavor of expertly roasted beans, but it does not promise a particular roast, bean origin, or recipe. If you have dietary concerns, ask about the ingredients in the coffee styles before settling on one. The supplied details do not specify allergen accommodations or alternative recipes.

The tasting is part of the lesson

At the end, you drink the coffee you made in the café’s comfortable setting, with music. This is a small but worthwhile finish. The cup is not an afterthought; tasting it gives you a chance to connect the brewing steps with the result and notice what you like.

You receive one coffee made by you as part of the price. Food and extra drinks are not included, so treat this as a coffee workshop rather than a meal. If you are hungry, plan to eat separately, and do not assume the $16 covers a second cup or anything from the café menu.

There is a nice balance to the format: instruction, a practical task, and time to enjoy what you made. It is not described as a formal tasting with several cups, so you should not expect a broad flight of coffees. The value lies in learning one chosen style well enough to appreciate the work behind it.

Is $16 good value?

At $16 per person, the price covers an instructor, the hands-on activity, necessary equipment, and one coffee you prepare. For a short cultural class with a drink included, that is a fair package, especially if you value doing something rather than only buying a coffee and moving on.

The price looks less complete if you expect transport, food, or multiple drinks. None of those are included. Since the meeting point is the coffee shop itself, you will need to arrange your own way there and budget separately for anything else you want to eat or drink.

The workshop can also be a good use of a free stretch in your Hoi An schedule. It gives you a local activity without requiring a full-day commitment, though the upper end of the duration range is two and a half hours. If your day is tightly planned, check the specific time before you commit.

Who will enjoy this workshop most

I would consider this a good fit if you are curious about Vietnamese food and drink, like learning by doing, or want a relaxed break from walking around Hoi An. It also suits coffee drinkers who are open to trying a preparation method that may be different from their routine at home.

It is less suitable if you want a quick tasting with a guaranteed short finish, a coffee tour that visits several venues, or a meal included in the price. The workshop takes place at one café and focuses on making one selected style. People over 95 are listed as not suitable for the activity.

You do not need to arrive with coffee expertise. The experience is presented as a lesson for making and tasting, with the instructor and equipment provided. Comfortable clothes, a little curiosity, and enough time in your schedule are the useful essentials.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want more than a café stop and are interested in how Vietnamese coffee is made. The strongest reasons are the hands-on format, the choice of four styles, and the cultural explanation from a local roaster. At $16, it offers a practical introduction at a modest cost.

Skip it if you have very little time, want transport or food included, or prefer a class with a guaranteed short duration. Check the session length, arrive ten minutes early at Trí Long Coffee, and ask about ingredients if you have dietary needs. If those details work for your plans, this is an appealing way to turn a cup of coffee into a small, useful lesson in Hoi An.

FAQ

How much does the workshop cost?

The listed price is $16 per person. It includes the instructor, equipment, hands-on coffee making, and one cup of coffee made by you.

How long does the activity last?

The stated duration ranges from one hour to 150 minutes. A two-hour session is described, so check the available start times and session length when booking.

Where does the workshop take place?

The meeting point is Trí Long Coffee in Hoi An. You should come directly to the coffee shop.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive ten minutes before the activity starts.

Which kinds of coffee can I make?

You can choose phin-filter coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee, or coconut coffee.

Is the workshop taught in English?

Yes. The instructor language is English.

Is transport included?

No. Transportation is not included, and you need to make your own way to Trí Long Coffee.

Are food and extra drinks included?

No. Food and additional drinks are not included. The price covers one cup of coffee that you make.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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

What should I bring, and who is the activity not suitable for?

Comfortable clothes and shoes are recommended. You may also want a hat, camera, water, cash, and sunscreen. The activity is listed as not suitable for people over 95 years old.