Hoi An Lantern Making: What to Expect

A lantern workshop is a good fit for a calm half day in Hoi An. You choose colours, shape or cover a frame, and leave with something you made. The practical question is the flight home, so plan the packing before you buy.

What happens in a lantern making workshop?

You sit at a table with a bamboo frame, pieces of silk or fabric and glue. A teacher shows you each step, then you work at your own pace. Hoi An’s Old Town was inscribed on the UNESCO (the United Nations cultural agency) World Heritage List in 1999¹, and the lantern lanes are part of why people come.

The steps are simple:

• Choose the shape and colours.
• Cover the frame with fabric or silk.
• Trim, glue and decorate the edges.
• Let it set, then add the hanging cord.

Workshops differ in how much of the frame you build, so ask about that in advance.

How much time should you allow?

Treat it as a short session, not a full outing. The duration changes between workshops. Ask for the start and finish time, and add time for walking there, drying and photos.

A morning or late-afternoon slot works well. Avoid the hottest hours if the workshop room has no fan or air conditioning. If you pair it with a cooking class, as in a Hoi An cooking class, keep the two on separate halves of the day.

How do you carry a lantern home?

This is the part to plan early. Silk lanterns are light, but the frame can crush.

• Ask whether the lantern folds flat. Folding frames travel far better.
• Pack it in hand baggage between soft clothes so it does not get bent.
• If it is large, ask the shop to wrap it in a box.
• Check your airline’s cabin and checked baggage rules before you buy a big one.
• Keep it away from heavy items.

For an airport that suits your Malaysian departure, see which arrival airport fits. Two small lanterns are easier to pack than one big one.

Who enjoys it most?

• Young families: children enjoy choosing colours and gluing. Adults should handle scissors.
• Slow couples: a calm, creative hour, and a keepsake from the trip.
• Photographers: the colours of finished lanterns make good close-up subjects.

If you want something more physical, look at Thanh Ha Pottery Village. For ideas with small children, read cultural experiences that work for young children.

What should you check before you book?

• The start time, the finish time and the language of instruction.
• Which steps you do yourself.
• Whether the lantern folds flat.
• What the price includes: materials, drinks and a box.

See the Hoi An city guide for where to stay, and browse Attractions and culture for more ideas.