Bamboo Workshop in Hoi An – Crafting a bamboo lamp

Half a day of woodworking in 30° Celsius heat might not be something you think of when thinking about things to do on vacation. I am here to tell you why you should consider taking part in a bamboo workshop in Hoi An anyway (I almost didn’t do it either) and how it shaped my understanding of the people and culture of central Vietnam.

When I booked my accommodation in Hoi An on AirBnB I was recommended things to do in the city. One of them was a bamboo workshop in Hoi An at a bamboo workshop. (You will read bamboo workshop a lot in this article, I apologise in advance.)

At first, I didn’t book it, mainly because I didn’t know how much time I would have in Hoi An, but also because I wasn’t sure how I would ever get anything home I made. It seems like that is a common problem because some people who completed the workshop left what they crafted. To be upfront: I did end up buying a big suitcase for the journey back home. Not only because of this workshop, but it did play a part in the decision.

I am really glad I decided to book the workshop though because it turned out to be a great experience.

The Taboo Bamboo Studio

The Taboo Bamboo Studio is located in Cam Thanh village, roughly 6km from the Old Town of Hoi An. If you rent a scooter or a bicycle you’ll be there in no time, while travelling through the rice fields and less busy streets of Hoi An. I would’ve had the chance to take a bicycle for free from my Homestay (Flame Flower Homestay) but because of health problems, I wasn’t able to leave my room until less than 15 minutes before the workshop was supposed to start. So I called a motorbike taxi on Grab.

The driver took me there in a very short time, but I was still late. When he took back the helmet he asked if he should wait for me; when I replied that I would be there for at least four hours he explained that I most likely wouldn’t be able to find a Grab to take me back, so we exchanged numbers.

When I asked if everyone else was already in the workshop area I was met with confusion. That’s when I found out I was the only tourist there. A recurring theme during this trip.

The workshop itself looks very basic and quite cluttered at first, but when you take a closer look you notice that everything has its place and that the tools they have are perfect for their purpose.

My teacher told me about Tan and his family, the founders of this workshop. They have been in the bamboo business for three generations. Tan, the current owner, made it his mission to maintain this traditional craft by combining modern design with new technologies and opening up the workshop for tourists and groups as well, teaching the next generation about these age-old techniques.

As for the tourist side of things: The bamboo workshop certainly is a unique thing to do. That doesn’t mean that the craft itself isn’t traditional.

Crafting a lamp in the bamboo workshop in Hoi An

You can see the crafting process from left to right in the gallery below.

Step 1: Choose a design.

Step 3: Drawing the design on the bamboo with a pencil.

Step 2: Cut a piece of bamboo off a long bamboo tube with a hand saw.

Step 4: Drill holes of different sizes into the bamboo using the industrial standing drill (bamboo doesn’t splinter as wood does, so the drilled holes are very clean)… I did accidentally break the thinnest drillbit… luckily that was just after Tan had arrived and they replaced it, reassuring me that they wear out over time.

Step 5: Use a jigsaw to cut out the lotus flower design. I needed a lot of help with the one because I just couldn’t hold the saw steady.

Step 6: Sand down the outer layer of the bamboo with a sanding machine. I did try but again needed help as I was barely able to hold the sanding machine while it was going.

Step 7: Flame the design. This is done to make the design stand out in colour.

Step 8: Sand down the bamboo by hand.

Step 9: Spray the bamboo with varnish.

Then you repeat the 8th and 9th steps.

Step 10: Insert a base with a lightbulb into the bamboo tube which turns it into a lamp.

Step 11: Use a soldering pin to burn your name / date / anything-you-want-to-write into the bamboo

While sanding down the bamboo my teacher and Tan sat down at the table with me. My teacher was working on a bamboo bird, telling me how the bamboo animals are his sons’ favourite toys. Tan was working on electric parts, setting up lightbulbs on bases and connecting said bases to wires.

Knowing all the steps, the drawing talent, the precision and the sheer strength that is needed to complete just one lamp makes me appreciate the work that goes into creating things from bamboo even more.

Knowing all the steps, the drawing talent, the precision and the sheer strength that is needed to complete just one lamp makes me appreciate the work that goes into creating things from bamboo even more.

My thoughts on the Bamboo Workshop:

If you want to learn more about a traditional handicraft of Central Vietnam, while also creating a truly unique souvenir, this is the thing to do. Sure, some people will prefer to sit at the beach and drink a mimosa, but you can do that anywhere. To connect to a place and its people you have to immerse yourself in the local culture. You don’t have to have any woodworking skills to take this workshop!