Hoi An Lantern Workshop – 2026 Update

Internationally Hoi An is probably best known for three things: The yellow buildings of the old town, its tailors and the hundreds if not thousands of colourful lanterns all over the city. You can’t walk down even one street without seeing several of them. Buying one as a souvenir is the first thing that will come to your mind, but why not make your own in a Hoi An Lantern Workshop, under the guidance of a crafting master?

Over the years I made many lanterns, the first in 2022, the last just earlier this year in 2026.

Making the lantern is a great experience and you not only leave with a unique souvenir (because you made it!) but also with a new appreciation for all the colourful lanterns all over the city and the people who make them. If you are worried about how to fit a lantern into your luggage: IT FOLDS!

Overview of the Hoi An Lantern Workshop

• The Lantern Lady Workshop
• How to make a lantern
• 2026 Lantern Workshop Update
• Workshop details and where to book

The Lantern Lady Workshop

The Lantern Lady has her Hoi An Lantern Workshop in the ancient town of Hoi An, near the Precious Heritage Museum. During my first two visits the workshop took place in fenced-in and corrugated sheet metal roofed courtyard. This year it in its stead stood a proper house! I am so happy that her hard work paid off in this way!

You can choose the shape or your lantern and the size. Based on your size choice you then pick your fabric. There are a lot more choices here, both in silk colours and in patterned fabric! And they change with the time to give returning visitors new options.

You’ll then be instructed on how to make your lantern. Several people walk between tables to help during the process, but you aren’t monitored constantly and can talk leisurely with everyone else at the table while crafting.

I met a few cool people here who also travelled alone or as a couple and we exchanged tips for our respective travels and our time in Hoi An. When you are travelling alone I recommend taking part in workshops to meet people who are interested in learning about local crafts and culture as much as you are.

How to make a Hoi An Lantern

First, you choose the shape of the lantern you want to make. Then you choose the silk or patterned fabric for your lantern. My favourite lantern to make is the medium sized traditional Hoi An shaped lantern.

After choosing four strips of silk or printed cloth they iron them for you to remove any wrinkles. Next you apply glue to the bamboo lantern skeleton. Applying the glue to the bamboo stakes is relatively easy, but applying the correct amount in an even way is complicated. Once the glue has dried just enough you are shown how to set and stretch the fabric to cover the stakes. At first, I was worried it would rip if I pulled it too tight, but the silk can take a lot of pulling. For your first lantern(s) I would recommend choosing silk as the patterned fabric is a lot more finicky.

The entire skeleton of the lantern has to be covered in silk, but there is a special technique to it, to make sure that once it’s done the overlays aren’t too visible. The second side you cover in silk is the one opposite the first. Only then do you cover the two remaining sides and finally cut off all overhand as closely to the stake as you can – without cutting the strings holding the lantern together.

I don’t know if it sounds easy from what I wrote here, but I thought it would be. Or at least easier than it turned out to be the first time. With every lantern you make it gets easier.

Once the lantern is covered you glue thick cardboard strips covered in the same (or a different) fabric around the top and bottom of the hanger to cover up the crooked fabric cut-offs.

In the last step you choose a tassel for the lantern base. Adorned with the tassel the lantern is done and left out to dry a bit more before you can fold it to bring it home.

2026 Update – Hoi An Lantern Workshop

Another visit to Hoian, another Lantern Workshop, or rather two this year. Once again I went back to the Lantern Lady to craft a Hoian Lantern. In total I made five lanterns during three visits in six years!

This year I made a red one for my other grandmother and a green one for my sister in law. However I also dragged several people I met during my time in Hoian here to make a lantern as well. Making a lantern is just one of the things you HAVE to do when you’re in Hoian. No matter how artistic- or crafting-inclined you are!

All the lanterns I made over the years and one from a friend I dragged with me to the workshop this year – from left to right:

1. Medium sized traditional Hoi An shaped lantern in red silk with a gold tassel – for myself
2. Small diamond shaped lantern in turquoise silk with a turquoise tassel – for my parents
3. Small round one with a red and flower patterned lantern and a red tassel – for my grandmother
4. Small diamond shaped one with a colourful pattern and a red tassel – for my grandma
5. Large top heavy lantern with green cloth with a bird pattern – for my sister in law
6. my friends lantern