Vietnam · LANTERN EXPERIENCES
There is never a spare day going. These 15 lantern experiences are the ones that earn the slot, priced and timed so the choice takes minutes.
Choose a 90-minute express class or a two-hour full workshop with Hoian Handicraft Tours. You will select silk, shape bamboo, build or decorate a lantern, and learn to fold it for your luggage. Traditional tea, music, an English-speaking instructor, a translator, and a small host gift are included.
“we had so much fun. fantastic studio with many options, young teachers all spoke great English”
At a family-run workshop in Hoi An’s Cam Pho district, you’ll build a foldable silk lantern from its bamboo frame up. Choose a lotus, diamond, sunrise, or sunset shape, select silk and tassel colors, and work with English-speaking instructors such as Tam, Huy, and Vie Vie. The two-hour class includes herbal tea, water, and a special lantern made by your instructor.
“Have a great experience making the lantern. This is a family run business and they are so funny. They kept us laughing for 2 hours straight and we wound up with 2 beautiful lanterns as souvenirs ❤️”
Meet your English-speaking guide at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust on Tran Phu Street. You’ll walk five minutes to the dock, board a private wooden boat for up to five people, and release one paper lantern per person as Hoi An glows around you. The ride lasts 10 to 15 minutes and focuses on scenery, not commentary.
“This was well worth booking… the normal queue for the boats was long and chaotic. My guide messaged me earlier in the day with meeting point, so met there and he escorted us down to the river and immediately onto a boat. No messing around, was great experience”
Meet Sanna Tour at 153 Tran Phu Street, near the Japanese Bridge, then walk five minutes to the Hoai River. You’ll take a 20-minute evening boat ride, release a paper lantern, and receive herbal tea, an 8GB 24-hour eSIM, and local call credit. The ride is short, peaceful, and most atmospheric after dark.
“The boat ride was a lovely memory to have and the views were beautiful. We got some tea and lanterns to release which was a lovely touch. Would definitely recommend to everyone .”
Meet at White Rose Restaurant at 4:30 pm for a small-group walk through Hoi An’s Old Town. Try banh mi, white rose dumplings, cao lau, coffee, and a four-course local meal, then play bingo or break a clay pot, ride a shared lantern boat, and release your own floating lantern.
“What a fun evening with our tour guide Jackie. She was a joy to be with on this tour. Her knowledge of the food, the places, people and the city was amazing. Not only were the food choices excellent but we also got to play a local "bingoRead more”
At The Lantern Lady workshop in Hoi An, you can make a 20 cm bamboo lantern with help from English-speaking instructors, including Thuy. Choose colorful silk, work at your own pace, and take home a foldable souvenir. You can also choose a paper lantern to light and float on the river. Allow 90 minutes to two hours.
“Amazing! They were so helpful, kind, and patient throughout the entire process. It was a nice break and moment of stillness and silence midst the busy traveling and exploring”
At a local lantern shop on 3/6 Phan Boi Chau Street, an English-speaking instructor guides you through choosing a shape, fabric, and tassel before helping you build a foldable 20 cm lantern. The one-hour class is hands-on, relaxed, wheelchair accessible, and suitable for rainy afternoons.
“Awesome activity and way to fill an hour. You get to make the lantern from start to finish and personalize it. It's gorgeous!”
Spend about five and a half hours with an English-speaking guide such as Anna, Linh, or Thao, shopping for ingredients, riding a bamboo basket boat through Hoi An’s nipa forest, cooking pho, banh xeo, banh cuon, and che, then making a lantern. The lantern activity uses fabric and glue rather than painting.
“Thank you very much to Lin it was perfect, we had so much fun !”
Meet your English-speaking greeter at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust near 140 Tran Phu Street, then walk five minutes to the river. Board a wooden boat for a 15-minute night cruise, light one flower lantern per person, make a wish, and release it on the water. Boats hold one to five passengers.
“Le type du bateau nous a même pas informé de faire un vœux avant la mise à l’eau de notre lanterne… 🙄 Il les a allumées dès le début 🤦♀️, manque de charme. Décevant”
Spend 210 minutes learning five Vietnamese coffee styles with an English-speaking local host, then walk to a nearby family workshop to make a foldable silk lantern. You will use a phin filter, prepare condensed-milk coffee, egg coffee, coconut coffee, and Hue salt coffee, then choose fabrics and receive patient help from lantern makers including Tam.
“Both the coffee class and the lantern making were super fun and informative. The guides were very knowledgeable and helpful.”
At The Lantern Lady on Phan Boi Chau Street, an English-speaking local instructor guides you through making a 20-centimeter garlic-shaped Vietnamese lantern. Choose fabric and design, hear why lanterns bring luck and prosperity, and leave with a foldable souvenir that fits easily in your luggage. The class suits families with children aged 3 and older.
“We loved the activity. Very clean place, downtown but away from the noise. Super friendly family.”
Travel from Da Nang to Hoi An for a private afternoon and evening walk through the ancient town, followed by a 30-minute sampan ride on the Hoai River and time at the lantern-lit night market. English-speaking guides such as Chang, Ken, Minh, and Mr. Hung are praised for history, local tips, and flexible free time.
“Fantastic from start to end. Minh had great knowledge of the city's history, took us to all the best points of interest and helped a young family of 5 navigate the chaos of a busy tourist destination. From finding temples, historic houses and mRead more”
Spend about five hours seeing Hoi An’s old town, Cam Thanh’s coconut forest, and the night market. You’ll visit historic buildings, ride a bamboo basket boat, eat a local dinner, and take a 15-minute Hoai River cruise with one floating lantern. Guides such as Tin Tin, Thuy, Emma, and Harry are known for warm, helpful hosting.
“The night boat trip was something to be seen to be believed amazing . Lots of bright lights and colours”
Meet Minh at 37 Nguyen Phuc Chu, near Vini Mark, for a private 20-minute lantern boat ride on Hoi An’s Hoai River. You’ll receive one paper lantern, make a wish, and release it into the water while viewing the old town at night. Minh can help with photos and boat access, though the 7 to 8 pm period can be crowded.
“Our guide was great and very knowledgeable about local history.”
Leave Da Nang around 3:30 pm for Marble Mountain’s caves and Linh Ung Pagoda, then continue to Hoi An for a Vietnamese dinner, the Japanese Bridge, lantern-lit streets, and the night market. An English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, bottled water, and round-trip transport are included. Guides may include Tim, Thao, Tee, Long, Anna, or Loan.
“My sister and I recently toured Vietnam and were so happy we included this excursion. At the start of the excursion we were able to visit a temple, we were able to have a dinner with the group, and we ended the night at the night market where we had the fun experience of taking the lantern boat ride then some shopping.”
Pick a boat, a bike or a plastic stool.
