A coffee class that ends in lantern making. In Hoi An, you learn Vietnamese coffee with a phin filter, then build a foldable lantern you can actually pack and use later.

I love that you make and taste five Vietnamese coffees, including egg coffee, so you leave with more than a single flavor memory. I also like the hands-on lantern part, where you get step-by-step support while you craft something souvenir-worthy.

One thing to plan for, there is no hotel pickup and drop-off, so you will need to reach the meeting spot on your own near 12 Ba Trieu St.

Key Things That Make This Experience Worth Your Time

• Five Vietnamese coffees brewed and tasted, not just a quick demo
• Phin filter brewing explained clearly, so you can repeat it at home
• Egg coffee and multiple signature styles like happy white coffee, Hue salt coffee, and Hanoi egg coffee
• Lantern making with travel in mind, the lantern folds for easier packing
• Family-run energy and lots of help, including an English-speaking guide and local master
• You pick lantern size and shape, which can change how long the lantern craft takes

Hoi An Lantern and Coffee: Why This Combo Works

This is the kind of activity that fits real Hoi An life. One part is sensory and social, coffee roasting, mixing, and sipping in a relaxed setup. The other part is creative and practical, lantern making that ends with something you can take home.

The best part is the logic of the flow. Coffee first, lanterns second. After you taste your way through Vietnamese coffee styles, your brain is calm enough to focus on the small details of folding and shaping fabric and frame pieces.

You will also get the cultural side without getting stuck in a lecture. You learn what goes into the brews and why the flavors come out the way they do, then you translate that into a handmade souvenir.

Meeting Point on 12 Ba Trieu St: Simple Logistics

You meet at a clear local landmark area: behind the Viettin Bank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant, at 12 Ba Trieu St. If you are using maps, zoom in close, because the area is busy and signposts matter.

Plan to arrive a few minutes early. This is especially helpful because you are about to do two hands-on activities in one afternoon. Also, there is no hotel pickup listed, so give yourself buffer time for getting oriented.

Good to know: the experience is listed as wheelchair accessible, and the instructor is English speaking. You can bring a camera if you want photos while you brew and craft.

Brewing Vietnamese Coffee With a Phin: What You Learn and Why It Matters

The coffee class centers on a small metal filter called a phin. Think of it as a slow-drip brewing method that creates concentration and depth, rather than a quick, watered-down pour. You will watch and do the steps, then taste what your work creates.

You learn the practical ingredients side too. Dark coffee beans get roasted in a way that supports the final flavor. Then you combine that brew with sweet condensed milk, which is the heart of a lot of Vietnamese coffee recipes.

If you have only had drip coffee back home, this part can feel like a small lightbulb moment. The phin method is slower, and the coffee comes out stronger and more characterful. That is a big reason this class works as value, you are not just tasting flavors, you are learning the mechanism behind them.

Your Five Coffees: Black, Happy White, Salt, Egg, and More

This class is built around five different types of Vietnamese coffee. You start with the core brews and build toward the more iconic ones.

Here is what you will encounter:

• Black coffee: the straightforward base, made through the phin method for a richer profile
• Happy white coffee: sweet and creamy, anchored by condensed milk
• Hue imperial salt coffee: a signature twist that combines salt and coffee for a different balance
• Hanoi capital egg coffee: the famous egg-based style, where the texture and taste are unmistakable
• You also create and enjoy additional variations after the main tastings, including coconut

A practical note: the coffee can be strong. Several people mention the caffeine hit, so pace yourself. If you are sensitive, take smaller sips across the tastings and save room for the lantern craft right after.

Egg Coffee Hands-On: How the Flavor Changes When You Add the Egg

Egg coffee is the headline for a reason. The class includes making egg coffee, which is not a typical home barista skill in most places. You will see how the egg component shifts the drink into something smoother and more dessert-like, not just a caffeinated beverage.

The key takeaway for you is the method: coffee plus condensed milk is one style, egg coffee is another, and the difference is how the texture and sweetness level up. If you love trying street-food flavors in a respectful way, this is a fun skill to take home and experiment with.

And because you brew with the phin, you also get the coffee base correct. That matters, because egg coffee still starts with the strength and character of the coffee itself.

The Break Moment: Music, Cookies, and Trying Your Creations

After you make your coffees, there is a small end-of-session treat. You get cookies and herbal tea or water, and you can sit, sip, and enjoy the experience with good music in a comfortable atmosphere.

This is not just fluff. That snack-and-sit moment makes the class feel like a real stop in the day, not a rushed factory of activities. It also gives you a mental cooldown before you shift into lantern building.

If you are planning your schedule, treat this as a coffee workshop, not a full meal. You might want to eat beforehand so you are not hungry while your hands are busy.

Moving to Lantern Making: A Nearby Craft Change of Pace

Once the coffee part wraps, you continue to the lantern making workshop nearby. People describe it as a short move, sometimes across the street, so it is not a whole transfer across town.

This matters for your energy. You are already wired from tasting multiple Vietnamese coffees, so you want minimal walking and no long travel stress. You also avoid having to figure out transit while you are mid-caffeine.

Expect a relaxed shift from tasting and brewing to quieter crafting, where patience pays off.

Building a Foldable Hoi An Lantern: What You Create and How It Packs

The lantern workshop is the creative payoff. You make a unique lantern souvenir with materials and guidance that keep the process manageable, even if you have never done crafts like this.

One of the best practical details is foldability. The lantern is designed so you can fold it for easier travel home and decorate with it later. That turns it from a “nice photo object” into something you can actually use.

You also get choices. People mention selecting fabric colors and patterns, and some say there are options for lantern size and shape. Some workshops also let you choose between building a lantern with a more hands-on frame approach or attaching fabric to a provided base. If your goal is simple and fast, ask what the easiest build is when you arrive.

Who Guides You: Family-Run, English Support, Real Local Talent

The experience is guided by an English-speaking instructor, plus a local master. The tone stays friendly and hands-on, and people repeatedly mention the guides keeping things funny and supportive while still explaining the process clearly.

A name that comes up in the experience is Tam. If she is your guide, you are in good hands for both coffee confidence and lantern making patience.

For you, the key is this: you are not left alone with tools. You get step-by-step help, and you can ask questions as you go. That makes a craft like lantern folding feel doable instead of intimidating.

Price and Value: Is $24 Worth Two Workshops?

At $24 per person for about 210 minutes, this is strong value for Hoi An. Why?

You are paying for two distinct, hands-on experiences in one block:

1) learning Vietnamese coffee brewing with a phin filter and tasting multiple styles

2) creating a foldable lantern souvenir that you can pack and keep

You also receive coffee, herbal tea or water, and cookies, plus English guidance and a local master. You are also getting a souvenir craft, which often costs extra in standalone workshops.

The one “cost” you should consider is time and focus. Two activities means you need to show up ready to participate. If you want total downtime, this might feel busy. If you like making things and learning by doing, it is an efficient use of an afternoon.

Timing Tips: How to Stay Comfortable During 3.5 Hours

Because the day includes both sipping and crafting, a little planning helps.

• Bring a camera and use it early, because lantern steps can get fiddly
• Keep sips smaller if you know you react strongly to coffee
• Expect your hands to be active during lantern building, so wear something comfortable
• If you are doing this on a hot day, plan for some time outside to get to the meeting point on your own

Also, this works well as a rainy day activity. Many people describe it that way because it is indoor-focused and structured.

Best Fit: Who This Class Is Perfect For

This is great for you if you want:

• a hands-on way to learn Vietnamese coffee culture
• a souvenir that is more than a postcard, you leave with something you can pack and use
• an activity that works for mixed interests, coffee lovers and craft fans both get something meaningful

It also suits families. People mention keeping teens engaged, which is a good sign that the pace is friendly and instructions are clear.

If you hate strong coffee, consider going in with low expectations for finishing every cup. You can pace it and enjoy the process more than the caffeine.

Should You Book This Hoi An Lantern and Coffee Class?

Yes, if you want a practical, creative afternoon that hits two real local themes: Vietnamese coffee and Hoi An lantern craft. The $24 price feels fair because you are not just watching. You are brewing, tasting, and building something foldable that you can take home.

I would skip it or choose carefully if you hate coffee flavors or you know you get overwhelmed by caffeine. Also, because there is no hotel pickup, make sure you are comfortable reaching the meeting point yourself.

If you like learning through your hands and you want a souvenir you will actually keep, this is an easy “book it” for Hoi An.

FAQ

How long is the Hoi An lantern and coffee making class?

The duration is 210 minutes.

What is included in the price?

It includes cookies, herbal tea or water, coffee, an English guide, and a local master.

What is not included?

Hotel pick up and drop-off are not included.

Where is the meeting point?

You meet behind the Viettin bank and opposite Le Ba Truyen restaurant, at 12 Ba Trieu St.

Is the class taught in English?

Yes. The instructor is English, and an English audio guide is included.

What coffee styles do you make?

The class includes making five different types of Vietnamese coffee, including black coffee, happy white coffee, Hue imperial salt coffee, and Hanoi capital egg coffee, plus other creations such as white coffee, egg coffee, and coconut.

Do you make egg coffee?

Yes, egg coffee is part of the experience.

Do you make a lantern too?

Yes. You make a foldable lantern as part of the class.

What should I bring?

Bring a camera.

Is there wheelchair access?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.