Coffee and lanterns, in one calm afternoon. I love learning the step-by-step Phin coffee brew method and tasting multiple styles like egg coffee with a friendly team guiding you. You also make a foldable lantern to take home. Only catch: there’s no hotel pickup, so you’ll need to get to the meeting point yourself.

The session runs about 3 hours 30 minutes, with a max group size of 20. Expect dark-roast bean talk, hands-on brewing, and a relaxed wrap-up where you drink what you made alongside a cookie and good music. Then you switch gears from cup to craft, using the coffee while you build your lantern so the whole thing feels less like a stressful class and more like a do-it-yourself evening project.

Hoian Handicraft Tours runs this at 10C Bà Triệu in Cam Phổ, Hoi An, and you finish back where you started.

Key highlights at a glance

• Phin coffee filter brewing: Learn the local method using a small metal filter that works like a French press cousin
• Hands-on tasting and making: You don’t just watch, you make black, white, salt, egg, and coconut styles
• Dark roast and condensed milk: Get clear steps for roasting and pairing flavors
• Unique foldable lantern: Make something you can actually take home and use right away
• Small group vibe: Kept to 20 travelers max, so questions do not get swallowed

Why this Hoi An combo class works so well

Hoi An has plenty of things you can buy. This is different. You’re not just taking in the sights, you’re working with your hands in a low-pressure way, first with coffee, then with lantern crafting.

I like that the two activities support each other. Your coffee time is educational, and it ends with you tasting what you made. Then the lantern part feels easier because you’re already settled in, plus you get to enjoy the coffee while you build. That small pacing choice matters in real life. It turns a workshop into something you’ll remember.

The other reason I think it’s a smart pick is the focus. Instead of a long, vague “cultural experience,” you get a clear sequence: learn the Phin method, make several specific Vietnamese coffee types, then create a foldable lantern you can decorate with later.

Coffee class: mastering the Phin filter brew

The coffee portion centers on the Phin, a small metal filter used for local Vietnamese-style coffee. If you’ve only had Vietnamese coffee as a finished drink, this part gives you the “how it works” piece.

Here’s what you can expect in practical terms:

• You’ll be shown how local coffee is brewed with the Phin filter.
• You’ll learn the steps behind roasting dark beans so the flavor profile comes through the way it’s supposed to.
• You’ll work with sweet condensed milk, including how it fits into the process so the end cups taste balanced rather than flat.

The Phin matters because it changes the texture and concentration of the brew. It’s not about fancy equipment, it’s about method. You’ll learn how that method connects to taste, which is exactly what you want if you’re a coffee person or you’re traveling with a coffee curious friend.

Also, you’ll get to make the coffee styles, not just watch someone do it. In a short class, that hands-on time is where the value lives.

The five Vietnamese coffee styles you make and drink

This class is built around multiple named coffee types, and that structure helps you compare flavors instead of guessing. You’ll make and enjoy several styles that cover sweet, salty, and egg-based profiles, plus a coconut option.

You can count on making these:

• Black coffee
• White coffee
• Hue Imperial salt coffee
• Ha Noi capital egg coffee
• Coconut coffee

Why I think this variety is a win: it gives you a quick, at-home-friendly tasting framework. After the class, you’ll understand which styles you actually like and why. If you’re building a short Hoi An list of “one good activity per day,” this is efficient, because it hits coffee diversity in a single 3.5-hour slot.

Then comes a calm landing. You sip the coffee you made, and you get a cookie at the end. There’s also music during the session, so the room stays comfortable rather than classroom stiff.

From coffee cups to a foldable Hoi An lantern

After coffee, you switch to lantern making. This is where the class becomes a craft lesson you can physically take home with you.

A few details that make the lantern part practical:

• You create a unique lantern during the workshop.
• The lantern you leave with is foldable, so it’s easier to pack than a fragile, fixed-shape souvenir.
• You’ll make it while enjoying the coffee you prepared, which helps keep the energy steady.

I also appreciate the simple “stress reducing” idea built into the flow. Lantern making can feel tricky if you’re tense. Having a drink in hand and already being in a relaxed mode makes the instruction feel less intimidating.

And because the lantern is for decorating and for enjoying after you get back, you’re not left with something that’s just for a photo and then disappears into a bag.

Timing, group size, and what “3.5 hours” feels like

The tour runs about 3 hours 30 minutes. With two different skills packed into that time, you might wonder how rushed it will feel. The good news is the structure keeps you moving in short segments rather than waiting around.

Group size is capped at 20 travelers, which helps a lot. In small groups, instructors can correct technique without making you feel lost. It also keeps the pace comfortable, so you can ask questions while you’re working.

One more practical note: the end time matters less than the meeting point. Because there’s no hotel pickup, you’ll want to arrive on time. The activity ends back at the meeting point, which makes it simple to plug into your day.

Price and value: is $29 worth it?

At $29 per person, this is priced like a hands-on workshop rather than a full-day tour. The real question is what you get for that money.

You’re paying for:

• Instruction and guidance for brewing Vietnamese coffee with a Phin filter
• Making multiple named coffee styles (black, white, salt, egg, coconut)
• Coffee and/or tea plus snacks
• The lantern workshop and a foldable lantern to take home
• A cookie during the session
• A small-group setting (20 max)

If you compare it to separate activities, two skills in one half-day usually wins on value. You’re basically getting a coffee tasting and making class plus a craft you can display. The biggest cost you save is time, because you don’t need to schedule two separate tours.

Also, this is the kind of experience where the “value” is emotional, not just physical. Learning how coffee gets made gives you a story you can repeat. The lantern gives you a souvenir that actually gets used.

Meeting point reality: no pickup means you should plan ahead

This is one of those tours where location details matter. There’s no hotel pickup or drop-off.

Your start point is:

• 10C Bà Triệu, Phường Cẩm Phổ, Hội An, Quảng Nam 560000, Vietnam

The good part is the logistics are straightforward. You start there, you finish back there.

Two practical tips:

• Give yourself extra time to find the exact address and enter the correct area.
• Use the mobile ticket method listed for the activity so you can check in quickly.

If you’re staying in the central Hoi An area, this is usually manageable with local transport. If you’re farther out, plan for it earlier in the day so you’re not sprinting to the meeting point.

Who should book this (and who might skip it)

I think this tour is a strong match if:

• You like coffee and want to understand how it’s made, not just drink it
• You want a craft souvenir that you actually take home and display
• You’re traveling in a group that includes different interests, since coffee and lanterns cover both
• You want something family-friendly in a hands-on format, since the class is run by a local team and works well as an active workshop

You might choose another activity if:

• You’re mainly interested in big, sightseeing-style tours rather than workshop time
• You need hotel pickup to feel comfortable with timing and logistics

Should you book this Hoi An lantern and coffee class?

Yes, if you want a practical, hands-on Hoi An experience that mixes flavor learning with a real take-home craft. The $29 price feels fair because you’re not just tasting, you’re making multiple coffee styles with the Phin method, then you leave with a foldable lantern you can decorate with later.

Book it soon enough to get the time you want, and plan to arrive at 10C Bà Triệu on your own. If you enjoy guided instruction, and you don’t mind spending a half-day focused on coffee and craft, this is one of the more memorable ways to spend time in Hoi An.

FAQ

How long is the lantern and coffee making class?

It lasts about 3 hours 30 minutes.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $29.00 per person.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pick up and drop-off are not included.

Where is the meeting point?

The start point is 10C Bà Triệu, Phường Cẩm Phổ, Hội An, Quảng Nam 560000, Vietnam. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What is included in the price?

Coffee and/or tea and snacks are included.

What coffee types will I make?

You will make and enjoy black coffee, white coffee, Hue Imperial salt coffee, Ha Noi capital egg coffee, and coconut.

What lantern will I take home?

You’ll make a unique foldable lantern to take home and decorate.

How big is the group?

The activity has a maximum of 20 travelers.

Do I get a ticket on my phone?

Yes, it uses a mobile ticket.

What if the weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.