Several workshops around the Old Town offer lantern-making classes lasting 60–90 minutes. You choose the frame shape, cover it in coloured silk, and leave with something functional. The skill involved is real — bending bamboo and stretching fabric taut requires practice — and the teachers are patient. Shops on Nguyen Hoang and Tran Hung Dao advertise classes; look for one with a working craftsman demonstrating rather than a pre-made kit. Cost is low and the result is better than anything you can buy.
Lantern-making Classes
Make a traditional silk lantern in a 90-minute workshop