Lady Mai’s Lantern Workshop

Lady Mai’s sits just outside the main tourist drag, on the riverbank, and that distance makes a real difference. You’re not squeezed in with ten other groups – you get time to actually assemble and paint your lantern properly, with Mai or Chris walking you through each step (cutting fabric, gluing, trimming, sealing, then painting).

The painting portion is the move here. Multiple reviewers who described themselves as non-artistic came away with something they were proud of, which says a lot about how the instruction works. Kids are handled well too – the five-year-old crowd gets patience and, apparently, chickens and ducks to feed while waiting for the ride home.

Practical notes: they have air conditioning, which matters more than you think in Hoi An heat. Walk-ins are welcome and they’ll make room for you. The river view is a genuine bonus, not a marketing point.