Hoi An Lantern Makers
Craft silk lanterns with local artisans, then light them up together.
Values that live only on the wall
Sound familiar?
- “Our values are printed everywhere, but rarely discussed.”
- “Teams rush from task to task and never slow down.”
- “Our incentive trips feel the same in every country.”
The Experience
Hoi An’s silk lanterns are famous across Vietnam, and in this program your teams learn to make them with the people who know the craft best. Local lantern makers show every step: shaping the bamboo frame, stretching the silk and finishing each seam by hand.
Each team designs its lanterns around one of your company values or a goal for the year ahead, choosing the colours, the shape and the words painted on the silk. Halfway through, teams swap roles, so the planners make and the makers plan.
At dusk the lanterns are lit and hung together as one lantern wall, a shared picture of where the company is heading. Every guest also takes home a finished folding lantern for the suitcase. To end the evening, add a walk through the old town and a boat ride on the Thu Bon River.
The program lasts about two and a half hours for ten to one hundred and fifty guests. We run it in Hoi An and at resorts in Da Nang, and we can bring artisans and materials to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The Takeaways
Turning a company value into a lantern design makes teams talk about what that value really means in their work. They have to agree how to show it in colour, shape and words, which leads to richer conversations than a workshop on values.
The craft is slow and precise. Teams learn to support each other, check each other's work and take pride in getting small details right, a welcome change of pace for groups used to fast meetings and screens.
The role swap shows how planners and makers depend on each other. Planners discover what is hard to build, and makers discover why plans matter, which builds respect between roles that often work apart.
The lantern wall brings every team's work together into one result, and the lanterns go home as lasting reminders. In the debrief, each team explains the value behind its lanterns and how it will show that value at work. Many groups find the session unexpectedly calming. After days of meetings, an afternoon of careful handwork and quiet conversation gives people space to reflect, and the lantern wall becomes one of the most photographed moments of the trip.
Program flow
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Welcome and the story · 0–15 min
A local lantern maker welcomes the group and shares the history of Hoi An's lanterns, from trading port to UNESCO town. Finished lanterns of different shapes show what teams will create.
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Learn the craft · 15–45 min
Artisans demonstrate each step: bending bamboo into a frame, choosing silk, stretching it tight and gluing the seams. Every guest practises on a small frame before the team work begins.
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Design around a value · 45–70 min
Each team chooses one of your company values or a goal for the year ahead. Teams plan how their lanterns will show it through colour, shape and a few words painted on the silk.
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Make and swap · 70–125 min
Teams cover pre-made bamboo frames with silk, with the artisans close by. Halfway through, roles swap: planners become makers and makers become planners, so everyone sees the work from both sides.
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Lantern wall at dusk · 125–145 min
As the light fades, all the lanterns are lit and hung together as one lantern wall. Each team explains its value in one sentence, and the group takes its photo beneath the lights.
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Debrief · 145–150 min
A short closing talk links the lanterns to how the company lives its values, and every guest receives a folding lantern to take home.
The game ends. The learning starts.
Every Phoenix program closes with a guided debrief. These are the questions for Hoi An Lantern Makers:
- Which value did your team choose, and why?
- How did you agree on the design?
- What did the role swap teach you about planners and makers?
- Where do we see this value in our daily work?
- What will your lantern remind you of when you see it at home?
What we bring, what you provide
We bring
- Local lantern artisans and a facilitator
- Pre-made bamboo frames, silk, quick-dry glue and tools
- Paints and decorating materials
- Lantern wall set-up and lighting
- A lantern for every guest to take home
- A short closing debrief
You provide
- A venue with tables, indoors or under cover
- Space to hang the lantern wall
- Catering and refreshments
- Transport to and from the venue
- A river boat ride, if you add one
Frequently asked questions
Do we need craft skills?
No. The artisans guide every step, and each team shares the work so everyone can take part.
Can guests take the lanterns home?
Yes. Every guest receives a finished folding lantern, made by the artisans, that fits in a suitcase.
What happens in the rainy season?
The program runs indoors or under cover, and the lantern wall is set up in a sheltered space.
How many people can take part?
From ten to one hundred and fifty guests. Larger groups take part in back-to-back sessions.
Can it run outside Hoi An?
Yes. We bring artisans and materials to resorts in Da Nang and to venues in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Can we add the old town at night?
Yes. A guided walk and a boat ride on the Thu Bon River make a perfect end to the evening.
Chain Reaction
Your part must trigger the next.
Load Test Bridge
Design it on a budget. Then see how much it holds.
The Real Brief
A real charity. A real need. Your team builds the answer.
Request a quote for Hoi An Lantern Makers
Tell us your group size, date and goals. We will reply with a tailored proposal.