How to Light Up Your Vietnamese Lantern

There's something magical about seeing a Vietnamese lantern glowing for the first time.

The colours become richer, the fabric comes alive and the patterns that look beautiful in daylight can create a completely different atmosphere when lit from within.

Our lanterns are handmade in Hoi An using traditional bamboo frames and fabric, but how you light your lantern matters.

For the safest and best results, we recommend using waterproof string lights for outdoors with LED lightbulbs no larger than 4 cm wide for our 30cm size lanterns and maximum 6cm wide for our larger 80 cm lanterns.

💡 What type of light should I use?

We recommend LED

For our lanterns, we recommend using small low-heat LED bulb or LED light source.

LEDs are particularly well suited to fabric lanterns because they generally produce much less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs. LED emitters are cool compared with incandescent light sources, although the electronics within some LED products can still generate heat.

If you're looking for a warmer and more atmospheric look, Edison-style LED filament bulbs are a beautiful choice for our lanterns.

These bulbs are designed to recreate the appearance of traditional vintage filament bulbs, but use modern LED technology. Their visible filament and warm glow work particularly well with our handmade fabric lanterns, creating a cosy, softly illuminated effect.

Always follow the instructions supplied with your particular light fitting and bulb.

Check that your light bulbs are:

• suitable width for the size lantern you are using from 4cm - 6cm

• the correct voltage for your country

• appropriate for semi-enclosed fittings as our lanterns surround the light source

• in good condition and from a reputable manufacturer

Coloured LED bulbs can create a completely different effect depending on the colour and fabric of your lantern. They're particularly fun for parties, weddings, children's rooms and colourful displays.

🌈 Try different colours

You can use a coloured bulb to highlight the appearance, for example:

Red light bulb → red lantern
Blue light bulb → blue lantern
Green light bulb → green lantern
Pink light bulb → pink lantern
Yellow light bulb → yellow lantern
White light bulb → white lantern

This is particularly effective with our plain-coloured lanterns, where the light colour can enhance the glow of the lantern.

A fun experience is to buy an LED lightbulb that changes different colours and use a white lantern, as the colours change so does the lantern!

🔥 Never use a naked flame

Our lanterns are made with bamboo and fabric, so they should never be used with:

• candles

• tea lights

• oil lamps

• incense

• naked flames

• other heat-producing light sources

A flame inside a fabric lantern can create a serious fire risk.

Please don't place a candle inside a Hoi An Vietnamese Lanterns, even if the lantern is being used outdoors.

Our lanterns are designed to be illuminated using an appropriate electric/LED light source.

🌡️ Avoid excessive heat

Even when using LED lighting, it's important to avoid excessive heat.

Don't place your lantern directly against:

• heaters

• radiators

• fireplaces

• cooking appliances

• other hot surfaces

• high-temperature lighting equipment

Make sure there is adequate space around the light source and follow the instructions supplied with your light fitting.

While LED light sources generally produce substantially less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs, some LED products and their electronics can still become warm during operation.

🏮 How to put the light inside your lantern

Our lanterns are open at the top so that a suitable light source can be positioned inside.

A simple setup is:

1. Hang your lantern securely

Use steel wire and make sure the hanging points are secure with cable ties

2. Open the lantern carefully

Our lanterns are handmade and have a delicate fabric covering. Avoid pulling the steel wires or forcing the frame open, ensure bamboo pieces are facing outwards before opening

3. Position your LED light

Place the light source centrally inside the lantern where possible. 

4. Check the cable

Secure the cable onto the metal frame of the lantern

5. Switch on and check

After switching on, check that the lantern isn't becoming unusually hot and that the light source is positioned correctly.

✨ What makes your lanterns look so beautiful

One of the best things about lighting a lantern is the gorgeous glow. Different fabrics can produce different effects. We suggest using our thicker polyester silk fabrics for the diffused glow.

Light bulbs can usually be seen through the thinner fabrics such as Jacquard Silk or Poly Linen, we suggest using these in-between the polyester silk lanterns and lighting them from the outside.

White and lighter fabrics

These tend to produce a bright, soft glow and are particularly effective when illuminated from inside. We suggest using warm light bulbs.

Darker fabrics

Dark colours such as black, dark blue, dark purple and dark green do not create as much light, they create a more dramatic effect, with the light appearing deeper and more atmospheric.

Printed fabrics

Patterns can become much more prominent when the lantern is illuminated from the outside, particularly our Jacquard silk fabrics.

🌿 Handmade means every lantern is unique

Every Hoi An Lanterns lantern is made by hand in Vietnam.

Our lanterns combine a bamboo and steel frame with a fabric covering, and small variations are part of the character of a handmade product.

The fabric should be treated gently, and the lantern should not be exposed to heat, flames or rough handling.

If you need to adjust or collapse your lantern, do so gently.

⚠️ Important safety information

For the safety of your home, family and our products:

✔ Use a suitable LED light source.

✔ Follow the instructions supplied with your light fitting and bulb.

✔ Check that the bulb and fitting are suitable for the intended use.

✔ Keep the lantern away from heat sources and flammable materials.

✘ Never use candles or naked flames inside the lantern.

✘ Do not use incandescent, halogen or other heat-producing bulbs

✘ Do not allow the lantern fabric to come into direct contact with a hot light source.

✘ Do not use a damaged electrical fitting, cable or light source.

If a light source or fitting becomes unusually hot, switch it off and allow it to cool before investigating the cause.

🇪🇺 Important information for customers in the European Union

Our lanterns are handmade in Hoi An, Vietnam and shipped directly from Vietnam.

For customers in the European Union, additional product-safety and consumer requirements apply to products sold online.

The EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) requires online product offers to provide certain information, including manufacturer information, product identification and applicable safety information. Where the manufacturer is outside the EU, the online offer must also identify the relevant EU Responsible Person.

We provide the relevant product and safety information with our products and on our online product listings as required.

Manufactured by Hoi An Lantern Company Limited directly in Hoi An, Vietnam.

💛 Enjoy your lantern

Once your lantern is safely lit up, there's not much left to do except enjoy it.

Whether you're creating a cosy corner at home, decorating a bedroom, styling a wedding or adding a little piece of Hoi An to your garden, a glowing Vietnamese lantern can completely change the atmosphere of a room.

Light it up, sit back and enjoy a little piece of Hoi An. 🇻🇳✨