We found a lovely lantern shop across from our favorite restaurant while we were in Nha Trang. The shop is located on Tran Quang Khai Street and is quite easy to find. It is owned by a family - parents, the pictured man, his sister and younger brothers. They were very sweet, friendly people and the sister had the cutest giggle.

The lanterns are made of brightly colored silk over wooden frames. The brothers make the lanterns right there in the shop and usually have between one and three lanterns under construction at all times. They use an airplane-type glue to attach the silk to the wooden frames and I worried about them breathing in the fumes. Doug seemed to think they were okay, though, so I didn't say anything.

We showed the young man a photograph of our daughter, Suzannah, and he began calling us "Papa" and "Mother," indicating that he would be very glad to marry our beautiful daughter. He is going to make a good husband to another girl someday - he drove a hard bargain and refused to come down on his prices, so we only bought one of the large lanterns. Before we left Nha Trang, Doug returned to the shop alone to purchase a few more lanterns and the young man's mother was there. She sold Doug most of the lanterns we purchased - all at about half of the prices the young man quoted.

We purchased three large lanterns and about eight of the small ones. The lanterns fold down easily for transporting them in your suitcase.