Da Nang Lantern Festival – Things to Do in Da Nang Vietnam

Besides the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, the Lantern Festival is the another famous festival in Da Nang Vietnam. It takes place monthly in the Old Town of Hoi An, a historical trading port and world heritage site about 30-45 mins drive from Da Nang downtown or airport. During it, visitors will see streets decorated by millions of lanterns which vary in color and shape, the river with lantern boats and shimmering candle lights, traditional singing, cultural activities, night market,… In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company provides all information about the Hoi An Lantern Festival.

You may also like: Da Nang International Fireworks Festival

• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD

• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team

• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others

Must Knows about Da Nang Lantern Festival

– Location: Hoi An Old Town, Hoi An ward, Da Nang city, Vietnam (30 km south of Da Nang downtown)

– Other name(s): Da Nang Full Moon Festival, Da Nang Light Festival

– Date(s): the 14th day of each lunar month

– Duration: 1 night

– Significance(s): celebrate full moon, commemorate ancestors, pray for good fortune, health and happiness

– Reason(s) to visit: the best traditional festival and cultural event in Da Nang

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/da-nang-lantern-festival

– Price: free

– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com

– Recognition(s): national intangible cultural heritage

– Food & drink: yes available

– Shopping: yes available

– Fact:

Where Does the Lantern Festival Take Place in Da Nang?

‘Da Nang Lantern Festival’ is held in the Old Town of Hoi An, a historical trading port and world heritage site 30-40 mins drive from Da Nang city downtown or Da Nang International Airport.

On the bank of the Thu Bon River, the largest river in Da Nang, the Hoi An Old Town spans over 30 hectares. It’s featured by long and narrow streets running parallel to each other and to the river (such as Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Phan Chu Trinh, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Bach Dang, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa,…). Each street is lined with yellow-wall houses, shophouses, markets, and religious buildings. From the 15th to 19th century, this town played its role as an international trading port. That’s why it attracted Chinese people, Japanese people, and European merchants. Their remains and influences are still seen today around Hoi An (such as Japanese Bridge, Chinese assembly halls, French mansions,…). See more information & details

In 1999, the Hoi An Old Town was inscribed by UNESCO to be a world heritage site thanks to its exceptionally well-preserved townscape.

When is Da Nang Lantern Festival?

The Da Nang Lantern Festival is a monthly festival held in the full moon night. In Vietnamese lunar calendar, this day is the 14th date of the month. Please see the schedule in the below paragraph. So why it takes place in the full moon?

In Vietnamese culture and Buddhist culture, the full moon day is the holiest day of the month. That’s why Vietnamese people commemorate the ancestors at home and/or go to temples and pagodas to pray. In the Hoi An Old Town, red lanterns are hung up to bring good luck to local families (started first by Chinese communities). By the river, in the evening, lotus-shaped paper lanterns are released to make wishes. Because of these traditions, the Lantern festival is gradually formed and then becomes a special event. See more information & details

If coming to Hoi An Old Town in ‘common’ night (not full moon night), visitors still see lanterns on the streets, lantern boats on the river (to release candle lanterns), night markets,…. but traditional performances (singing, folk games, dancing, crafts,…) will be unavailable.

Da Nang Lantern Festival Schedule 2025, 2026, 2027

Da Nang Lantern Festival Dates 2025

In 2025, visitors need to go to Hoi An Old Town in Da Nang on these days for the Lantern Festival:

13rd January 2025
11st February 2025
2nd March 2025
1st April 2025
30th May 2025
28th June 2025
27th July 2025
26th August 2025
24th September 2025
23rd October 2025
3rd November 2025
3rd December 2025

Da Nang Lantern Festival Dates 2026

In 2026, visitors need to go to Hoi An Old Town in Da Nang on these days for the Lantern Festival:

2nd January 2026
1st February 2026
13rd March 2026
11st April 2026
11st May 2026
9th June 2026
8th July 2026
7th August 2026
5th September 2026
5th October 2026
22nd November 2026
22nd December 2026

Da Nang Lantern Festival Dates 2027

In 2027, visitors need to go to Hoi An Old Town in Da Nang on these days for the Lantern Festival:

21st January 2027
19th February 2027
21st March 2027
20th April 2027
19th May 2027
18th June 2027
17th July 2027
15th August 2027
14th September 2027
13rd October 2027
11st November 2027
11st December 2027

Getting from Da Nang to Hoi An Old Town Lantern Festival

The Hoi An Old Town where the Lantern Festival occurs, is some 30 kilometers away from Da Nang city center or My Khe Beach. It’s closer if staying in Non Nuoc Beach. And, it’s further if staying in Son Tra Peninsula.

To get from Da Nang to Hoi An Old Town, visitors can take a taxi, private car, bus, or ride the motorbike. If going by car/bus, the drive is around 40 minutes long, and it’s nearly 1 hour if going by motorbike. The best motorbike route is the coastal road (Vo Nguyen Giap Rd or Truong Sa Rd). Just keep going along it, towards the south, and at the crossroad near An Bang Beach, turn right and keep going on Hai Ba Trung Rd until Phap Bao Pagoda. Parking lot is here. En route, Marble Mountains and Am Phu Cave are must see attractions. Contact us by WhatsApp number +84968009827 to book a private transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An with a good price.

Everyday, the Hoi An Old Town becomes a pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle area. From 9 to 11:30 AM and from 3 to 9:30 PM, streets lying within it will have no cars and motorbikes. For that reason, after arriving this heritage area from Da Nang, visitors need to walk or cycle to join the Lantern festival. We recommend walking because it will be crowded, so hard to ride the bicycle. Those who have a limited mobility or can not walk much, can pay for a rickshaw to go around and see the lanterns. See full information about Hoi An pedestrian zone

Activities in Da Nang Lantern Festival

Here are things to do for first time visitors in the Da Nang Lantern Festival (Hoi An Old Town Lantern Festival):

Wandering around lantern streets (Tran Phu Street, Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Bach Dang Street, Nguyen Phuc Chu Street, Le Loi Street,…)
Take a hand-rowing sampan boat on the Hoai River to watch the lanterns and release candle lantern(s) to make wishes. Local people believe that the full moon is the holiest day of the month, to pray for things we want to have in the life. The price for 15-mins-long boat ride is from 170,000 to 220,000 VND (depending on group size, 2025). It excludes the lanterns to release. See full information & details
Explore ‘Hoi An Night Market’ on Nguyen Hoang Street, which has lots of small food, beverage and souvenir stalls. Near its entrance, there are colorful lantern shops to see and take beautiful photos. See full information & details
Try all street foods in Hoi An Old Town (such as banh mi sandwich, mi quang noodles, grilled pork skewers, banana pancake, ice cream rolls, grilled rice paper, grilled banana sticky rice,…)
Visit the Japanese Bridge, the symbolic building of Hoi An. It’s constructed in the 17th century by Japanese people.
Play traditional folk games with local people like Bai Choi (bingo game) or breaking pots
Learn how to sing folk songs, how to speak Vietnamese, or how to play traditional chess
Watch local cultural performances (music, dances, Tuong opera,…)

Hoi An Night Tours from Da Nang

Here are the best Hoi An night tours from Da Nang:

– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang with Lantern Boat Ride

– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang

– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang with Coconut Forest Boat Ride

– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang with Hoi An Memories Show

– My Son Sanctuary & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang