The Hoi An Lantern Festival takes place monthly, on every full moon night in the Hoi An Old Town. Due to the spectacular beauty of countless colorful lanterns, both locals and tourists like visiting this traditional festival. Besides seeing and taking pictures, interesting activities and performances are also seen to do. Therefore, it’s recommended as the best nighttime experience or the best time to visit Hoi An. Now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company provide all the information that visitors need to know about the Hoi An Lantern Festival.
You also may like: Guide to Festivals in Hoi An Vietnam
• 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 Lantern Festival in Hoi An
– Location: Hoi An Old Town, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
– Vietnamese name(s):
– Other name(s): Hoi An Full Moon Lantern Festival, Hoi An Full Moon Festival, Hoi An Old Town Lantern Festival, Hoi An Floating Lantern Festival, Hoi An Festival of Lights, Hoi An Light Festival
– Date(s): the 14th day of each lunar month
– Duration: an evening
– Significance(s): celebrate full moon, commemorate ancestors, pray for good fortune, health and happiness
– Reason(s) to visit: the best traditional festival in Hoi An with a gorgeous beauty of lanterns, highly vibrant atmosphere, and numerous activities
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-lantern-festival
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Recognition(s): national intangible cultural heritage
– Food & drink: yes available
– Shopping: yes available
– Fact: the most famous cultural event in Hoi An
Hoi An Old Town on Map
Origin, History & Meaning of Hoi An Lantern Festival
Full Moon Tradition in Vietnamese Culture
For Vietnamese people, the full moon day or the 14th day (ngay ram) is one of the holy days of the month in the lunar calendar (the other one is the new moon day, mong 1 or the 1st day). These days, people believe that their ancestors/dead family members will return home and bless living family members a good life. At temples and pagodas, gods and buddhas do the same. For that reason, they use the day to pay homage to ancestors/dead family members, gods, and the Lord Buddha.
In the morning of the full moon day, family members go to the market to buy worshipping flowers (popularly hoa cuc or yellow daisy, hoa hue or tuberose, hoa lay on or gladiolus, hoa dong tien or gerbera), fresh fruits (must have a branch of green banana, pomelo, Buddha hand’s fruit), incense sticks, candles, joss paper (popularly fake money papers), rice wine, and food (non-vegetarian or vegetarian food depends on family’s or region’s culture or religions). Fresh water is needed too.
All offspring will be arranged beautifully on the ancestor altar (inside the house) or on a table in an open yard in the front of the house. To invite ancestors/dead family members/gods/buddha to the house, local men burn incense sticks, in an odd number, and then say something (like a verbal invitation). After that, family owners pray for good luck, peacefulness, good health, richness, and a harmonious family. When incense sticks are burnt completely, people burn joss papers, to send to ancestors/dead family members in the next world.
Besides the ceremony at home, many people go to Hoi An temples and pagodas to pray as well, mostly for peace of mind and good health. There, monks prepare similar offspring to give to gods or buddhas. At Buddhist places, not only chanting practice, local buddhists and believers are all vegetarian. In Hoi An, lots of locally-owned eateries close due to this tradition (tourist restaurants still run).
At night, locals light up the candle of lotus-like paper lanterns, and then release them on the river to make wishes or pray for themselves and beloved persons. This is the origin of lantern boat ride on Hoai River in Hoi An today.
During the year, there are some special full moon days, such as the first full moon festival or tet nguyen tieu (in Hoi An, this festival becomes a national intangible cultural heritage), the full moon day of 4th lunar month (Buddha’s birthday festival), the full moon day of 7th lunar month (ghost festival or parents festival), the full moon day of 8th lunar month (Mid-autumn festival), the full moon day of 12th lunar month (the last full moon day to end a year).
Origin & Meaning of Hoi An’s Lantern Festival
From the 16th century, Chinese people came to live in Hoi An, including Cantonese, Fujian, Hainan, Chaozhou/Teochew and Hakka. Every full moon night, they hang red lanterns in the front door or nearby streets, to have good luck, good health, good business, and a happy family. Lanterns have a globe shape, representing a full life, reunion, prosperity, and also full moon. See more information about Hoi An’s lantern. Like Vietnamese people, Chinese people also see the full moon day as a holy time.
Over time, due to similar beliefs, both Vietnamese and Chinese people celebrate the full moon day, making it an important and special occasion.
In 1998, Hoi An city decided to ‘upgrade’ this tradition to be a regular festival. It’s officially called ‘Hoi An Lantern Festival’, and occurs in the Hoi An Old Town. Since this year, local people have been encouraged to use more traditional lanterns (better if lit by candle), and have turned off electric lamps as much as possible, to keep the town look fairy and reduce the pollution. Interesting activities and folk performances are added as well, bringing a vibrant atmosphere and enhancing visitors’s experience in the night.
By the way, visitors will see some places in Hoi An, of which their design/architecture is inspired by the full moon festival, such as the theatre of Hoi An Lune Center for Performing Arts, the Moonlight Bridge in Hoi An Memories Land.
Activities in Hoi An Lantern Full Moon Festival
Boat Ride on Hoai River & Release Lanterns
During the full moon night, Vietnamese people often use boats to travel on Hoai River. This boat trip is to admire the gorgeous beauty of Hoi An evening, and release paper lanterns to make wishes or pray, for themselves and beloved persons. Due to Buddhism influences, the lanterns have a shape of lotus – the holy flower for all Buddhists.
Nowadays, this lantern boat ride has become a popular night activity at Hoi An Ancient Town. Visitors can do it all night, not just the full moon night like in the past.
The price for Hoi An lantern boat ride is 150,000 VND total for 1 to 3 persons, and 200,000 VND for 4 to 5 persons. Five persons are maximum on one boat, including kids, toddlers. Visitors just need to walk along the river, Bach Dang road or Nguyen Phuc Chu road, to see ticket counters. There, cash payment is available only, and sure, by Vietnamese dong.
Paper lanterns are sold a lot around the town, especially from vendors along the river. The price is from 5,000 to 15,000 VND, depending on the size (those who buy many lanterns may get a cheaper price!).
Full details and information in https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-lantern-boat-ride
Vietnamese Folk Games & Performances
Like any other night at Hoi An, visitors will see Bai Choi, the traditional card game and singing of central Vietnamese people. In 2017, this folk art was declared by Unesco to be an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Its stage is by the Hoai river, near An Hoi Bride. To play, players sit in bamboo huts or on sleeping mats during the year, and each one has three bamboo cards, with a word. The host shakes the tube of cards, to let one card fall out, and then sings a song about the word on it. The winner is one who has 3 cards matched. See more information & details
During the Hoi An Lantern Festival, it’s possible to expect to join a local folk game named bit mat dap nieu or ‘breaking clay pots’. In which, the player will be blindfolded and hold a stick. To win the prize, he/she needs to use that stick to break one of the clay pots (must hit 1 time only). The audience will tell him/her directions to walk closer to the pots and hit to break. Yes, the rule looks easy and simple, but the point of having lots of fun here is the player really doesn’t know that instructions from people are wrong or right. Sometimes, he/she wins quickly but sometimes, he/she goes too far away from the pots, walks into the crowds, or can’t hit any pots. In Hoi An, each player may pay 20,000 to 50,000 VND to try the luck and receive smiles. See more information & details
Near the Japanese Bridge, visitors can watch young local children learning how to sing folk songs and practicing or how a calligrapher makes beautiful writings (he also sells) or playing Chinese chess with locals. Other long-standing handicraft traditions of Hoi An are also on display, such as lantern making, bamboo root carving, mask making,…that all are interesting to see.
What to Eat During the Hoi An Lantern Festival?
During the lantern full moon festival of Hoi An, visitors can see all local specialty foods such as cao lau noodles (a noodle dish with char siu pork, rice crackers, raw vegetables and herbs), mi quang noodles (a noodle dish with broth, pork, shrimp, quail egg, and served with rice crackers, raw vegetables), griled pork skewers (rolled with rice papers, raw vegetables, herbs, and served with a dipping sauce made of peanut), Hoi An style chicken rice (rice dish with shredded chicken, shredded papaya, peppermint, Hoi An-style chilli sauce), Hoi An-style pho noodle soup, banh mi sandwich, white rose dumplings, as well as famous snacks, like Hoi An mango cake (glutinous rice cake filled by peanut, salt, sugar), banh bot loc clear dumplings, banh beo steamed rice cake, banh trang nuong (grilled rice paper or “Vietnamese pizza”).
Although Hoi An Lantern Festival is a special event, all restaurants and eateries lying within the Hoi An Ancient Town are open as usual. Nguyen Hoang Night Market or Hoi An Central Market where lots of local specialty dishes and snacks are sold, are also open.
Food prices in Hoi An Lantern Festival are not really more expensive than other times. However, it’s still needed to ask how much in advance.
Hoi An Lantern Festival Ticket
The Lantern Festival in Hoi An takes place in the Hoi An Ancient Town world heritage site. For that reason, visitors still need to buy a ticket to enter this area (known as ‘Hoi An Old Town ticket’). The cost is 120,000 VND per adult and children above 15 years old, and free for smaller ones. Ticket offices are around the town. Besides the visit to the town and seeing the festival, each ticket holder can sightsee 5 sights (museums, temples, old houses, etc). See more information & details
Special Hoi An Lantern Festivals
Nguyen Tieu Festival (First Full Moon)
The Nguyen Tieu festival (or the First full moon festival, Shangyuan festival) takes place during the first full moon of the year, around the 15th day of the 1st lunar month. It marks the end of Tet holiday (or the Lunar new year holiday). Local people often go to pagodas and temples to pray and prepare offsprings at home to commemorate ancestors or the Buddha. In 2023, the First full moon festival at Hoi An was recognized to be a national intangible cultural heritage.
Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival)
The Mid-Autumn Festival (the Moon Festival, Tet Trung Thu, Children Festival) is held on the full moon of the 8th month in the Vietnamese lunar calendar, when the moon is brightest and fullest in the year. To celebrate, Vietnamese people make and eat moon cakes (symbolizing reunion, fullness), prepare a tray of five different fruits to worship ancestors, hang up paper lanterns, buy a star lantern for childrens, and watch dragon dance, lion dance, heavenly dog dance (just in Hoi An) that occur on streets. The Mid-autumn festival is one of eventful and cheerful celebrations in the year. In 2023, it was recognized to be a national intangible cultural heritage. See more information & details
Is Hoi An Lantern Festival Worth It?
The Lantern full moon festival in Hoi An is absolutely worth it. Here are reasons why:
– Hoi An Lantern Festival is the most special time to visit Hoi An’s Old Town. It’s just once a month.
– In the Hoi An Lantern Festival, visitors see so many more lanterns than usual. The reason is that all local families will hang one lantern at least to decorate their house/streets. So, visitors have perfect photo/video opportunities. Thanks to thousands of colorful lantern lights, Hoi An becomes so charming and impressive.
– Compared to other nights, visitors will have more experiences if visit the Hoi An Lantern Festival. There are folk games, performances, and other traditional arts of Vietnamese people.
– During the Lantern Festival, the atmosphere of Hoi An is really vibrant, lively, and festive. It’s the time in which visitors will see a large number of locals (more than anytime).
However, there are some reasons which make the Hoi An Lantern Festival not worth it, such as huge crowds, traffic congestion, too much people to take pictures.
Tips to Visit Lantern Festival in Hoi An
– Visitors should go early (around sunset) to avoid crowds and take pictures (after 6-7 pm, electric lamps are turned off, making the town look darker). If stay in Da Nang, let’s start at 3:30-4 pm.
– It’s very crowded from 7 to 9 pm, so visitors need to be careful with luggages or walk side by side with the kids because they may get lost.
– If can’t come to Hoi An on a full moon day, don’t stress yourself because the day before and the day after the Lantern Festival are also beautiful. Like to do boat rides to release lanterns only? You can do it all night.
– Many days during the year, the river is shallow, so to drop off wishing lanterns down the water, visitors should ask for a stick from local sellers. It’s very dangerous when we try to reach the river to release it.
– These are other special occasions in Hoi An also: the 1st full moon festival (Tet nguyen tieu), Mid-autumn festival or Tet trung tu (the 15th day of 8th lunar month), Buddha’s birthday or Vesak or Le phat dan (the 15th day of 4th lunar month), Parent’s day or Le vu lan (the 15th of 7th lunar month)
– There are no flying sky lanterns at Hoi An’s Lantern Festival as visitors see in Chiangmai’s Lantern Festival (in Thailand) because not in Vietnamese traditional culture. No fireworks also.
Hoi An Lantern Festival Dates in 2024, 2025, 2026
Hoi An Lantern Festival Calendar 2024
In 2024, Hoi An full moon Lantern Festival will take place on 24th January, 23rd February, 23rd March, 22nd April, 21st May, 19th June, 19th July, 17th August, 16th September, 16th October, 14th November, and 14th December.
/co hinh anh/
Hoi An Lantern Festival Calendar 2025
In 2025, Hoi An full moon Lantern Festival takes place on 13rd January, 11st February, 2nd March, 1st April, 30th May, 28th June, 27th July, 26th August, 24th September, 23rd October, 3rd November, and 3rd December.
Hoi An Lantern Festival Calendar 2026
In 2025, Hoi An full moon Lantern Festival takes place on 2nd January, 1st February, 13rd March, 11st April, 11st May, 9th June, 8th July, 7th August, 5th September, 5th October, 22nd November, and 22nd December.
Hoi An Without Lantern Festival: How Is It?
On days when the Lantern Festival doesn’t take place, Hoi An Ancient Town still has lots of lanterns to see or photograph. It’s still beautiful and lightful, and still worth visiting. If look for seeing folk performances, or good shopping experience, or a relaxing boat ride on the river to release lanterns, or busy night markets, all possible in these non-festival days. Instead of walking in crowded streets or waiting in long queues to do/eat something or overbooked services, the best times to go to the Old Town.
However, on the festival night, lanterns lit by electric lamps and electric lamps are minimized. This action from local authorities makes the town look more authentic or traditional. Otherwise, the festival night is more special, so it attracts lots of local people who may not go on other days of the month. Interestingly, it may be the only time in which visitors are not more than locals!
Best Places to Stay for Hoi An Lantern Festival
During the Hoi An Lantern Festival, the Hoi An Old Town and surrounding area are busy. Walking streets are nearly full of pedestrians, and streets are nearly fully filled by cars, motorbikes, and even people.
So, if plan to stay in Hoi An to attend this traditional festival, visitors should book a hotel within walking distance to the Old Town. It’s not difficult to find boutique hotels, luxury hotels, homestays, hostels, resorts, and Airbnb places in the surrounding of the pedestrian area.
Q&A about Hoi An Lantern Festival
– How often is the Hoi An Lantern Festival held? Answer: Hoi An Lantern Festival takes place every month, on the full moon day. So, it’s held once a month.
– What time does the Lantern Festival start in Hoi An? Answer: Hoi An Lantern Festival starts right after sunset.
Itinerary to Visit Hoi An Old Town for First Timer
First of all, to enter and visit the Hoi An Old Town (the part inscribed by Unesco), visitors need to buy an entry ticket. Its price is 120,000 VND per adult and children above 15 years old and free of charge for smaller kids. Entry to 5 attractions is also included for free. See more information & details
If possible, first time visitors should go with a local guide, to know better about history and culture. Contact us by +84968009827 (call/whatsapp) to book a private English-speaking guide.
We suggest this itinerary for first timers:
Total distance: 1,65 kilometers
– Starting point: the Japanese style gate (the west end of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street). A model of the Red Seal Ship (Japanese merchant’s ship) and a ticket office are in a close distance.
– Walk along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. On this road, visitors will have the chance to sightsee Cam Pho Communal House (ticket required), Japanese Culture Gallery (ticket required), Phung Hung Old House (one of the best heritage houses, ticket required), Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel (in the alleyway, ticket required).
– Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the symbol of Hoi An. This place definitely is a must see attraction.
– Walk along Tran Phu Street, the most beautiful road in Hoi An, until Hoi An Central Market. On this road, visitors will have the chance to sightsee so many historical attractions. From the bridge to the market, there are Cantonese Assembly Hall (ticket required), Museum of Sa Huynh Culture (ticket required), Duc An Old House (ticket required), Kazik Park (free), Quan Thang Old House (ticket required), Museum of Trade Ceramics (ticket required), Trung Hoa Assembly Hall (ticket required), Fujian Assembly Hall (ticket required), Quan Cong Temple (ticket required), Quan Am Pagoda (ticket required), Hoi An Central Market (free to enter), a couple of rooftop coffee shops, Instagrammable spots, shophouses selling lanterns, food, souvenirs and fashion items.
– Walk southwards and along Tieu La Street (east side of Hoi An Central Market). On this road, there are many vendors and stalls selling a diversity of local products, giving a good chance to know about local life and photograph.
– Walk westwards and along Bach Dang Street (the riverside street). On this road, visitors will see Hoi An Traditional Performance House (ticket required if want to watch shows) and Museum of Folklore (ticket required).
– Turn into Le Loi Street and then turn left, walking along Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. On this road, visitors will see Tan Ky Old House (one of the best heritage houses, ticket required) and Diep Dong Nguyen Old House (not yet opened to visitors, see from outside).
– The ending point: the crossroad near the north end of An Hoi Bridge or the west end of Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. In the evening, from here, visitors can walk cross the bridge and then turn right to see the entrance of the Hoi An Night Market, the biggest night market in Hoi An.
For more information and details, please browse https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-self-guided-walking-tour
Guided Tours to Hoi An Ancient Town Vietnam
From Hoi An
– Hoi An Old Town Walking Tour – 2 Hour Express Tour with Local
– Hoi An Half Day Walking Tour: Heritage Sites, Crafts & Show
– Hoi An Early Morning Walking Tour with Local Pho & Coffee
– Hoi An Afternoon Walking Tour + Thu Bon River Sunset Cruise
– Hoi An Night Tour from Hoi An: Lantern Boat, Markets & Food
– Hoi An Walking Tour with Sightseeing & Cooking Class
– Hoi An Late Afternoon Walking Tour with Local Food Tastings
– Hoi An Walking Tour with Thanh Ha Pottery Village by Boat
– Hoi An Instagram Tour: Best Photo Spots & Rooftop Café
– Hoi An Old Town Food Tour with Night Boat Ride
– Hoi An Old Town Private Walking Tour with Local Expert (4 hours duration from departure time)
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours in Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
From Da Nang
– Hoi An Half Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Highlights Tour
– Marble Mountain, Lady Buddha & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang with Chinese Speaking Guide
– My Son Sanctuary & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang Cruise Port
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Chan May Cruise Port
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours in Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Hoi An Lantern Festival
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Hoi An Lantern Festival:
