Hoi An Lantern Festival Tour with Sightseeing, Local Experiences & Food
Approx. 4-5 hours
Car/bus, boat
From 2 people
From Hoi An
English speaking guide
Dinner included
This tour shows you highlights of Hoi An Ancient Town when its well-known Lantern festival takes place. It’s held monthly on the night of the full moon, is a highly anticipated event where the Ancient Town switches off its electric lights and relies solely on the glow of thousands of colorful silk lanterns. This creates a magical, timeless atmosphere perfect for walking the streets, enjoying traditional performances, and releasing paper lanterns on the Hoài River for good fortune.
*Note: please check the festival date carefully before book. See the schedule
Highlights
Visit Japanese Covered Bridge & other landmarks
Enjoy a boat trip on the river & release a lantern
Make a traditional foldable lantern by hand
Have dinner with authentic Vietnamese food
Contact for reservation/support
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Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo+84968009827
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Emailhoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com
Itinerary
Meet up
Meet up time: 3:30 PM (local time)
Meet your guide at the meeting point in Hoi An city center – entrance of Phap Bao Pagoda (near crossroad of Hai Ba Trung Street and Phan Chu Trinh Street). Its location on Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bd6p2GFgTDJSvTWx7
If want to pick up in other areas of Hoi An or Da Nang, please contact us directly by WhatsApp +84968009827 or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com. An additional fee will be required.
Making a traditional foldable lantern
Hoi An is widely known as ‘city of lanterns’ because lanterns can be seen everywhere here. For some hundreds of years, local people have kept a tradition of foldable lantern making. Our guide will take you to the workshop of a local artisan, and there he/she will teach you how to make a lantern by hand (you can choose the color of the covering fabric and shape of the lantern).
Walk through Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. In 1999, it’s honored to be a world heritage site. This town is famous for pretty narrow streets with yellow-wall houses, colorful lanterns and many tailor shops. It’s also one of the most photographed places in Vietnam. See more details
In Hoi An, you will see these places:
– Japanese Covered Bridge: the symbol of Hoi An. This wooden building was constructed in the 17th century by Japanese people. Today, it’s also called ‘Pagoda bridge’ because it has a small temple where the locals worship a Taoist god. See more details
– Tan Ky Old House: beautifully preserved 18th-century merchant’s home in Hội An, Vietnam, renowned for its unique architectural fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese styles. It is recognized as a national heritage site and offers visitors a glimpse into the life of a prosperous historical trading family. See more details
– Cantonese Assembly Hall: one of the largest Chinese assembly halls in Hoi An. It hosts communal activities and special occasions of Cantonese Chinese congregation as well as worship of Quan Cong, a Chinese military general and god. See more details
– An Hoi Bridge (Bridge of Light): offers a spectacular panorama of the Hoai River glowing with hundreds of floating, colorful paper lanterns, with the ancient town side illuminated by the golden and multicolored light of countless silk lanterns hanging from the historic buildings and reflected on the water. See more details
– Lantern streets: during the Lantern festival, streets in Old Town of Hoi An will be lit up by thousands of lanterns.
Play folk game with local
In Hoi An Lantern Festival, visitors will have the chance to watch and play a Vietnamese traditional game and performing art ‘Bai Choi’. It is played with a set of wooden cards (bài) drawn from a deck, and it combines elements of lottery, riddle-solving, and a theatrical performance. Through the rhythmic chanting (hò) and singing of a “chief-singer” (anh/chị Hiệu), Bài Chòi creates a lively and communal cultural event recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. See more details
Boat trip on the river & lantern release
A peaceful and romantic activity that takes place on the Hoài River after sunset, allowing visitors to glide past the sparkling lights of the Ancient Town. As part of the experience, passengers often release small paper lanterns with candles onto the water, symbolizing good luck and creating a beautiful, glowing spectacle. See more details
Visit the biggest night market
Visit the Hoi An Night Market, a vibrant evening destination centered on Nguyen Hoang Street, famous for its magical display of hundreds of colorful silk lanterns that illuminate the whole area. Visitors flock here to shop for local souvenirs and handicrafts, sample popular Vietnamese street food, and experience the town’s lively, festive atmosphere after sunset. See more details
Have dinner with authentic local dishes
Visit a local restaurant tucked away in the small lane of Hoi An’s Old Town to try its best seller Banh xeo (crispy rice pancake), watch how the locals make it, and taste other dishes originating from the area. Our guide will tell you the way to eat these foods like a local.
End the tour
The tour will end in Hoi An Old Town, and after saying goodbye to our guide, you can freely explore the area. Thank you very much!
Traveler's Photos
What's Included
- Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
- English speaking guide
- Entry fee to Hoi An Old Town
- Dinner with Vietnamese food
- Hoi An Memories Show ticket (Eco class)
- Boat trip on Thu Bon River
- Lantern to release (1 lantern per person)
- Bottled water
- Transport from the hotel to Hoi An Old Town (meeting point)
- Tipping for tour guide
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses (shopping, rain poncho, photography, etc)
- Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Extra charge of 100,000 VND per person on public holidays in Vietnam (New year from 25/01/2025 to 02/02/2025, Independence day, Reunification day, Hung kings festival, International Labour day)
Additional Information
– Our driver & guide will pick you at your hotel in Da Nang city center (including Hai Chau District, Son Tra District except Nai Hien Dong ward & Tho Quang ward, Ngu Hanh Son District except Hoa Hai ward & Hoa Quy ward) or Hoi An city center.
– In the end of the tour, our driver & guide will drop you off at your hotel.
– Pickup surcharge is required to visitors staying NOT in Da Nang city center or Hoi An city center.
– All surcharges are payable in cash directly to your tour guide.
– No pick up & drop off service in Tan Hiep area of Hoi An (Cham Island).
– Children above 1,4 meters height OR 10 years old will be charged same to adults.
– Children from 1 to 1,4 meters height OR from 5 to 10 years old, will have a discount.
– Children under 5 years old OR 1 meter height, will be free of charge.
– On your day of travel, if your kid is 1,4 meters and above (and you booked a children ticket previously), please pay the surcharge of 350,000 VND in cash.
– On your day of travel, if your kid is 1 meter and above (and you booked a free ticket previously), please pay the surcharge of 350,000 VND in cash.
If you are a group of 4 people and bigger, please contact us directly by WhatsApp number +84968009827 to have better price and better support. We kindly provide free tourist information to make your trip easier and smarter.
For daily tours:
– Any cancellation before 7 days of departure date will be free of charge.
– Any cancellation before 6 days of departure date will be charged 30% selling price.
– Any cancellation before 5 – 4 days of departure date will be charged 50% selling price.
– Any cancellation before 3 – 2 days of departure date will be charged 75% selling price.
– Any cancellation within 24 hours or no-show: non-refundable.
For others tour:
You are deemed to have read and accepted our Terms & Conditions, and are accepting the terms of these conditions on behalf of all persons in the party
What to bring/wear
Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes, hat/cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain poncho/jacket (from October to January), cash. See more information in Hoi An Old Town dress code
Contact for reservation/support
If you can not book/pay online OR want to reserve first and pay later OR process a cancellation. Please WhatsApp us by number +84968009827 or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com.
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