Hoi An Lantern Festival

An Enchanting Night Illuminated by the Ancient Riverside

2026/01/02

Every month on the night of the full moon, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Hoi An in central Vietnam is transformed by the magical glow of the Lantern Festival. The Old Town and the banks of the Thu Bon River become the stage, drawing locals, travelers, and families to experience a tapestry of colorful lanterns, tradition, and heartwarming community. Wandering the lantern-lit alleys and releasing a wishful lantern onto the river is one of the most poetic experiences you can have in Vietnam.

As the electric lights are switched off and thousands of silk lanterns are illuminated, the city fills with the sounds of folk songs and laughter, and the scents of incense and street food. The glow of floating lanterns on the river, the vibrant colors and hopes expressed throughout the Old Town, and the sense of connection among people make this festival truly special.

Main Attractions

Lantern Floating on the Thu Bon River

The heart of the festival is the floating of lanterns on the Thu Bon River. Locals and visitors alike buy small, colorful lanterns, make a wish, and gently set them afloat. The sight of hundreds of glowing lanterns drifting on the water is breathtaking and is said to bring luck, peace, and happiness.

Lantern Parade & Old Town Strolls

At sunset, the Old Town becomes a pedestrian paradise, bustling with people carrying lanterns of every shape and color. Lantern parades wind through the streets, with children and adults alike joining in. Iconic sites like the Japanese Bridge and temples are adorned with intricate lanterns, bathing the entire town in a soft, gentle glow.

Traditional Games, Performances & Craft Workshops

As night falls, the riverbanks and alleyways come alive with traditional folk games (like blindfolded pot-breaking and Bai Choi musical bingo), as well as music, poetry readings, and dance performances. Lantern-making workshops are also popular, letting visitors craft their own lantern to take home as a memory of the festival.

Costumes & Decorations

Many people dress in ao dai or festive attire, adding to the joyful atmosphere. The city is decorated with silk and paper lanterns in every imaginable color and shape-dragons, butterflies, lotuses-adorning streets, temples, and communal houses. The harmony between the old townscape and the lantern light is truly exquisite.

Traditional Food & Drink

Riverside food stalls serve Hoi An specialties like Cao Lau noodles, White Rose dumplings, and mooncakes. The aroma of grilled pork, herbs, and sticky rice mingles with the night air, and local drinks like sugarcane juice and lotus tea are popular. Enjoying street food under the lanterns is a highlight of the festival.

Cultural and Historical Background

The origins of the Hoi An Lantern Festival date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when Hoi An flourished as an international trading port[1][3][4][6][7][8][9]. Chinese and Japanese merchants brought with them the custom of hanging lanterns in front of their homes, and locals soon adopted the practice, lighting lanterns to wish for good fortune and happiness[1][3][4][6][7][8][9]. Japanese lanterns, in particular, added unique colors and shapes to the town, and lantern-making became a staple of family businesses, festivities, and celebrations[1][3][4][6][7][8][9].

This tradition blended with Buddhist full moon beliefs and ancestor worship, evolving into the custom of lighting lanterns on full moon nights to honor ancestors and make wishes. Lanterns symbolize guidance, luck, and warding off evil, and are imbued with hopes for family prosperity, peace, and happiness[1][3][4][6][7][8][9]. Hoi An’s lanterns also represent harmony between people and nature, sky and earth, and are cherished as a traditional craft of the town[4][6][8].

In 1988, local authorities officially launched the Lantern Festival, encouraging residents to switch off electric lights and illuminate the town with lanterns on every full moon night[1][7][8]. Since then, the festival has become a beloved cultural heritage, blending spirituality, community, and craftsmanship, and continuing today as a night to celebrate family, town bonds, and harmony with nature.

Participant Voices

I’ve never experienced a night as magical as the Hoi An Lantern Festival. Walking by the river, surrounded by lanterns and music, felt like a dream. When I set my lantern afloat with a wish, my heart was quietly filled with peace.

Fun Facts

On festival nights, all electric lights in the Old Town are switched off, and the streets are illuminated only by lanterns and moonlight.
The Bai Choi musical bingo game, played during the festival, is recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Hoi An lanterns are made of bamboo and silk, symbolizing strength and elegance in Vietnamese culture.

Festival Dates

The Hoi An Lantern Festival is held on the 14th day of every lunar month, centered around the Old Town and along the Thu Bon and Hoai Rivers. Arrive before sunset to enjoy lantern-making workshops and strolls along the river, and experience the enchanting moment of releasing a wish lantern into the night.