The colourful lanterns are inextricably linked to Hoi An. Although walking the streets of the city on any night of the year is a unique experience, the lantern festival adds to the historical and magical atmosphere of the city.

The festival takes place once a month on a full moon, when the electric lights are turned off throughout the historic city centre and the streets and promenade are illuminated only by the glow of thousands of lanterns and lanterns.

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The traditional lanterns of central Vietnam

The city of Hoi An used to be a bustling port to which many foreign traders flocked. Foremost among them were arrivals from China and Japan, who also brought traditional colourful lanterns made of silk to the city. They hung these outside their homes to remind them of their homeland.

This tradition was soon taken up by their Vietnamese compatriots who, for a change, used the lanterns as a symbol of good luck and good livelihood. Soon the city became the centre of the lantern trade and was also famous for producing some of the most beautiful lanterns in all of Vietnam.

When is the lantern festival in Hoi An?

If you're planning a trip to Vietnam, you won't go wrong if you schedule your stop in Hoi An for the lantern festival. The festival is held once a month under the full moon, with the following dates scheduled in 2025:

13 January 2025
February 11, 2025
11 March 2025
March 13, 2025
11 April 2025
11 May 2025
9 June 2025
8 July 2025
7 August 2025
5 September 2025
5 October 2025
3 November 2025
3 December 2025

What to experience during the Lantern Festival in Hoi An?

The festival in Hoi An offers so many different activities that it's probably impossible to fit them all into one evening.

First of all, explore the historic town centre and the promenade, which are illuminated by lanterns. There are also hundreds of vendors waiting by the riverside offering lucky lanterns for purchase, which you can then launch down the river and make a wish.

Cruises on a traditional lantern boat down the river with views of illuminated Hoi An are also a popular activity. Don't forget to visit the local evening market, where beautiful lanterns are sold, but you can also enjoy delicious street food and pick up other souvenirs.

You can also take part in one of the traditional workshops to make your own lantern.

Transport to the Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival takes place in the historic city centre, which is closed to motorised vehicles during the festival.

You can therefore only enter the centre on foot. There are a large number of taxis around the historic centre which you can use to travel to more distant locations.