By Evelyn Nguyen, May 7, 2025
As a visitor to Hoi An, the experience of releasing floating lanterns on the Thu Bon River is a must. But did you know that Hoi An hosts something even more enchanting - the Hoi An Lantern Festival?
On the full moon night every month, the Hoi An ancient town lights colorful lanterns with all shapes, sizes, and hues, illuminating the entire city like a magical atmosphere from a fairy tale.
Join Incredible Asia Journeys to explore the detailed schedule and exciting activities of the Hoi An Lantern Festival 2025-2026. Keep scrolling down to make sure you don’t miss any of the fun: festival schedule, must-see activities, and useful Hoi An travel tips!
The Lantern Festival in Hoi An, also known as the Full Moon Festival, is a monthly event taking place on the 14th day of each lunar month. Since 1998, this vibrant festival has been a celebration of the town's rich cultural heritage and its well-preserved ancient architecture. So, what is Lantern Festival exactly?
Lanterns are everywhere in Hoi An
During the festival, Hoi An Ancient Town turns off all the electric lights and lights up with thousands of colorful lanterns instead. The streets are packed with both locals and tourists, all soaking in the amazing view. Lanterns in different shapes and sizes, with cool designs, are hung up outside homes, shops, and along the riverbanks throughout the town. It’s no wonder that tourists always tell each other this is a must-do while they’re in Hoi An!
As mentioned above, the Hoi An Lantern Festival takes place monthly on the 14th day of the lunar calendar when the moon is at its brightest and roundest. The festival starts quite late, between 9-10 PM, but most people begin to gather in the Ancient Town as sunset approaches so you can start from 5 PM. You can have dinner and relax with a drink, then wait for the festivities to begin.
Reading here, if you're eager to visit Hoi An for the Hoi An Lantern Festival, mark your calendar schedule for festivals 2024 and 2025!
Checking in with lanterns is a must in Hoi An
Here are the anticipated dates for the Hoi An Lantern Festival 2025:
The bright lantern boat in the Thu Hoai River
Looking ahead to 2026, here are the expected dates for the Hoi An Lantern Festival:
Boat tour on Thu Hoai River every day
TIPS: However, if you can’t arrange your visit for the full moon, you can still experience the charm of lanterns on the Hoai River every night.
The Hoi An Lantern Festival is organized in the Hoi An Old Town area, where colorful candlelit lanterns are all displayed on every corner of the old street. Most of the activities are centered at the Japanese Covered Bridge and along the banks of the Hoai River. On the Hoai River, about 1km from the An Hoi bridge to the Cam Nam bridge, is the route for boating and releasing flower lanterns.
If you are staying in the Hoi An City Center, it is a short walk from your hotel. For those staying closer to the beach, it is a 10-15 minute taxi or shuttle ride into the city center.
Besides releasing lanterns, if you are wondering what to do in this sparkling festival night, let's explore the outstanding activities below!
One of the most romantic and meaningful experiences during the festival night is sitting on a boat releasing flower lanterns on the Hoai River. In the gentle light of thousands of lanterns, you will be able to float on a small wooden boat, quietly drifting past ancient houses on both banks. When releasing a flower lantern yourself, you can send a small wish, which is the moment that every visitor will remember forever.
Take A Boat Ride Along Thu Bon River
When the street lights up, the sound of instruments and songs resounds. Simple outdoor stages are set up everywhere, where you can enjoy Bai Choi singing, a very typical folk art form of the Central Vietnam region. Both a folk game and a singing performance, Bai Choi brings refreshing laughter and a strangely familiar feeling for foreign tourists.
Enjoy Traditional Music And Bai Choi Dance Performance
An unmissable part of any festival is… delicious food! Hoi An is famous for its rich cuisine, and it is even more attractive during the festival night. Walking around the old town, you can easily come across carts selling grilled rice paper, grilled skewers, mango cakes, or sweet corn and mung bean desserts. Holding a lantern in one hand and food in the other, that is what is called a complete experience!
Take Hoi An Street Food During The Lantern Festival
If you want to bring a piece of Hoi An home, try your hand at lantern making at one of the many small workshops or classes scattered throughout the old town. Here, you’ll be guided step by step, from making the bamboo frame, gluing the silk, to finishing the product. A handmade gift that’s both meaningful and unique!
Join Hands With Hoi An Lantern Making
Nguyen Hoang Night Market is located just across from the Japanese Covered Bridge, a must-visit in Hoi An late evening spot. There, you will find a series of stalls selling mini lanterns, handicrafts, hand-embroidered cloth bags, paintings, bracelets, etc. Reasonable prices, friendly vendors, and soft yellow lights make a walk through the market a very special memory of Hoi An.
Hoi An Night Market Shopping
One of the most beautiful moments at the Hoi An Lantern Festival is when you sit on a small boat, gently releasing flower lanterns to float down the Hoai River.
Hoi An Boat Ticket
Note: These prices do not include the lanterns. You can purchase floating lanterns from vendors along the riverbank for around 5,000-10,000 VND (approx. $0.2-0.5 USD) each.
You don’t need to book in advance, tickets are easy to buy at six official ticket booths managed by the Hoai River Tourism Management Board. These booths are easy to spot thanks to their distinctive lantern decorations, and they’re located along both sides of the river.
Once you’ve purchased your ticket, staff will guide you to a nearby pier where boats are waiting to take you out on the water.
Hoi An boat ticket booth
Tip: The most convenient place to buy tickets and board a boat is just upriver from the An Hoi Bridge, within walking distance from the heart of the Ancient Town.
Some hotels or tour companies like Incredible Asia Journeys can help you book a package tour that includes the boat ride and lantern release, saving you the hassle of haggling and queuing.
Hoi An Ancient Town Entrance ticket booth
The answer is yes and no. If you just walk around the festival area in the evening, you usually don't need to buy a ticket. However, if you want to visit historical sites such as the Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient houses, assembly halls, etc., you need to buy a ticket to visit Hoi An ancient town (about 120,000 VND/ international guest). This ticket is valid for several days and supports heritage conservation.
Yes! During the period of welcoming bustling tourists, the flower lantern release activity has taken place more frequently. Until today, this activity takes place every day to serve tourists.
Therefore, now, whether you come to Hoi An on the 1st or 14th of the lunar calendar or on a normal day, the flower lantern release activity is not much different
Tourists in Hoi An
The good news is that currently, most of the lanterns in Hoi An are made from paper and bamboo, which are easily biodegradable and more environmentally friendly than before. Then, right after the festival, the river's garbage collection force will collect the lanterns and clean the water surface of the Hoai River.
So, you can find useful information from this Hoi An Travel Blog about the Hoi An Vietnam lantern festival from the time it takes place, the interesting activities to how to buy tickets to release lanterns on the Hoai River. Let Incredible Asia Journeys accompany you on your journey to explore the ancient town, fully enjoy the beauty and meaning of the Lantern Festival in Hoi An. Contact us now to receive suggested schedules and free consultation!
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