Lantern Festival in Vietnam: Hoi An Every Full Moon, Explained

If colorful streets, glowing rivers and a bit of local culture sounds like your kind of evening, add Hoi An’s Lantern Festival to your Vietnam list. The good news is? You don’t have to wait for the yearly event. It is observed on the 14th of each lunar month.

Lanterns light up the Old Town as visitors click photos, boats cruise the Hoai River and local families observe customs related to ancestor worship. Look past the scenery and you'll see there's meaning behind the beauty.

Head to the riverside for reflections and boat views, or stroll the old lanes for colorful backdrops. Here’s a fair warning though, you might take 50 photos and still not be able to choose a favorite.

Want to try it yourself? Verify the dates of the festival on the lunar calendar before booking, then browse our Vietnam tour packages and add Hoi An to your itinerary.

The Lantern Festival at a Glance

The Fact Everyone Misses: It's Monthly

Been tempted by Hoi An’s colourful Lantern Festival but can’t decide when to go? Here’s the best part: you can choose almost any month of the year! The festival takes place monthly, so there’s no need to plan your trip around a single annual event.

While checking Hoi An lantern festival dates, remember one thing: the celebration falls on the 14th day of the lunar calendar, around the full moon. The dates change each month, so check the calendar before booking your flights.

But this tradition is more than just pretty lights. In Vietnam, the 14th day of the lunar month is called ngày rằm and has a special meaning. Families recall their ancestors, visit temples and pagodas and pray for blessings and good luck. The first day of the lunar month, mồng một, is also significant.

So, when you see incense burning outside a home or offerings placed at a temple, you’re seeing a tradition that is deep-rooted in community. 

2026-27 Festival Dates

Date checked: 14 October 2026

Planning note: These dates are lunar-calendar conversions for planning purposes. Confirm with your accommodation or local tourism information shortly before travelling, as weather and local programming may affect Hoi An Lantern Festival dates. 

The Evening, Hour by Hour

The change starts around sunset. Shopkeepers switch on their lanterns, visitors drift towards the river, and the Old Town grows busier by the minute. Motorbikes disappear, electric lights are dimmed in parts of the old town, and colorful lanterns light up the streets. The Lantern Festival in Vietnam feels extra special because locals come out to celebrate, too. You might even find yourself sharing the view with more Vietnamese visitors than international tourists!

Along the Hoai River, vendors sell small paper lanterns with candles inside. Make a wish and float it on the water, or take a rowing boat for a closer look. There’s folk music, traditional games, street performances, and sometimes a lion dance. Families also burn incense and leave offerings at homes and pagodas.

You can plan to arrive around 4:30–5:30 pm for an early dinner and a wander before the crowds build. Enjoy the river and lanterns after dark, then head to the night market for dessert. Keep your itinerary flexible; festival nights can get busy, and the lights don’t go off everywhere.

Boat Rides and River Lanterns

Want to see Hoi An glowing from the water? A short boat ride on the Hoai River is one way to enjoy the Hoi An full moon festival in the lantern-lit town. Rides typically last 15–20 minutes, with published prices ranging from around VND 150,000 to VND 250,000 per boat, depending on the operator and type of trip. A floating paper lantern costs extra, with prices reported from about VND 10,000 each.

Before boarding, agree on the total fare, ride duration and number of passengers. Ask whether the lantern is included, too. A little polite bargaining is normal, but there’s no need to turn it into a contest.

You can buy a small lantern, make a wish and release it on the river. Just remember that paper does not always mean eco-friendly. Check for plastic parts and ask what the lantern is made from. If you’re unsure, enjoy the reflections from the riverbank instead. The view is lovely either way.

Lantern Festival vs Mid-Autumn Festival

When you first start researching Vietnam, it’s easy to mix up Hoi An’s Lantern Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Both feature colourful lanterns, lively streets and traditional performances. But here’s the catch: they aren’t the same celebration.

Hoi An’s Lantern Festival is a monthly event, while the Mid-Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu) or the lunar new year in Vietnam happens once a year, on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. The latter puts children and family traditions in the spotlight, with mooncakes, lantern processions, and lion dances.

So, before you book your trip, check which event matches your plans..

Making It a Trip: Da Nang Base Logic

Trying to squeeze two destinations into one trip? We have good news and that does not require you to take a flight or a long train.  Da Nang to Hoi An route makes it an easy option as Da Nang and Hoi An are only about 30 km apart, with a drive of roughly 40–60 minutes, depending on traffic. 

If you’re short on time, stay in Da Nang and head to Hoi An in the late afternoon. You’ll have time to explore the Old Town, see the lanterns come on, grab dinner and enjoy the river before returning. A day trip works well if the Lantern Festival is your main goal. 

But if you’d rather wander without watching the clock, spend one night in Hoi An. You can enjoy the evening crowds, wake up to quieter streets and explore at a slower pace.

Our suggestion? Keep Da Nang as your base for beaches and city life, but add a night in Hoi An if your schedule allows.