Hoi An Lantern Festival in Vietnam

Hoi An Lantern Festival is a colourful festival that takes place once a month to celebrate the full moon night. In the Buddhist calendar, the full moon is one of the most sacred times of the month because the Buddha was born, reached enlightenment and attained nirvana on a full moon.  In light of this belief, lanterns are set afloat into a river every month as an offering and to worship the Buddha and deceased ancestors.

How do people celebrate Hoi An Lantern Festival

The highlight of Hoi An Lantern Festival is the cute multi-coloured paper lanterns lit with candles and placed on Thu Bon River accompanied by a wish for happiness, luck and love. At night, all lights are turned off so that Hoi An is illuminated with the glow from colourful lanterns hanging everywhere. If you want to immerse yourself into this enchanting atmosphere, there are many recommended places for photoshoots, including the Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, Cantonese Assembly Hall and Old House of Tan Ky.

You are also encouraged to wander and see how local people celebrate this vibrant festival. During this time, there are local performances held along the river with music and poetry readings. Besides sightseeing, you can taste authentic Vietnamese cuisines, such as mooncakes and vegetarian food with classic pork dishes at street food stalls popping up along the river. Before leaving, don’t forget to buy some traditional items or pretty souvenirs at the busy night markets.

Getting to Hoi An

The best way to get from Danang International Airport to Hoi An is via a shuttle bus. Other alternatives include taking the public bus or taxi. The travel time for all options is approximately 45 minutes.