Hoi An Lantern Festival – Full Moon | Dates & Things to Do
The Lantern Festival
The Hoi An Lantern Festival, also known as the Full Moon Festival, is one of the most picturesque and well-known nights in Vietnam. This incredibly popular festival is held in the ancient town of Hoi An.
The Full Moon Festival takes place on the 14th day of each lunar month.
The main attraction of this night is when the lights in the old town are turned off or reduced to a minimum (public lighting, shops, restaurants, etc.), creating a magical atmosphere in the old town.
If you’re looking for peace and quiet, this is clearly not the best time to visit—everyone comes to Hoi An for this night. But it’s an experience worth having.
So, what to do during the Hoi An Lantern Festival? I’ll tell you everything in the rest of the article.
The History of Lanterns in Hoi An
Lanterns are the visual symbol of the old town of Hoi An. Introduced in the 16th century by the Chinese and Japanese, lanterns were believed to bring good fortune to your home. A healthy competition ensued and spread throughout the city, creating the colorful feast for the eyes that we enjoy today. It seems the lanterns also did their job; today, Hoi An is beautiful and thriving, bustling with activities and adorned with over 10,000 colorful silk lanterns.
Lantern making was abandoned during the war but resurfaced vigorously in the 1990s. In 1998, Hoi An decided to combine the tradition of full moon rituals with hanging lanterns, creating the festival as we know it today. The full moon lantern festival now attracts thousands of people each month, both Vietnamese and tourists.
Hoi An Lantern Festival Dates
| 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|
| September 16, 2024 | January 13, 2025 |
| October 16, 2024 | February 11, 2025 |
| November 14, 2024 | March 13, 2025 |
| December 14, 2024 | April 11, 2025 |
| May 11, 2025 | |
| June 9, 2025 | |
| July 8, 2025 | |
| August 7, 2025 | |
| September 5, 2025 | |
| October 5, 2025 | |
| November 3, 2025 | |
| December 3, 2025 |
The Full Moon Tradition
Before it was the festival of lanterns, it was also a religious celebration.
A certain form of moon worship is found in most ancient religions. Many believe that their religion is linked to the different phases of the moon. Here in Vietnam, traditions are strongly influenced by Buddhism; which also holds the full moon in high regard.
It is believed that many significant events in the life of Buddha took place at the time of the full moon, particularly his birth and enlightenment. These are the traditions that this festival in Hoi An embraces.
That night, you will see Vietnamese honoring their ancestors. It is widely accepted that the deceased still need the same possessions as the living. That evening, do not be surprised to see 1,000,000 VND (40 €) bills being burned (don’t worry, they are fake!), paper houses, paper mobile phones, and many other things… as well as small altars carrying offerings of fruits and flowers for their ancestors.
What Time Does the Lantern Festival Start?
I recommend that you go downtown by 6:30 PM. This is the best time to enjoy the lantern festival. If you arrive earlier, it may still be daylight, which is not ideal.
Most shops close around 10 PM, so you will have 3 and a half hours to enjoy the festival.
What to See at the Lantern Festival
These days, more and more activities take place every day and not just during the Hoi An Lantern Festival. It’s a bit of a shame, although the Lantern Festival remains a special night.
1. Streets Lit by Lanterns
One of the unique aspects of the Lantern Festival is that businesses in the old town, as well as public lighting, turn off their lights to let only lanterns and candles illuminate the streets. This creates a magical spectacle.
The atmosphere gives a unique feeling, as if stepping back several centuries in time.
I recommend starting your stroll at the beginning of Nguyen Thai Hoc Street (near Hoi An’s central market and Madame Hien restaurant) and walking towards Le Loi Street. There are fewer people, and I’ve always found this area more traditional compared to the area near the Japanese Bridge.
When I arrived in Hoi An in 2012, I was working in a restaurant in the old town. Back then, it was even stricter—we were only allowed to use candles on the tables, nothing else. Today, shops often keep a single light on.
2. Boat Ride
A lantern boat ride is a must-do activity in Hoi An, especially during the Full Moon. It offers a unique perspective of the old town.
The price for a 30-minute ride is between 150,000 and 200,000 VND (€6 to €8). Currently, prices are regulated by the city, so you won’t pay more than that.
Keep in mind that the Lantern Festival attracts a lot of people, and you won’t be alone on the river… but in my opinion, it’s still one of the unmissable activities during the Full Moon.
3. Local Sellers of Paper Lanterns with a Candle
At the Hoi An port, you’ll find vendors selling paper lanterns (often children and elderly people). This isn’t specific to the Lantern Festival.
Paper lanterns are sold for 5,000 to 10,000 VND (€0.20 to €0.40), and you can use a stick to lower them onto the water.
Locals pray for themselves and their loved ones, for health, work, money, and more. During Buddhist festivals, people pray for wandering souls waiting to be reborn.
Note that during the boat ride, you also have the chance to place a paper lantern directly on the river.
4. Visiting the Pagodas of the Old Town
As mentioned earlier, the Lantern Festival is also a Buddhist celebration. This means that Vietnamese people go to pagodas to pray. On this occasion, entry to the old town pagodas is free, allowing you to visit without a ticket.
The atmosphere in the pagodas during the festival is incredibly lively. Honestly, I highly recommend visiting one of the old town pagodas if you have the chance to be in Hoi An during the festival.
5. Breaking the Clay Pot Game
Similar to the piñata, this Vietnamese folk game also involves breaking clay pots. According to the rules, you are blindfolded and use a stick to hit the pots hanging in front of you. Having participated in this game several times, I have only won occasionally.
However, since you cannot see, it is not easy to approach the pots and break one. You must listen to the instructions from the people around you to be able to do it. Only one stick strike is allowed, and the money in the broken pot is the reward. Guaranteed laughter.
In Hoi An, you can play this game at Karzik Park. The cost is 10,000 VND per person.
6. Playing Bai Choi (Listed as UNESCO Heritage)
Bai Choi is a traditional Vietnamese game recognized as UNESCO heritage. It combines bingo with singing and is easily accessible to tourists, even without understanding Vietnamese. In Hoi An, head to the area near the An Hoi Bridge, where you’ll find bamboo huts arranged around a small courtyard. This is where local artists come to play Bai Choi.
In simple terms, you buy a card with three symbols. Card price: 20,000 VND (€0.80).
The singer performs a traditional song and, at a certain point, calls out a specific word. If this word is on your card, you earn a point. Like in bingo, you need to match all three symbols to win.
I won once and walked away with a lantern.
7. Learning Folk Songs
Near the Japanese Covered Bridge, classes are organized to teach traditional songs to young children as part of the Lantern Festival.
Although it may be difficult to understand the lyrics if you do not speak Vietnamese, the tone, instruments, and emotion transcend linguistic barriers. It is an excellent opportunity to explore a facet of local culture that is rarely visible at other times or in other places.
8. Calligraphy and Crafts
Calligraphy is especially popular for decorating homes during the New Year festival, and these works hold great significance during holidays. On full moon nights, some calligraphers set up on the sidewalks with a mat, creating art on paper.
Additionally, you have the chance to see artisans at work, crafting handmade items such as faces carved from bamboo roots by Mr. Do or making lanterns.
9. Chess Players
t’s impossible to finish this article on the Hoi An Lantern Festival without mentioning the chess players.
In front of some houses in the old town during the Full Moon, you can spot chess players dressed in traditional Vietnamese attire, playing… chess. If you’re a photographer, this is one of the best shots to capture during the Full Moon.
They’re only there during the Lantern Festival.
