A town built for lantern light
On the full moon each lunar month, Hoi An Ancient Town dims electric signage and invites visitors to experience the heritage quarter by lantern light.
Streets fill with colour, music, and river activity — but the town remains a living neighbourhood. Residents still cook, shop, and close their shutters after midnight.
The festival is not a ticketed show. It is a rhythm of local life amplified for one evening — best approached with patience and respect for residents.
What happens on festival nights
Expect lantern displays along the Thu Bon and Hoai rivers, busier foot traffic on main lanes, and optional activities such as floating candle boats on the water.
Food stalls and cafés stay open late. Photography is popular — ask before photographing people at close range, especially children and vendors.
Exact programming varies by month and local decisions. We do not publish fixed stage schedules here; check official tourism channels closer to your visit.
Planning your visit
Accommodation inside the Ancient Town books early for festival dates. Many guests stay in An Bang or Cam Chau and walk or cycle in.
Our evening street food tour runs on non-festival evenings as well — some guests prefer a calmer tasting walk, others combine a food tour with a festival night on separate days.
Wear comfortable shoes, carry cash for small purchases, and expect slower movement through crowded lanes.