Between the colorful Hoi An lantern festival held every month and the local favorite dish Cao Lau, it’s debatable which put this little town on the tourist map. The lantern festival has become popular enough that even if your visit isn’t on the full moon date you can still participate in the Hoi An traditional full moon festival just about any night.
Lanterns are lit every night after the sun has sunk in Hoi An. Candles are placed at the bottom of the colorful paper lanterns. The Hoi An lantern festival is a gorgeous tradition.
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The lanterns are set into the river as an offering and to worship their ancestors as well as the God of the land. This tradition started centuries ago, where on the full moon people from all over the region would come to participate.
The practice is still alive today and at 8 pm on the eve of the full moon the lights of the town are shut off, and the only light comes from the lanterns being carried down the river.
| Year | Month | Hoi An Lantern Festival Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | February | February 25th, 2021 |
| 2021 | March | March 26th, 2021 |
| 2021 | April | April 25th, 2021 |
| 2021 | May | May 25th, 2021 |
| 2021 | June | June 23rd, 2021 |
| 2021 | July | July 23rd, 2021 |
| 2021 | August | August 21st, 2021 |
| 2021 | September | September 20th, 2021 |
| 2021 | October | October 19th, 2021 |
| 2021 | November | November 18th, 2021 |
| 2021 | December | December 17th, 2021 |
| 2022 | January | January 16th, 2022 |
| 2022 | February | February 14th, 2022 |
| 2022 | March | March 16th, 2022 |
| 2022 | April | April 14th, 2022 |
| 2022 | May | May 14th, 2022 |
Things to know about the Hoi An Lantern festival
As beautiful as it was to see, I had visions in my head that the river would be full from bank to bank with colorful light, but it wasn’t. It seems that it has been turned into somewhat of a tourist attraction and the only lanterns afloat were the ones launched by tourist paying to simulate the tradition.
We timed our trip to coincide with a full moon, but the largest event is the first full moon of the lunar new year. We were there during the 2nd full moon of the year and to be honest, it wasn’t that much different than a normal night in Hoi An.
I guess I wouldn’t go out of my way to get there during the full moon again (except for maybe the first one), but if you happen to be there it’s pretty to see the town less light up, and a few more lanterns than usual.
Hoi An, Vietnam is a beautiful city no matter what the stage the moon is in: Great food, culture, and just a charming town.
Should You Light A Lantern at the Hoi An Lantern Festival?
How could you go all the way to Hoi An and not put a lantern in the river during the lantern festival Hoi An?
Well, as pretty as it was, I just got to thinking where are all these lanterns going? Aren’t we just putting more trash into the sea?
Sure there are way worse things going out there on a daily basis than some paper and a candle stub. However, it was more than just the littering, I saw no local people participating in the tradition, and it felt like it was only done for the tourists.
I hate things that exist solely for the purpose of tourism. I am sure at one time this was a beautiful event every full moon, but now lanterns are dunked in every night of the month just for the tourists watch, and something about that feels wrong.
Now, Hoi An was our favorite town in all of Vietnam and the experience with the lanterns didn’t wreck it, but just made us think what kind of impact we are having on the world when we travel.
Hopefully, there is a smart little business lady waiting at the end of the river to collect and reuse these lanterns, but I am not sure of that. If there isn’t, there should be, she would be rich!
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Sarah
Sunday 10th of November 2019
Hi will the festival still happen today with all the rain?
Adam
Tuesday 12th of November 2019
The festival happens rain or shine, however, there will be fewer people out if it is raining.
Dury
Friday 6th of September 2019
hi all, we are thinking to go. Does it last all night?
Adam
Monday 4th of November 2019
The festivities around the river last all night, but the lights of the town are only off for around 1-2 hours at most.
Gft
Thursday 18th of April 2019
According to my Vietnamese friend who lives in Hoi An, the city employs people to pick up all of the trash out of the river every morning... so consider your purchase of a lantern as money that goes to the lady who sells it to you, participation in a local tradition and contributing to the bigger economy by adding jobs.
Adam
Friday 3rd of May 2019
Hopefully, this is the case!
Desma
Saturday 25th of August 2018
This is exactly what I was wondering also. Are we just adding to the rubbish problem in Vietnam with the lanterns in the river?
Hannah Lukaszewicz
Sunday 26th of August 2018
Unless you know for sure there is no wire and it disintegrates I would say it isn't good for the environment and why we choose not to light one. Did you decide to partake in the Hoi An lantern festival?
Elena Soler
Sunday 29th of October 2017
Hi! Nice pictures!! I'm planning to go to Hoi An in January. Do you know if the festival is "celebrated" the day of full moon or the day before? For example, in January it would be during 30th night or 31th night?. Thank you!!