Hoi An International Lantern Festival 2026 (3–6 December): Dates, Venues & What to See
Last updated: 5 October 2026. This is a live guide: we update it as the organisers announce the full programme.
Latest updates
- 29 Sep 2026: Guide published. Dates, venues and main activities confirmed by Da Nang city (see sources below). The detailed day-by-day schedule has not been announced yet.
Quick answer: The Hoi An International Lantern Festival 2026 takes place from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026 in Hoi An Ancient Town, around Hoai River Square, the An Hoi Sculpture Garden and along the Hoai River. It is the first time Hoi An has held an international lantern festival, with around 15 large art-lantern installations, lantern spaces from Japan, China, Korea, Thailand and Laos, lantern-making workshops, heritage performances and a night lantern parade. The lantern displays are expected to stay up until the Lantern Festival (Tết Nguyên tiêu) on 20 February 2027.
Hoi An International Lantern Festival 2026 at a glance
| Official name | Hoi An International Lantern Festival 2026 (Lễ hội Đèn lồng quốc tế Hội An 2026) |
| Theme | “Hoi An – Colours of Heritage” (Hội An – Sắc màu di sản) |
| Festival dates | Thursday 3 – Sunday 6 December 2026 |
| Lantern displays | Expected to stay up until Tết Nguyên tiêu, 20 February 2027 |
| Main venues | Hoai River Square, An Hoi Sculpture Garden, along the Hoai River, and Nguyễn Phúc Chu, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai and Trần Phú streets |
| Organiser | Da Nang City People’s Committee |
| Occasion | 27th anniversary of Hoi An Ancient Town’s UNESCO World Heritage listing (4 December 1999) |
| Detailed schedule | Not yet announced. We will add it here. |
Why is this festival special?
Hoi An has been famous for its silk lanterns for centuries, and every month the old town turns off its electric lights for the full moon lantern night. But this is the first time the town has hosted a lantern festival on an international scale. It celebrates 27 years since Hoi An Ancient Town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 4 December 1999, and honours the local lantern-making craft and the artisans who keep it alive.
The heart of the festival: the Hoài River
Much of the festival takes place on and beside the Hoài River, the branch of the Thu Bồn that flows past the Ancient Town and An Hội islet, with giant lanterns floating on the water and the opening show performed on the river itself. Here’s what the river looks like from a small wooden boat on an ordinary evening:
What to see and do at the festival
- Opening ceremony: an art performance on land and on the river.
- Around 15 giant art-lantern installations at Hoai River Square, the An Hoi Sculpture Garden, on Nguyễn Phúc Chu, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai and Trần Phú streets, and floating on the Hoai River. Designs draw on local crafts such as pottery, wood and bamboo.
- International lantern spaces from Japan, China, Korea, Thailand and Laos, plus other Vietnamese provinces.
- Make your own lantern: hands-on workshops where you learn each step from Hoi An’s lantern artisans.
- “Chạm vị phố Hội” (Taste of Hoi An): a food and handicraft space with local dishes and crafts.
- “Lanterns and Reborn Art” exhibition (Đèn lồng và Nghệ thuật tái sinh).
- “Colours of Heritage” art show: hát bội (classical opera), bài chòi (a UNESCO-listed folk game with singing), folk songs, traditional music, contemporary art and an áo dài show.
- “Minh đăng dạ hành” night lantern parade: recreating an early 20th-century night in old Hoi An, with people in Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese traditional dress, craft demonstrations, folk art and a lantern procession through the streets.
- Competitions: an art photography contest, “Impressions of Hoi An Lanterns”, and an online lantern-pattern design contest.
- A talk on Hoi An’s handicrafts in a changing world.
Festival schedule
The organisers have not yet published the day-by-day programme with times. We will add the opening ceremony time, parade route and workshop schedule here as soon as they are announced. Bookmark this page, or subscribe to our newsletter for the update.
More events around the festival (December 2026)
December is a great month for events in Hoi An and Da Nang, so you can combine several on one trip:
- 23 November – 7 December 2026: Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day activities in Hoi An Ancient Town.
- 4 December 2026: 27th anniversary of Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage listing.
- 4 – 6 December 2026: Da Nang Christmas Market 2026 at Ariyana Convention Centre, Da Nang (the same weekend as the lantern festival).
- Tuesday 22 December 2026: Hoi An’s monthly full moon lantern night.
- 24 – 25 December 2026: Christmas celebrations in Hoi An Ancient Town.
- Late December 2026 – January 2027: Da Nang New Year 2027 Festival.
Tips for visiting
- Go in the evening: the lanterns are at their best after dark, from about 6 pm. Arrive before sunset to find your way around and get a spot by the river.
- See it from the water: take a 15–20 minute wooden boat ride on the Hoài River from near the An Hội bridge to see the floating lanterns up close. On festival nights the boats will be in high demand, so go early in the evening and agree the price before you board.
- Weekend crowds: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December will be the busiest. If you can, visit on Thursday or Friday evening.
- Old town ticket: foreign visitors need the Hoi An Ancient Town entrance ticket (120,000 VND, including entry to 5 heritage sites). Whether the festival itself has any extra fee has not been announced.
- Getting there from Da Nang: Hoi An is about 40–50 minutes by Grab or taxi. On festival nights, book your ride back early, or better, stay a night or two in Hoi An.
- Book accommodation early: hotels near the old town fill up quickly for festival weekends.
- Weather: early December is the tail end of the rainy season, so bring a light poncho. Rain usually comes in showers, and the lanterns look beautiful reflected on wet streets.
- Stay longer: the art-lantern displays are expected to remain until 20 February 2027, so even if you miss the festival days, you can still see them over Christmas, New Year and Tết.
- Dress up for the occasion: the festival celebrates old Hoi An, and the night parade features traditional dress, so why not join in? My friends and I rented colourful áo dài from one of the costume rental shops in the old town. It’s quick and easy, with no need to buy or have anything tailored. Take your photos in the yellow-walled alleys and old shophouses in the daytime, when the light is best, then return the outfit and come back for the lanterns after dark. The old town makes the perfect backdrop.
Hoi An International Lantern Festival FAQ
When is the Hoi An International Lantern Festival 2026?
From Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026. The lantern art displays are expected to stay up until Tết Nguyên tiêu (20 February 2027).
Where is the Hoi An Lantern Festival held?
In Hoi An Ancient Town: at Hoai River Square, the An Hoi Sculpture Garden, along the Hoai River, and on Nguyễn Phúc Chu, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai and Trần Phú streets.
Is this the same as the monthly full moon lantern night?
No. The full moon lantern night happens every month on the 14th day of the lunar month. The International Lantern Festival is a new, larger event held for the first time in 2026, with giant lantern installations and international participants.
Is the Hoi An Lantern Festival free?
The organisers have not announced a festival fee yet. Foreign visitors normally need the Hoi An Ancient Town ticket (120,000 VND) to enter the old town. We will update this answer when details are confirmed.
Can I visit the festival on a day trip from Da Nang?
Yes. Hoi An is 40–50 minutes from Da Nang by car. But we recommend staying overnight so you can enjoy the lanterns late into the evening without worrying about the ride back.
👉 Planning your days? See the tours, tickets and experiences I recommend in Da Nang and Hoi An, with prices and direct booking links, on my Book your trip page.
Sources
Dates, venues and activities are based on Da Nang city’s official festival plan, as reported by Báo Đà Nẵng (12 Sep 2026), Tuổi Trẻ (31 Jul 2026) and the Da Nang Tourism events calendar.
