A town that switches itself off
Once a month, Hoi An turns down its electricity. On the evening of the full moon, shopfronts and streetlights in the Ancient Town go dark. The light comes from silk lanterns hung in rows under the tiled eaves, plus candles floating on the Thu Bon River.
The December 2026 edition falls on December 22. That puts it three days before Christmas, so the old quarter is fuller than on most full-moon nights. Expect a festival you share with a great many people, not a quiet ritual.
Where it happens
The venue is the whole of Hoi An Ancient Town. It is a grid of low wooden shophouses and Chinese assembly halls bounded by the river to the south. The streets that matter most are:
- Bach Dang, the riverside promenade where the boats and floating candles gather
- Nguyen Thai Hoc and Tran Phu, the two long parallel streets of merchant houses and lantern-hung facades
- The Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau) at the western end of Tran Phu, the town’s best-known landmark
- An Hoi islet, across the An Hoi footbridge, where the night market and lantern stalls sit
The core of the old town is pedestrian-only in the evenings. You walk the festival, from bridge to riverfront, at the pace of the crowd.
Tickets and what they cover
No separate ticket exists for the full-moon night. Walking the streets is part of a normal visit. What applies is the Hoi An Ancient Town ticket, sold at booths at the main entrances to the old quarter. It also includes entry to a set number of heritage sites, such as old merchant houses and assembly halls.
The current price is posted at the ticket booths. Many visitors buy theirs during the day and use the coupons on museums and houses before dark. Then they come back for the lantern-lit evening.
On the river after dark
The river is the centre of the night. Small wooden rowing boats line the bank along Bach Dang. Their owners offer short trips out onto the Thu Bon, where passengers set paper lantern candles, called hoa đăng, onto the water for luck.
Vendors on the bank sell the same candles in folded paper cups for people who stay ashore. Back from the water, many households set small altars outside their doors on the full moon. These carry incense, fruit and offerings, a reminder that this is a lunar observance first and a spectacle second.
Moving through the crowd like a resident
Most of the etiquette here comes down to the river, the altars and your feet.
- Paying: boat rides, candles and night-market food are almost always paid in cash, in Vietnamese dong. Agree the boat price with the rower before stepping in.
- Altars: step around offering tables set out on the pavement, and keep cameras off people who are praying.
- Bridges: the An Hoi footbridge and the riverbank jam up after dark. Visitors who want photos usually take them from the quieter lanes back from the water.
- Bikes: Ancient Town residents park and walk in, and most hotels lend bicycles. Bikes are left at the paid parking lots on the edge of the pedestrian zone.
Saying cảm ơn (thank you) to the boat rower or candle seller goes a long way.
Getting there and staying nearby
Hoi An has no airport of its own. Most visitors fly into Da Nang International Airport, roughly 30km north, and take a taxi or ride-hailing car down the coast road. The trip usually takes about 45 minutes.
Many festival-goers stay in guesthouses just outside the Ancient Town, within walking distance of the river. Others base themselves at An Bang Beach or among the rice paddies of Cam Thanh and cycle or taxi in for the evening. Over the Christmas week, rooms close to the old quarter are the most sought after.
Making a full evening of it
Lantern light starts to read once dusk falls. Many visitors use the daylight for the ticketed heritage houses and the Hoi An Central Market on Tran Phu’s eastern end. They stay on through the evening along the river.
The full-moon festival repeats every lunar month. Visitors who can’t make December 22 find the same lantern-lit Ancient Town on later full moons. Those nights usually come with smaller crowds than this pre-Christmas date.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Hoi An Lantern Full Moon Festival in December 2026?
It takes place on December 22, 2026, in the evening, across Hoi An Ancient Town. The festival is held every lunar month on the full moon.
Do I need a ticket for the full moon festival?
There is no separate festival ticket. The Hoi An Ancient Town ticket applies, sold at booths at the old quarter's main entrances, and it also covers a set number of heritage houses and assembly halls. The current price is posted at the booths.
Where is the best place to see the lanterns?
The Bach Dang riverside promenade for the floating candles and boats, Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets for lantern-hung shophouses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and An Hoi islet across the footbridge, where the night market sits.
How do I get to Hoi An for the festival?
Most visitors fly into Da Nang International Airport, about 30km north, and take a taxi or ride-hailing car, usually around 45 minutes. The Ancient Town core is pedestrian-only in the evening, so the last stretch is on foot.
Will it be crowded?
Yes. The December 22 edition falls just before Christmas and draws large crowds, especially on the riverbank and the An Hoi footbridge. Quieter full moons come in other months.
Plan your trip to Hoi An
Vietnam eSIM & staying connected →
Some links above are affiliate links — if you book through them, Wander Atlas earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's how we keep every guide free.
