Hoi An's full-moon night

By Himanshu and Arushi. Updated 3 November 2026. We haven't been here yet, so this guide is researched.

Once every lunar month, Hoi An's old town switches off its electric lights and runs on silk lanterns. People float candle lanterns down the Thu Bon river and make a wish. Here are the next dates and everything you need to be there.

Every date to December 2027

The festival falls on the 14th night of each lunar month, the night the moon is full or one night before.

Dates follow the lunar calendar; confirm locally. We worked them out from the new moon in Vietnam time and checked them against published 2026 lists, but sites sometimes disagree by a day.

How the night works

Exact timings shift a little month to month. This is the usual shape of the evening.

1. 5 pm

   Get into the old town

   Walk the yellow streets and the Japanese Covered Bridge while it's still light, and pick your spot by the river before the crowds.

2. 6–8 pm

   The lights go off

   Electric lighting on the main old-town streets is switched off or dimmed, and the silk lanterns take over. Much of the old town is closed to motorbikes in the evening, so it's walkers only.

3. After dark

   Float a lantern

   Buy a paper lantern with a candle from the vendors along the river, light it, make a wish and set it on the water from the bank or from a small boat.

4. Late

   Cross to An Hoi

   The night market on An Hoi islet, just over the bridge, runs into the night, with street food and lantern stalls.

What it costs

₹1 is about 270₫ (Sep 2026). Prices are approximate and boats are negotiable.

Getting there