Đêm Rằm Phố Cổ · Old Quarter Full-Moon Night
The Hội An Lantern Festival
On the 14th night of every lunar month — the eve of each full moon — Hội An switches off its electric lights and the Thu Bồn River fills with candle-lit lanterns. We sit on that river. Here is exactly when the next one happens.
Until the next Lantern Festival
Next full-moon night
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Astronomical full moon: June 30
Every 2026 Lantern Festival night
Each evening runs ~17:30–22:00, with the lantern release between 19:00 and 21:00. Dates are the 14th of each lunar month, calculated for Hội An.
| Night | Note |
|---|---|
| Tue, Mar 3, 2026 | Nguyên Tiêu — the year's biggest night |
| Sun, Apr 12, 2026 | First spring festival |
| Mon, May 11, 2026 | Full-moon lantern night |
| Tue, Jun 9, 2026 | Full-moon lantern night |
| Thu, Jul 9, 2026 | Full-moon lantern night |
| Fri, Aug 7, 2026 | Summer high season — expect crowds |
| Sun, Sep 6, 2026 | Lễ Vu Lan overlap |
| Mon, Oct 5, 2026 | Mid-Autumn (Tết Trung Thu) — biggest after Nguyên Tiêu |
| Wed, Nov 4, 2026 | Full-moon lantern night |
| Wed, Dec 2, 2026 | Full-moon lantern night |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | New Year's Eve crossover |
| Sat, Jan 30, 2027 | Final lunar month of 2026 |
Watching it from Nghê Prana
The lanterns float past our doorstep
Nghê Prana sits on the Thu Bồn at Cẩm Nam, just across the water from the Old Town. On festival nights the candle-lanterns released upriver drift down past the quiet side of the river — you can watch the whole release from the terrace, away from the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on the An Hội bridge, then walk into the Ancient Town in ten minutes.
It is the difference between seeing the festival and being inside it.
Lantern Festival — common questions
When is the Hoi An Lantern Festival in 2026?
The Hội An Lantern Festival (Đêm Rằm Phố Cổ) is held on the 14th day of every lunar month, the evening before each full moon. In 2026 the dates are 3 March, 12 April, 11 May, 9 June, 9 July, 7 August, 6 September, 5 October, 4 November and 2 December 2026, then 1 January and 30 January 2027. The biggest night is Nguyên Tiêu on 3 March 2026.
What time does the Hoi An Lantern Festival start?
Each festival evening runs from about 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm, with the peak lantern release between 7:00 and 9:00 pm. Electric street lighting in the Ancient Town is switched off from roughly 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm so the town is lit only by lanterns and moonlight.
How much does a lantern cost at the festival?
Paper and silk candle-lanterns to float on the river are sold at stalls on Bạch Đằng and the An Hội bridge for about 20,000–40,000 VND. Bring small bills, as most vendors do not accept cards on festival nights.
Is the Hoi An Lantern Festival free?
Yes — walking the Ancient Town during the festival is free, though the standard Old Town entrance ticket may apply at the gates. Floating a candle-lantern costs about 20,000–40,000 VND, and a 45-minute river boat for photography runs roughly 120,000–200,000 VND.
Where is the best place to watch the lantern release?
The Thu Bồn / Sông Hoài riverfront between the An Hội bridge and the Cẩm Nam bridge is the heart of the release. For fewer crowds in 2026, shoot from the Cẩm Nam south bank, take a small river boat to mid-river, or visit the quieter Cẩm Kim island release.
Hội An keeps lunar time
Explore the sky over the Thu Bồn
Your Stay Awaits
Begin Your Stay at Our Hoi An Riverside Hotel
Riverside hotel rooms on the Thu Bồn, ten minutes by bicycle from the Ancient Town. Whether it's one night between Hue and Da Nang or a full week of doing nothing — we kept your room quiet.
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