Hoi An Full Moon Festival 2026: Dates & Guide

Hoi An Full Moon Lantern Festival 2026: Lunar-Solar Calendar, Dates & Self-Guided Travel Guide

Quick Information for You:

• When it takes place: The Hoi An Full Moon Festival is held monthly on the 14th day of the Lunar calendar (i.e., the night before the full moon, when the moon is fullest and brightest).
• Gregorian Calendar 2026: The 14th Lunar day falls on different Gregorian dates each month — see the detailed lookup table below.
• Most vibrant hours: From 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM. The entire ancient town will dim electric lights, illuminated solely by candles and traditional paper lanterns.
• Best time to visit: The dry season months from February to May (cool weather, no storms or floods).

There are destinations in the world that possess a strange charm, where you don’t need any special event to feel their magic. Hoi An Ancient Town is a prime example. But on the 14th night of the Lunar calendar each month, that magic is elevated to a new level.

Electric lights along the Hoai River dim. Flickering candles appear on doorsteps and windowsills of centuries-old yellow wooden houses. The poetic Hoai River is immediately filled with thousands of small, beautiful paper lanterns gently drifting with the current towards the East Sea. The moss-covered atmosphere of Hoi An transforms into a real-life fairy tale painting. The Hoi An Ancient Town Full Moon Festival is a unique cultural experience that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime.

[!TIP] Plan your transportation before the festival: The number of tourists from Da Nang flocking to Hoi An on full moon nights is immense. Be proactive and book a cheap round-trip private car transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An with Faifo Express at least 2-3 days in advance to ensure a new car and avoid traffic jams that could make you miss the event.

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1. What is the Hoi An Ancient Town Full Moon Festival?

The Hoi An Ancient Town Full Moon Festival (also known as Ancient Town Night) is a unique cultural and artistic activity that the Hoi An authorities and people have regularly maintained since 1998. This activity aims to recreate the cultural living space of a bustling trading port in Southeast Asia during the 17th-18th centuries.

Special activities during the festival night:

• Lights out, lanterns on: Exactly at 7:00 PM, all electric lighting devices on main streets such as Trần Phú, Nguyễn Thái Học, and Bạch Đằng will be turned off. Instead, warm, soft light will emanate from silk and paper lanterns and flickering candles in front of houses.
• Releasing lanterns on Hoai River: You can buy beautiful lotus-shaped paper lanterns (priced at only 18.000đ (≈$1) – 24.000đ (≈$1)/lantern) from elderly vendors or children along the riverbank, light them yourself, send wishes for peace, and then release them onto the gently flowing river.
• Traditional art performances: Along street intersections, many outdoor stages host performances of Chăm ethnic musical instruments, traditional Vietnamese music, poetry recitals, and lively folk games like Bài Chòi singing.
• Historical sites open late: Many ancient houses and large assembly halls within the heritage site will open their doors to visitors until late at night, allowing tourists to admire the ancient architecture under the romantic lantern light.

[!NOTE] Hoi An Ancient Town Night is not a commercial program set up to charge tourists, but a natural cultural practice voluntarily preserved by the local people for decades. The event proceeds normally regardless of sunny or rainy weather, except during major floods that deeply submerge the ancient town.

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2. Detailed Hoi An Full Moon Festival Schedule for 2026

To help you easily plan your vacation itinerary and book flights to coincide with the festival dates, here is an accurate conversion table from the 14th Lunar day to the Gregorian calendar for all 12 months of 2026:

Lunar Month	Full Moon Night (14th Lunar Day)	Gregorian Date 2026	Weather & Season	Beauty Rating
January	14th of January	February 11, 2026	Warm spring, Tết holiday	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely beautiful — Vibrant traditional Tết atmosphere
February	14th of February	March 13, 2026	Cool dry season	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Most perfect: Dry weather, cool breeze
March	14th of March	April 12, 2026	Early warm summer	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely beautiful: Clear skies, sharp photos
April	14th of April	May 11, 2026	Transitional season	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beautiful: Warm sun, slightly chilly at night
May	14th of May	June 09, 2026	Mid-summer	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Quite beautiful: Cool river breeze at night
June	14th of June	July 08, 2026	Peak summer tourism	⭐⭐⭐ Quite crowded, hot daytime weather
July	14th of July	August 07, 2026	Late summer	⭐⭐⭐ Quite beautiful: Possible short afternoon thunderstorms
August	14th of August	September 05, 2026	Mid-Autumn Festival	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely special: Grand Mid-Autumn festival with lantern parades
September	14th of September	October 05, 2026	Rainy/flood season	⭐⭐ Limited: High risk of prolonged heavy rain
October	14th of October	November 03, 2026	Peak flood season	⭐ Avoid: Very high chance of deep flooding in ancient town
November	14th of November	December 02, 2026	Early cold winter	⭐⭐⭐ Quite cold, chilly weather
Leap February	14th of Leap February	January 01, 2027	New Year’s Day	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beautiful and chilly, lively New Year atmosphere

[!IMPORTANT] The lunar-solar calendar above is accurately calculated by Faifo Express based on the Vietnamese perpetual calendar for 2026. The festival always takes place on the night of the 14th Lunar day (i.e., the night before the full moon), so guests should consider booking hotels one day before and one day after this date for the most complete experience.

Romantic light emanates from the ancient wooden houses, imbued with the colors of time on the full moon night, taking visitors back to the past.

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3. Hoi An Lantern Festival Timeline by Hour

To ensure you don’t miss the most precious moments of this vibrant festival night, please note the detailed timeline below:

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM — Pre-Event Preparation You should arrive in Hoi An around 5 PM. At this time, the late afternoon sun begins to set, and locals in the ancient town are busy hanging colorful paper lanterns in front of their houses and lighting candles on windowsills. Along the Bạch Đằng riverbank, charming paper lantern stalls are set up, ready to welcome visitors. This is a wonderful time to stroll and photograph the ancient town transitioning between day and night.

7:00 PM — Dramatic Lights Out Moment Exactly at 7:00 PM, the entire electric street light system and LED advertising signs in the ancient town area simultaneously go out. A quiet, ancient space is suddenly illuminated by thousands of flickering candle flames and soft silk lanterns. This incredibly impressive change of atmosphere will leave you in awe.

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM — Explore the Magical Ancient Town This is the ideal time to stroll and explore the alleys. Walk along Trần Phú, Nguyễn Thái Học streets, and turn into the quiet, small alleys. The deep, narrow alleys, shaded by simple yellow lanterns reflecting on old yellow walls, are the most iconic photo spots in Hoi An.

8:30 PM – 9:30 PM — Peak Lantern Release on Hoai River At this time, the poetic Hoai River sparkles like a galaxy with thousands of lanterns gently drifting. Buy some colorful lanterns, light the candles, and release them yourself onto the warm river, sending wishes for peace and good luck for yourself and your family.

9:30 PM — Festival Ends From around 9:30 PM, the street lighting system gradually turns back on, and modern life resumes. You can visit riverside restaurants for a late dinner or leisurely get into your car to return to Da Nang to rest.

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4. Best Spots to Experience Hoi An Full Moon Night

• Bạch Đằng Riverbank (Hoai River promenade): The most crowded spot, where you get a panoramic view of the river sparkling with lanterns and long lines of shimmering wooden boats.
• An Hội Bridge (Lantern Bridge): This pedestrian bridge crossing the Hoai River offers a beautiful panoramic view of the full moon night from above. From here, you’ll see hundreds of basket boats carrying guests releasing lanterns, intertwined in a magnificent display.
• Chùa Cầu (Japanese Bridge): The ancient bridge, brightly lit by golden candles reflecting on the river, creates an incredibly sacred and ancient landscape.
• Ancient alleys (Alleys 10 - 20 Trần Phú Street): Where you can escape the crowds along the riverbank to feel the true peaceful tranquility of the full moon night with lonely golden candles illuminating wooden houses.
• Experience a wooden boat ride to release lanterns: Rent a small, rustic wooden boat rowed by locals to gently drift you along the river. The feeling of sitting in the middle of the river, releasing lanterns, and looking up at the ancient town banks illuminated by lanterns is an invaluable experience. The cost is about 180.000đ (≈$7)/boat for 20 minutes.

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5. Transportation from Da Nang to Hoi An for the Full Moon Festival

Due to the extremely large number of tourists flocking to Hoi An on the evening of the 14th Lunar day, choosing smart transportation is crucial for your trip:

• Round-trip private car transfer (Faifo Express): The optimal option. The driver picks you up at your Da Nang hotel lobby at 4:30 PM and waits to pick you up for the return trip at 9:30 PM. A round-trip private 4-seater car package costs only about 660.000đ (≈$26) (extremely cheap when split among 3-4 people), giving you complete peace of mind about night transportation, no worries about being stranded late at night.
• Grab ride-hailing app: You can easily book a Grab for the outbound trip from Da Nang. However, for the return trip from Hoi An to Da Nang between 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM, cars are extremely scarce as Grab drivers rarely do inter-provincial trips at night. You might face prices doubling or constant cancellations on crowded streets.
• Public bus: Super cheap fare at only 24.000đ (≈$1)/person. However, the last bus from Hoi An to Da Nang departs at 5:30 PM — even before the festival officially begins, so this option is completely unfeasible for a full moon night trip.

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6. Important Tips to Avoid Full Moon Night things to watch for

To ensure the lantern festival is a truly enjoyable and complete experience, keep these valuable tips in mind:

• Dine early from 5:30 PM: From 7:00 PM onwards, most riverside restaurants in the ancient town are 100% full. Booking a table and dining early from 5:30 PM helps you secure the best river-view seats and avoid long waits for food.
• Wear flat shoes or sneakers: The ancient town prohibits all motorized vehicles, so you are required to walk 100% on the uneven stone streets. Put away those fancy high heels and wear comfortable flat shoes to protect your feet.
• Bring small VND cash: Most elderly vendors selling lanterns on the sidewalk or street food stalls only accept small cash payments (denominations of 12.000đ (≈$0), 24.000đ (≈$1)). Having small change ready helps you transact quickly and conveniently.
• Carefully guard your belongings in crowds: During peak summer tourism months, the Bạch Đằng riverbank area is extremely crowded. Always wear your backpack on your chest and keep your phone and wallet in a secure compartment to prevent pickpockets from taking advantage of any oversight.
• Avoid wearing overly dark clothing: Outfits in light tones such as white, yellow, or creamy orange will help you stand out perfectly against the yellow wall backdrop and glow vibrantly under the shimmering light of the full moon lanterns.

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7. Full Day Itinerary to Explore Hoi An Full Moon Night from Da Nang

If you are staying in Da Nang, turn the full moon festival day into a complete Hoi An experience from morning to night with the following suggested itinerary:

• 08:00 AM: Faifo Express driver picks you up in Da Nang, departs for Hoi An along the beautiful Trường Sa coastal road.
• 09:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Stroll and visit the ancient town in the fresh morning, stop by Chùa Cầu, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, and shop for souvenirs.
• 12:00 PM: Enjoy lunch with famous local specialties like Cao Lầu and Bánh Bao Bánh Vạc at Hoi An market.
• 01:30 PM – 03:30 PM: Experience an exciting basket boat ride at Bảy Mẫu Cẩm Thanh Coconut Forest.
• 03:45 PM – 05:00 PM: Relax and swim on the cool white sands of An Bàng beach.
• 05:30 PM: Return to the ancient town, have an early dinner by the Hoai River.
• 07:00 PM – 09:30 PM: Experience releasing lanterns, stroll and admire the shimmering lanterns of the magical Full Moon Festival.
• 09:45 PM: Private car picks you up to return safely to Da Nang.

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8. Frequently Asked Questions About Hoi An Full Moon Festival

Will the Hoi An lantern festival be canceled if it rains heavily? No. The people of Hoi An still maintain the activity of turning off electric lights, lighting candles, and hanging lanterns as usual, regardless of rain or wind. In fact, a light evening rain wetting the ancient stone streets reflects the shimmering light of the lanterns, creating an extremely romantic scene for photography enthusiasts. However, boat activities for releasing lanterns on the river may be restricted to ensure waterway safety.

Do I need to buy a ticket to enter Hoi An Ancient Town to see the festival? The ancient town entrance ticket (144.000đ (≈$6)/ticket) is only required when you enter specific ancient architectural sites (such as assembly halls, museums, ancient wooden houses). Strolling along the streets, taking photos of yellow walls on sidewalks, and releasing lanterns along the Bạch Đằng riverbank are completely free and do not require a ticket check.

How much does it cost to rent a wooden boat to release lanterns on the Hoai River? The price for renting a small wooden boat is clearly regulated and listed by the management: approximately 160.000đ (≈$2)/boat for a group of 1-3 people and 200.000 VND/boat for a group of 4-5 people for a 20-minute lantern cruise on the Hoai River. Avoid paying more than this listed price to prevent being overpriced.

Which month in 2026 is the Full Moon Festival most vibrant and special? The festival taking place in February 2026 (coinciding with the Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse) and September 2026 (coinciding with the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival) are the two most vibrant and lively festival nights of the year, featuring many exciting lion and dragon dance performances and giant lantern parades throughout the ancient town streets.

Does WiFi work well in Hoi An during the festival night when electric lights are off? Shops, cafes, and hotels maintain their internal electricity systems for computers and WiFi as usual; they only turn off the exterior facade lighting. Therefore, WiFi and high-speed 4G network signals on phones still work smoothly, allowing you to comfortably check-in and share beautiful moments online.

I arrive at Da Nang airport at 5 PM on the full moon day, will I make it directly to Hoi An to see the festival? Absolutely! Book Faifo Express’s private car service with a name board pick-up at Da Nang airport. The car will drive directly from the airport to Hoi An, taking about 45-50 minutes, bringing you to the edge of the ancient town by 6:15 PM. You just need to quickly drop off your luggage at the hotel and leisurely walk into the ancient town to catch the exciting lights-out moment at 7:00 PM.

Is it safe for small children to attend the full moon festival? Completely safe. Hoi An Ancient Town prohibits all motorbikes and bicycles during festival hours, creating an extremely safe pedestrian space for children to run around freely. However, the edge of the Bạch Đằng riverbank does not have protective railings, so parents must always hold hands and carefully supervise their children when releasing lanterns near the water’s edge.

Are there any ATMs in the ancient town, or should I prepare cash in advance? There are about 3-4 ATMs from major banks located along the edge of the ancient town (Trần Hưng Đạo, Nguyễn Huệ streets). However, on crowded full moon nights, ATMs often have long queues and sometimes run out of cash unexpectedly. Preparing cash from Da Nang is the smartest and most proactive option for you.

How long do the electric lights stay off on the full moon night? The public electric lighting system will be turned off from 7:00 PM and gradually turned back on to normal around 9:30 PM – 10:00 PM. After this time, the ancient town will return to its regular electric lighting state.

How far in advance should I book a round-trip private car service from Da Nang to Hoi An for the full moon night? The demand for round-trip private cars to Hoi An on the evening of the 14th Lunar day each month always increases dramatically. Guests should contact Faifo Express via Zalo to book a car at least 2-3 days in advance so that we can carefully coordinate drivers and ensure a new, comfortable car picks up your family on time.

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10. Conclusion: Experience the Vibrant Hoi An Lantern Night

The Hoi An Ancient Town Full Moon Festival is a perfect crystallization of the beauty of traditional East Asian culture, the generous hospitality of the people of Quảng Nam, and the timeless, contemplative ancient atmosphere of a world heritage site.

Let your journey from the livable city of Da Nang to experience this vibrant festival night be smooth, full of joy, and absolutely safe with Faifo Express’s thoughtful all-inclusive private car transfer service. A cool, new car and a calm, experienced driver waiting to pick you up are the perfect pieces for your most complete Central Vietnam vacation.

🚗 Get a special offer for a round-trip private car to the Hoi An Full Moon Festival:

• Private car Da Nang → Hoi An (4-seater Sedan one way): 264.000đ (≈$10)
• Private car Da Nang ↔ Hoi An round trip on full moon night (Door-to-door pick-up/drop-off): 660.000đ (≈$26)
• View full price list and book a car via our hotline

💬 Quick booking hotline Zalo/WhatsApp: 0387.913.152 · Response within 5 minutes · Committed to #1 reputable service.

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🚀 More Central Vietnam travel guides:

• Detailed A-Z Self-Guided Hoi An Travel Guide Latest 2026
• Top 20 Cafes with Ancient Tile Roof Views for Super Cute Photos in Hoi An
• Most Detailed Da Nang Airport Transfer Car Rental Price List 2026

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🚗 Faifo Express Fleet for Full Moon Festival Transfers

4-seater Sedan (Toyota Vios / Hyundai Accent) — New models 2022+, clean and cool air-conditioned, suitable for individuals, couples traveling privately for festival transfers.

7-seater SUV (Toyota Fortuner / Mitsubishi Xpander) — Extremely spacious and airy cabin, super large luggage compartment, the #1 choice for families exploring the ancient town on full moon nights.