Hoi An Ancient Town hosts lantern festival from 3 December
Published on 11/07/2026 at 16:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFestival programme and heritage setting
- The Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre schedules the festival across Hoi An from 3 to 6 December 2026.
- On 4 December 2026, Minh Dang Da Hanh will bring lantern processions and traditional performances to the old quarter.
- Approximately 15 lantern clusters will be installed around Hoai River Square and nearby streets in 2026.
Hoi An Ancient Town and the Hoi An International Lantern Festival 2026 will bring a four-day programme to Hoi An, Vietnam, from 3 to 6 December 2026. The festival will use Hoai River Square, An Hoi Sculpture Garden, the Hoai River and several streets in the old quarter as its venues.
Lantern festival brings four days of events to Hoi An
The festival is organised through the Da Nang tourism authorities and is presented under the theme Colours of Heritage. The official festival programme sets out lantern installations, craft experiences, artistic performances and cultural exchanges across the four-day period.
The programme is designed around the lantern-making tradition associated with the town. Around 15 major lantern clusters are planned for Hoai River Square, An Hoi Sculpture Garden, Nguyen Phuc Chu Street, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Tran Phu Street and the river. Designs will draw on materials such as ceramics, wood and bamboo, while other displays will reflect craft traditions from Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand and Laos.
Visitors will be able to see the Lanterns and Regenerative Art exhibition, join lantern-making workshops and meet artisans and creative practitioners. The Colours of Heritage performances will combine traditional music, folk singing, Bai Choi, classical drama, contemporary performances and ao dai fashion presentations.
Hoi An Ancient Town frames a living craft tradition
The festival places its installations among the streets, riverfront and public spaces that form the historic town. That setting links the event’s central craft subject with the built heritage that gives Hoi An its World Heritage identity.
The programme also includes Minh Dang Da Hanh on 4 December 2026. Traditional costumes, folk performances, handicraft demonstrations, lantern dances and a procession will recreate aspects of the old quarter in the early twentieth century. The event therefore connects the town’s historic streets with a contemporary programme about the craft most closely associated with its night-time appearance.
The closing programme, Closing Gathering - Farewell, is scheduled for 6 December 2026 at Hoai River Square. Hoai Giang Night will use folk music, traditional dance, Quang Nam chants and artistic lighting on the river. The wider year-end programme also includes Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Day activities in Hoi An from 20 November to 5 December 2026, including exhibitions and the inauguration of a restored historical site, as reported by Dan Tri International.
Visiting Hoi An Ancient Town: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Hoi An International Lantern Festival 2026 runs from 3 to 6 December 2026 at Hoai River Square, An Hoi Sculpture Garden, the Hoai River and streets in the old quarter.
- The visitor programme includes lantern installations, workshops, exhibitions and performances, with Minh Dang Da Hanh taking place on 4 December 2026.
- The venues are spread across Hoi An Ancient Town, including named streets and riverside spaces rather than one enclosed festival site.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Hoi An Ancient Town
When does the Hoi An International Lantern Festival take place?
The festival takes place from 3 to 6 December 2026 at venues across Hoi An Ancient Town, including Hoai River Square and An Hoi Sculpture Garden.
What can visitors see during the lantern festival?
The programme includes lantern installations, craft workshops, exhibitions, performances and the Minh Dang Da Hanh procession on 4 December 2026.
Where is Hoi An Ancient Town and how do you get there?
Hoi An Ancient Town is in Hoi An, Vietnam. The festival venues are located around the old quarter, the Hoai River and nearby public spaces.
