4 days of Hoi An shining in December ✨

Hoi An International Lantern Festival, December 3–6

A place where, as the sun sets, lanterns light up one by one in every old alley, and a warm glow spreads across the Hoai River.

The International Lantern Festival is being held in Hoi An, Vietnam.🏮

The 2026 festival is scheduled to take place from Thursday, December 3 to Sunday, December 6, in Hoi An Ancient Town and around the Hoai River.

From lantern exhibitions and hands-on experiences where you make your own, all the way to parades and art performances, the festivities continue, turning the usual alleys of Hoi An

It's a time when you can experience it in an even more colorful way. The theme of this year's festival is 'Hoi An, Colors of Heritage'. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

🏮 Stroll slowly among the lantern artworks

Lantern installations that make use of light and color will be set up throughout the An Hoi Sculpture Park and the Old Town.

As you stroll through the alleys, pause for a moment in front of any artwork that catches your eye to take a photo, then continue your walk all the way to the riverside.

The Da Nang tourism portal provides information on the An Hoi Sculpture Park and the lantern art installations in the Old Town, open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM.

In addition to the lantern display, an exhibition introducing the history and craftsmanship of Hoi An lanterns will also be held at the Hoi An Hall during the same hours.

You can also split your time to enjoy it, checking out the shapes and colors of the lanterns during the day and admiring the illuminated scenery in the evening. 🌈

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🎨 Time to make a lantern with your own hands

If just looking around isn't enough for you, try joining a lantern-making experience at the Hoai River square.

It runs every day from 4 PM to 9 PM. The process of handling the materials yourself and choosing the colors

It will be an experience that lets you feel Hoi An's lantern culture up close.

On-site crowd levels and the way activity registrations are handled may change, so

If you'd like to join at the time you prefer, it's a good idea to check the latest information as the festival period approaches.

The lantern you complete will also make a special souvenir to keep from your trip. 🎁

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🎭 A festive night of parades and performances

During the festival, a parade through the Old Town and art performances at the Hoai River square are also scheduled.

Lantern parade on Friday, December 4 at 6:30 PM, and art performance on Saturday, December 5 at 7:00 PM

However, the current information on the Da Nang tourism portal does not separately specify the exact dates and times of the parades and performances.

Therefore, please double-check the times above against the latest official schedule before your visit.

If you plan to watch the performance, it's convenient to arrive at the venue a little earlier than right before it starts so you can check out the surrounding routes and the viewing area. 📸

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📍 Good to know before your visit

The festival venues are not gathered in just one place; they are spread across the Hoai River Square, An Hoi Sculpture Park, and several streets in the Old Town.

Wear comfortable walking shoes, and set aside some time in the evening to leisurely explore the riverside and the alleyways.

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Festival schedule: Thursday, December 3 – Sunday, December 6, 2026

Main locations: Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoai River Square, An Hoi Sculpture Park area

Lantern-making experience: daily 16:00~21:00

Lantern exhibition & installation viewing: daily 09:00~21:00

(Times are based on Vietnam local time, and operating hours and performance schedules are subject to change.)

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Four nights to spend in Hoi An at the end of the year.

Walk along the glittering lanterns, and capture the memories of your trip in a small lantern you make yourself. 🏮