4 Festivals and Events in Hoi An, Vietnam
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You don’t need to time a Hoi An trip around a special date, the lantern-lit streets happen every night, but 4 events do change the town noticeably if your dates line up. The monthly lantern festival is the big one; the others are worth knowing about mostly so closures don’t catch you off guard. See our full Hoi An guide for how these fit around the Sep-Nov flood season.
Hoi An’s 4 recurring events, at a glance
| Event | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Full Moon Lantern Festival | Monthly, the 14th day of the lunar month | Street electricity cut, floating candle lanterns on the Thu Bon |
| Tet (Lunar New Year) | Around 17 Feb 2026 | Widespread closures elsewhere in Vietnam; Hoi An stays more open than most |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Roughly Sep-Oct (verify exact date) | Lion dances, mooncakes, an extra-bright lantern night |
| Cham festivals at My Son | Tied to the temple calendar | Traditional Cham dance performances at the ruins |
The Full Moon Lantern Festival
This is Hoi An’s signature event, and it happens monthly, on the 14th day of each lunar month, roughly 12 nights a year. Street electricity is cut, traffic is barred from the Old Town, and locals and visitors alike send floating candle lanterns down the Thu Bon River, peaking around 8-9pm. You can float a lantern on any ordinary night too; this is simply the amplified version. Book a lantern boat experience if you want the timing and a guide handled for you, and check current 2026 dates before you plan around one.
Tet: closures elsewhere, more open here
Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, falls around 17 Feb 2026. Much of the country slows down or closes entirely, but Hoi An stays notably more open than most Vietnamese cities during the holiday. That said, tailors typically close for around two weeks and some restaurants for about ten days, so confirm hours in advance if a tailor fitting is part of your plan.
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival, generally falling in the Sep-Oct window (exact date varies by year, verify before planning), brings lion dances, mooncakes, and children’s lantern processions, often coinciding with an especially bright lantern night in the Old Town.
Cham festivals at My Son
At My Son Sanctuary , traditional Cham dance performances are staged for visitors on a rotating schedule tied to the temple calendar. Check My Son tours with a dance show if seeing one matters to your dates.
Do I need to plan my trip around the Full Moon Festival?
No. Hoi An’s lantern-lit streets are a nightly feature, not a once-a-month event, so you’ll see the town’s signature look regardless of timing. The festival night is a bigger, more atmospheric version, worth chasing if your dates happen to line up, not worth rearranging a whole trip for.
Does visiting during Tet cause problems?
Some, mainly around tailoring and dining rather than sightseeing. Hoi An stays more open than most of Vietnam over Tet, but confirm your tailor and preferred restaurants are open if your trip lands in that window. Our travel tips guide covers more of the practical planning around Hoi An’s calendar.