An Evening Stroll in the Lantern's Glow - Hoi An, Viet Nam

Hello everyone, welcome back to Hoi An, a cozy coastal town in central Viet Nam. Hoi An Ancient Town is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical significance as an international trading port from the 15th to 19th century, and its well-preserved traditional buildings. I think one of the more charming ways to experience Hoi An is at night, when you can wander quiet streets, lit almost entirely by colorful lanterns.

Lanterns have been a popular tradition in Hoi An since the 16th century, when Chinese and Japanese merchants began to settle here. They believed the lanterns would bring luck, happiness, and prosperity to their families in this new land. Since then, hanging lanterns has become deeply ingrained in the local tradition, with many people hanging them for their beauty and to invite good fortune. Many Vietnamese are still deeply superstitious, and it is common for symbols of luck to be displayed prominently around homes and businesses.

There is a local festival that takes place the night before the full moon each month, where most of the electrical lights will be turned off, leaving the entire area around the river lit only by traditional lanterns and candles. People will float little lanterns down the Thu Bồn River, making wishes as they release them. It is really a sight to see hundreds of colorful little lanterns floating peacefully on the water. That being said, Hoi An has gotten quite popular with tourists, especially on Lantern Festival nights, so experiencing this may come with some crowds if you visit during the summer months when tourism is higher. In the next photo of the Japanese bridge, you can see some of these lanterns floating in the river below. Even though this was not a shot during the Lantern Festival, people will still release lanterns on the river to make wishes on other personally significant days.

All along the river will be little lantern-lit boats waiting to take you out onto the river. Taking a boat out onto the gentle river is a popular activity for visitors of all backgrounds, including visiting Vietnamese. A 20-minute boat ride will cost you from 150k - 200k VND ($5 - $8 USD), depending on the number of passengers. You can choose your boatman, and there are some who can speak English, Chinese, or Korean.

Near the river is an area where you will find 8 raised bamboo huts, and some other chairs arranged around an open center. Traditional music is being played on drums, bells, wooden clappers, and a traditional string instrument, all while an old man is singing numbers. I am told they are playing a traditional variation of the bingo game. I had no idea about the rules, but it looked like everyone was having a lot of fun.

There didn’t seem to be any illusion that this activity was intended for foreign tourists, and I thought that was actually kinda nice. I love it when I can visit a place and enjoy the experience in its natural form, without having someone try to give me the experience they think I want. Maybe someday my Vietnamese will be good enough to join this game, but until then, I will enjoy the show.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my walk through Hoi An’s lantern-lit streets.

All photos are my own. Have a wonderful day.