June 2026 date
Sunday, 28 June 2026 (14th day, Lunar Month 5)
Festival hours
From ~5:00 PM · Lights off & lanterns from ~8:00 PM · Until ~10:00 PM
Location
Hoi An Ancient Town · Hoai River · An Hoi Bridge · Japanese Covered Bridge
Entry ticket
120,000 VND per adult — required to enter the Old Town area
Getting there from Da Nang
Private car from Da Nang to Hoi An — 45–55 min · WhatsApp +84 905 989 702
The Hoi An Lantern Festival June 2026 date confirmed
The Hoi An Lantern Festival takes place on the 14th day of each lunar month — the full moon night. For June 2026, that date is Sunday, 28 June 2026.This is the only official full-moon festival night in June. It is the evening when Hoi An's electric lights are switched off across the Ancient Town and the streets, bridges, and river glow entirely from candlelit lanterns.
Date to save: Sunday, 28 June 2026. The festival atmosphere builds from around 5:00 PM, with the key lantern-lighting moment happening from 8:00 PM when the electricity goes off across the Old Town.
It is worth noting that lanterns are visible in Hoi An every evening — the town is always decorated. But the full-moon festival night is distinct: the electricity blackout, the ceremonial floating lanterns on the Hoai River, and the convergence of locals and visitors create an atmosphere that regular evenings do not replicate.All Hoi An Lantern Festival dates in 2026
If June does not work for your travel schedule, here are all confirmed Lantern Festival dates throughout 2026. Each falls on the 14th day of the corresponding lunar month.
Month
Date (Gregorian)
Day
January 2026
2 January
Friday
February 2026
1 February
Sunday
March 2026
2 March
Monday
April 2026
1 April
Wednesday
May 2026
30 May
Saturday
⭐ June 2026
28 June
Sunday
July 2026
27 July
Monday
August 2026
26 August
Wednesday
September 2026
24 September
Thursday
October 2026
23 October
Friday
November 2026
22 November
Sunday
December 2026
22 December
Tuesday
Dates are based on the lunar calendar conversion for 2026. Always verify closer to your travel date as minor adjustments can occur.
What actually happens on Lantern Festival night in Hoi An
The Hoi An Lantern Festival is not a single event — it is a full evening transformation of the entire Ancient Town. Understanding what to expect helps you plan your time on the night.🏮 The electricity blackout
From around 8:00 PM, electric lights are switched off across the Old Town. Streets, bridges, and shopfronts are lit only by candlelit silk and paper lanterns — the defining visual of the festival.🌊 Floating lanterns on the Hoai River
Visitors purchase lotus-shaped paper lanterns (around 5,000–10,000 VND each), make a wish, light the candle, and release them onto the Thu Bon / Hoai River. The water surface becomes a moving field of light.🎭 Cultural performances
Traditional Bai Choi folk singing (UNESCO-recognised), lion and dragon dances, poetry readings, and live music take place along the river and in the lanes of the Ancient Town throughout the evening.🍜 Street food and night market
Food stalls line the southern riverbank with local specialities: Cao Lau noodles, Banh Bao Vac (white rose dumplings), Banh Mi, and Che dessert. Night market stalls offer crafts, silk goods, and lantern souvenirs.🚣 Sampan boat rides
Small wooden boats offer short river rides during the festival, providing an elevated view of the floating lanterns and the illuminated town from the water. Prices are negotiated with boat operators at the river bank.🎑 Ancestor remembrance
Beyond the tourist experience, the festival carries deep cultural significance. Local families prepare offerings and light incense to commemorate ancestors — a visible and moving tradition alongside the public celebration.What makes the June Lantern Festival different — the summer atmosphere
June is one of the busiest months for tourism in Central Vietnam. Hoi An in summer is warm, the sea is calm, and the Ancient Town sees high visitor numbers — which means the June Lantern Festival is one of the most vibrant and well-attended of the year.Weather in June
Hot and humid — daytime temperatures can reach 35–38°C. By evening the heat eases considerably, making the post-7:00 PM festival atmosphere much more comfortable. Light clothing and staying hydrated during the pre-festival wait is essential.Crowd levels
June is peak season — expect significant crowds, especially along the Hoai River and at the An Hoi Bridge. Arriving early (before 6:00 PM) is strongly recommended to secure a good position before the main lantern-lighting moment.Hotel availability
Accommodation in and near Hoi An Ancient Town books quickly around Lantern Festival dates in summer. If you plan to stay overnight, book 6–8 weeks in advance for June. Same-night availability is almost non-existent.Sunday evening advantage
The June 2026 festival falls on a Sunday, which is typically a slightly less crowded festival night compared to Saturday. The town is still busy, but the weekday feel of Sunday evenings means slightly better access to river spots and performances.
Summer tip: wear light, breathable clothing and bring a small bottle of water for the early evening wait. Once the electricity goes off at 8:00 PM and the lanterns take over, the experience is worth every degree of the summer heat.
Timing: what to do hour by hour on 28 June 2026
Time
What to do
4:00 – 5:00 PM
Leave Da Nang by private car — arrive Hoi An before crowds peak
5:00 – 6:00 PM
Enter the Ancient Town, buy your ticket (120,000 VND), find a dinner spot
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Dinner along the Hoai River, walk the Old Town lanes before dark, buy lanterns
7:30 – 8:00 PM
Claim your spot on the riverbank or An Hoi Bridge — the best positions fill quickly
8:00 PM
⭐ Electricity off — lanterns light the town. The key moment of the evening
8:00 – 9:30 PM
Float your lantern on the river, watch performances, wander the candlelit lanes
9:30 – 10:00 PM
Festival winds down — a good time to head back to your hotel or arrange return to Da Nang
Best spots in Hoi An for the June 2026 Lantern Festival
🌉 An Hoi Bridge
The bridge connecting the Ancient Town to the An Hoi island offers an elevated, wide-angle view of the lanterns on both the water and the riverside buildings. One of the most photographed spots of the evening — arrive by 7:30 PM to find space.🏯 Japanese Covered Bridge
The iconic symbol of Hoi An, softly lit by lanterns on festival night. The bridge itself is closed to vehicle traffic — walk across it, look back at the town, and you have one of the defining images of the evening.🌊 Hoai River bank (south side)
The southern bank of the river, opposite the Old Town, is where most food stalls and lantern vendors set up. It also offers a clean, unobstructed view of the illuminated Ancient Town from across the water — excellent for photography.🚣 On the water
A sampan boat ride during the festival gives you the perspective most visitors never see — looking up at the lantern-covered bridges and riverfront buildings from river level, surrounded by floating lanterns. Worth arranging early in the evening.🏘 The inner lanes
Away from the river, the internal lanes of the Ancient Town — particularly Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets — are quieter and beautifully lit. Walking them after 8:00 PM when the electricity goes off gives a more intimate, less crowded experience.🎪 Song Hoai Square
The main performance square along the riverfront where cultural acts — Bai Choi, folk music, lion dance — are staged throughout the evening. Arrive before 7:30 PM to get a clear view of the performances.Getting from Da Nang to Hoi An for the June 2026 Lantern Festival
For travelers based in Da Nang, timing your departure to Hoi An correctly on festival night is important. Arriving too late means missing the pre-festival atmosphere and losing the best spots on the river. Arriving too early means waiting out the afternoon heat.The recommended window for a festival evening departure from Da Nang is 4:00–4:30 PM, arriving in Hoi An by 5:00–5:30 PM — enough time for dinner, exploration, and a good position before 8:00 PM.By private car from Da Nang
A private car from Da Nang to Hoi An takes about 45–55 minutes door-to-door from most Da Nang hotels. Your driver drops you near the Ancient Town walking area, so you do not need to deal with parking, one-way streets, or crowded festival traffic.Return from Hoi An to Da Nang
After the festival winds down around 9:30–10:00 PM, taxi and ride-hailing availability near the Old Town entrance drops significantly as many visitors leave at the same time. Pre-booking a return pickup with Minh Vu Travel means your driver is already assigned to your group.Best plan for Da Nang guests
Leave Da Nang around 4:00–4:30 PM, enjoy dinner and the lantern atmosphere from 5:30 PM, then meet your driver again around 9:30–10:00 PM. If you want to stay later, confirm this before the trip so the driver can plan the return pickup point.Old Town pickup note
Cars cannot drive deep inside the Hoi An Ancient Town walking area on festival night. Your driver will normally meet you at an agreed outer gate or nearby pickup point. Please message 30–45 minutes before you want to leave so the car can move into position.
Festival night transport tip: book both your outbound and return private car in advance. Hoi An becomes very busy after the lantern-lighting moment, and a pre-confirmed driver at a fixed pickup point removes the most stressful part of the evening.
To book your Da Nang–Hoi An transfer for the June 2026 Lantern Festival, see our dedicated Da Nang to Hoi An private car service or message Minh Vu Travel on WhatsApp before your travel date.Private car pickup and return tips for Lantern Festival night
A Lantern Festival evening is different from a normal Da Nang to Hoi An transfer. The main challenge is not the distance — it is the timing, crowds, and where the car can legally stop near the Ancient Town.
Step
Local driver recommendation
Da Nang pickup
Book a hotel pickup around 4:00–4:30 PM to reach Hoi An before the evening crowd peaks.
Hoi An drop-off
Drop-off is at the edge of the walking area, not inside the car-free Ancient Town streets.
Return pickup
For most visitors, 9:30–10:00 PM is a comfortable return window after the main lantern-lighting period.
Late return
If you plan to stay after 10:00 PM, confirm the pickup time and location in advance because festival-night traffic control can change.
Practical tips for the June 2026 Lantern Festival
- Buy your Ancient Town ticket (120,000 VND per adult) at one of the ticket offices before entering the old town area — cash is easier at peak times.
- Arrive by 5:00–5:30 PM to have time for dinner, a walk around the lanes before dark, and a good riverside position before 8:00 PM.
- Bring cash in small denominations — paper lanterns are usually bought in cash, and official Hoai River boat tickets are normally sold by boat rather than by individual passenger. Keep small notes ready for lanterns, snacks and short boat rides.
- Wear light clothing and bring a small water bottle — June evenings in Hoi An are warm and the crowds add to the heat in the early evening hours.
- Protect your camera — the lantern light is beautiful but low. A phone camera works well from 8:00 PM onward; a small tripod improves river shots significantly.
- Respect the occasion — the festival has deep cultural and spiritual meaning for local families. Dispose of used lanterns properly and avoid blocking access to shrines or offering tables.
- Pre-book your return car — post-festival transport from Hoi An is consistently the most stressful part of the evening for visitors who have not planned ahead. For Da Nang-based travelers, reserve a Da Nang to Hoi An private car with a fixed return pickup.
- Stay overnight if possible — the most relaxed way to experience the festival is to stay in or near the Ancient Town, removing all transport pressure from the evening entirely.
Final thoughts
The Hoi An Lantern Festival on 28 June 2026 is one of the most consistently beautiful experiences in Central Vietnam — a full-moon evening that transforms the Ancient Town into something genuinely unlike anywhere else. Plan your timing, arrive early, secure your riverside spot, and let the electricity go off at 8:00 PM.If you are traveling from Da Nang, Minh Vu Travel can handle the transfer both ways with a pre-arranged private car from Da Nang to Hoi An, so the logistics disappear and the evening is entirely yours.FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The Hoi An Lantern Festival in June 2026 is on Sunday, 28 June 2026. This is the 14th day of the fifth lunar month — the full moon night. The festival runs from approximately 5:00 PM, with the main lantern-lighting moment from 8:00 PM when the electricity across the Ancient Town is switched off.
Hoi An Ancient Town ticket checks are common around the main heritage area and ticket offices, especially on busy festival nights. The standard international adult ticket is 120,000 VND and includes access to selected heritage sites within the Old Town. If you only plan to walk, eat and enjoy the river atmosphere, staff may still direct visitors to the ticket counters at controlled entrances, so carrying cash is the easiest option.
The festival atmosphere builds from around 5:00 PM. The key moment is at approximately 8:00 PM when electric lights are switched off and lanterns become the only light source. The festival winds down between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM.
A pre-arranged private car from Da Nang to Hoi An is the most reliable option. The journey takes 45–55 minutes from most Da Nang hotels. Departing at 4:00–4:30 PM gets you to Hoi An by 5:00–5:30 PM — ideal timing for a festival evening. You can also pre-book your return pickup for after the festival ends.
Lotus-shaped paper lanterns with a candle are usually sold by vendors near the riverbank for around 5,000–10,000 VND each. For the Hoai River boat ride, ask for the official boat price before boarding; it is normally sold by boat size, not simply per person. On busy festival nights, unofficial quotes around the river can be higher, so checking the price first avoids confusion.
On festival nights, cars cannot enter the core walking streets of Hoi An Ancient Town. Minh Vu Travel will confirm a practical pickup point near the outer gate or main road before your trip. Please message 30–45 minutes before you want to leave so the car can move into position.
Same-day bookings may be possible, but advance booking is strongly recommended for Lantern Festival nights because many travelers leave Hoi An at the same time after 9:30 PM. A pre-confirmed Da Nang to Hoi An private car gives you a fixed driver, pickup time and return plan.
Yes. June is peak summer season in Central Vietnam and the festival draws large crowds. Arriving before 6:00 PM is strongly recommended to find a good position by the river before the main lantern-lighting begins at 8:00 PM.
Traveling from Da Nang for the June Lantern Festival?
Book your private car from Da Nang to Hoi An with Minh Vu Travel — outbound and return, both pre-confirmed. Arrive early, leave without the post-festival traffic stress. 透過 WhatsApp 預訂Minh Vu Travel · danangtohoian.com · Fast response · Private car Da Nang ↔ Hoi An
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