The Lantern Festival in Vietnam is one of the unique and exciting events for visitors to explore cultural values. Each region has different ways of designing lanterns and organizing festivals.  The Lantern Festival in Vietnam carries many cultural, spiritual, and historical values. Here are the three most popular lantern festivals in Vietnam.  Hoi An Lantern Festival The Hoi An Lantern Festival is held in Hoi An Ancient Town on the 14th day of every lunar month. The lanterns here are of various shapes, colors, and designs. Admiring colorful lanterns attracts many domestic and international tourists. According to Vietnamese people, these lanterns represent their wishes for a year full of luck, happiness, and prosperity. When and where the Hoi An Lantern Festival is organized The festival happens on the 14th day of the lunar calendar in Hoi An, the Ancient Town of Quang Nam. This is when the moon is the fullest and brightest from 6 PM to about 10 PM. From 8 PM, lights will be turned off in all buildings to let the light of lanterns shine, creating a magical scene. Regarding location, lanterns will be displayed near the Hoai River, Cau Pagoda, and the Hoi Bridge.  Below is when the next lantern festival in Hoi An will be held in 2024 (Gregorian calendar dates).  Origin of Hoi An Lantern Festival In the 16th and 17th centuries, Hoi An was a trading center, so many Chinese and Japanese people settled there. They bring lanterns to hang in front of their houses to decorate and remember their hometown. Since then, paper lanterns have been used in business activities, festivals, and momentous occasions for families here. Afterward, the lantern festival is held on the full moon day to pray for a prosperous year.  Exciting activities you cannot miss at the Lantern Festival in Hoi An, Vietnam Admire the shimmering beauty of delicately designed paper lanterns. Visitors can also buy lanterns to float on the river or hang around the festival venue. One of the best experiences is making your paper lantern under the guidance of local artisans. This experience helps visitors discover the craft of making handmade paper lanterns and decorating their lanterns. Tourists should attend the release of floating lanterns on the Hoai River in Hoi An. This activity attracts a large number of tourists. These floating lanterns represent the people’s prayers for peace, health, and luck.  Admiring the beauty of Hoi An in the magical light of paper lanterns on the boat is an experience to be noticed.  Thus, you can take impressive artistic photos of the light and architecture here. Visitors can also watch unique traditional performances based on Vietnamese cultural values, including singing, dancing, and drama. Furthermore, enjoying street food around the old town is also a great experience. The cuisine here not only satisfies your taste buds but also helps you understand more about the local culture. Thanh Tuyen Lantern Festival The festival occurs annually during the Mid-Autumn Festival (from the end of July to the 15th day of the 8th lunar month). In addition, the Guinness Vietnam Records recognizes the Thanh Tuyen Lantern Festival as having the largest mid-autumn lantern model. Hundreds of mid-autumn lights of different shapes, sizes, and designs are displayed and paraded around the venue. These lanterns often simulate historical characters, fairy tales, and folk tales and are imbued with traditional Vietnamese culture.  Hue Lantern Festival This festival occurs at the Imperial Household Department at Hue Imperial Citadel from September 25 to 29 (Mid-Autumn Festival). The Hue palaces are covered in red and soft yellow during the festival, radiating from lanterns. The festival has many different sightseeing areas for tourists. The exhibition space, designed by Vietnamese and Chinese artisans, will display Vietnamese and Chinese lanterns to exchange beauty between Vietnam and China.  The remaining spaces display traditional Mid-Autumn Festival trays, animal-shaped lanterns, and toy models. If you are planning to attend the lantern festival in Vietnam, you will have the opportunity to participate in royal games such as Dau Ho, Bai Vu, and Xam Huong, which are all combined with calligraphy. Additionally, visitors can enjoy performances of traditional musical instruments and Hue songs, while also taking in the mesmerizing beauty of the lanterns on display. These are some of the typical lantern festivals celebrated in Vietnam. Visit Vietnam Tours hopes that you can learn more about the craft of making paper lanterns as well as the cultural, traditional, and artistic values associated with them. The Hoi An Lantern Festival should be at the top of your must-visit list. It is the most famous lantern festival in Vietnam, and it can make your trip more enjoyable and memorable.