Hoi An Lantern Streets: A Visitor’s Guide
When the sun drops, Hoi An transforms — thousands of silk lanterns glow over the streets and reflect on the river. Here’s how to capture it.
The essentials
| When | Every evening at dusk; peak on the full moon |
| The festival | Monthly Lantern Festival (full-moon night) |
| Where | Ancient Town streets + Thu Bon riverfront |
| The reflection | River boats with floating lanterns |
| Best light | Blue hour — sky colour + lit lanterns |
The two lantern shots
The streets: silk lanterns strung overhead turn the yellow-walled lanes into glowing tunnels of colour. The river: hire a small boat, or shoot from the An Hoi bridge, to catch lanterns reflected on the Thu Bon — release a floating lantern for a foreground.
Time it with the full moon
Every evening has lanterns, but the monthly full-moon Lantern Festival is the peak: the town dims its electric lights, and the lanterns and floating candles take over. Blue hour — the ~20 minutes after sunset, when the sky still holds colour — is when the balance of ambient light and lantern glow is perfect.
💡 Local tip: Get in position before the light fully drops. Once it’s fully dark the contrast between bright lanterns and black sky is harsh; blue hour keeps detail in both.
Make it a story
The lantern glow is one of the most romantic backdrops in Asia — a Hoi An proposal favourite. See our proposal photography page.
Plan your shoot
👉 Book a Hoi An Photographer →
👉 See Hoi An Photography Packages →
FAQ
When is the Hoi An Lantern Festival? Monthly, on the night of the full moon, when the town dims its lights and floating lanterns fill the Thu Bon River. Lanterns are lit every evening, though.
What’s the best time to photograph the lanterns? Blue hour — the roughly 20 minutes after sunset — when the sky still has colour and the lanterns are lit, so both hold detail.
