Hoi An Festival – The cultural heart of a heritage land
Beyond its ancient charm, Hoi An truly captivates with its dazzling festivals, rich with the soul of Vietnam. These aren’t just events; Hoi An festival are the vibrant pulse of a land telling its stories through the glow of lanterns, the scent of incense, and heartfelt prayers. Bliss Hoi An Resort & Wellness will guide you through these living canvases, ensuring you experience the most beautiful cultural moments on your journey through Quang Nam province.
15+ iconic Hoi An festival
Visiting Hoi An during Hoi An festival seasons, you’ll find the ancient town is not just an architectural heritage site, but a living museum, where history and tradition are vividly brought to life.
Hoi An Lantern Festival: Where light tells a story
Originating from the 16th-century Chinese community, the Hoi An Lantern Festival, one of the most iconic Hoi An festival, is the Old Town’s most radiant symbol, gracing its ancient streets every 14th day of the lunar month.
What makes it unique is the enchanting darkness when all electric lights are off, replaced by thousands of vibrant lanterns illuminating every street, ancient house, the Japanese Bridge, and boats on the Hoai River. This ethereal glow isn’t just beautiful; it evokes Hoi An’s bustling past as a trading port where cultures intertwined.
Visitors can release floating lanterns for good luck, enjoy folk music, try Bai Choi (a UNESCO-recognized folk art), or simply wander the lantern-lit streets to find tranquility. This monthly Hoi An festival invites visitors to embrace serenity and immerse in nostalgia.
Kim Bong Traditional Craft Village Festival: echoes of our forefathers’ chisels
Just a short boat ride from Hoi An’s ancient town, in Cam Kim commune, lies Kim Bong Carpentry Village. This is the birthplace of master artisans who once contributed to building the Nguyen Dynasty’s imperial palaces. Every year, on the 6th day of the first lunar month, the village temple hosts the Kim Bong Carpentry Ancestor Commemoration Festival, a traditional Hoi An festival that celebrates craftsmanship.
What makes this festival so special is its blend of solemn reverence and vibrant craftsmanship. From ancestral worship rituals to lively festivities, you’ll witness captivating carpentry demonstrations, carving competitions, and skill contests among generations of artisans. Visitors can marvel at exquisite craftsmanship, admire wooden handicrafts imbued with Vietnamese soul, and even try making small items like photo frames or keychains.
This festival is more than just a tribute to the craft’s founders; it’s a vital event that preserves the essence of traditional carpentry within the heart of the ancient town.
Cau Bong Festival: A season of gratitude in Tra Que vegetable village
Nestled in Cam Ha commune, Tra Que Vegetable Village has been renowned since the 18th century for its organic vegetable beds, cultivated using traditional methods. Every year, on the 7th day of the first lunar month, the village temple in Tra Que hosts the Cau Bong Festival.
This festival stands out for its deep connection to local agricultural life and indigenous culture. Following the solemn rituals honoring the ancestors and praying for a bountiful harvest, the festivities truly begin. Expect lively folk games like hoeing contests, vegetable watering challenges, and even cooking demonstrations of the traditional “Tam Huu” dish. Adding a touch of whimsy, there are also fashion shows featuring… vegetables, and competitions for the most beautifully decorated vegetable beds, all drawing significant attention.
The festival’s genuine and rustic charm is what truly captivates visitors. Spending a day as a farmer in Tra Que can leave a far more profound impression than any other tour. As one of the most intimate Hoi An festival, Cau Bong leaves a lasting impression through its rural authenticity.
Tet Nguyen Tieu Festival: A mystical full moon night
Among the most spiritually significant Hoi An festival, Tet Nguyen Tieu embodies the harmony of Buddhism and local beliefs. Tet Nguyen Tieu, or the full moon of the first lunar month, marks the first full moon of the lunar new year. It’s a festival deeply imbued with Buddhist culture and folk beliefs. The celebrations sweep across Hoi An’s ancient town, becoming especially vibrant at assembly halls like Quang Dong, Trieu Chau, and Ong Pagoda.
The highlights include rituals for bad luck dispelling, prayers for peace, the beautiful release of floating lanterns along the Hoai River, and captivating folk art performances. The entire atmosphere is bathed in a magical red glow from thousands of lanterns and paper flowers.
The Tet Nguyen Tieu Festival in Hoi An is a harmonious blend of spiritual life and traditional folk art, offering a rich East Asian experience that reminds visitors of timeless values in our modern world.
The Lady Thu Bon Festival: A sacred celebration of the river
The Ba Thu Bon Goddess Festival takes place from the 10th to the 12th day of the second lunar month at Dinh Ba Thu Bon (Duy Tan Commune, Duy Xuyen District), about 15 km from Hoi An Ancient Town. Dating back to the 17th century, this is one of Quang Nam province’s oldest festivals and has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The festival honors the River Goddess, believed by locals to protect the communities living downstream of the Thu Bon River. The most distinctive features are the sacred water procession from the river to the temple and the main offering ceremony, which lasts all night.
Beyond the solemn rituals, the festival also bursts with vibrant activities, including boat races, cooking competitions, and folk art performances. The lively and colorful atmosphere fosters community bonding and offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves fully in a long-standing local culture.
Swiftlet Nest Ancestor Commemoration Festival: Honoring the ocean’s precious gift
Held on the 9th and 10th days of the 3rd lunar month on Cu Lao Cham island (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and renowned traditional swiftlet nest region since the 17th century), this festival pays tribute to the ancestors of the swiftlet nest harvesting trade.
Key highlights include a sacred ceremony at the ancestral temple, a procession of swiftlet ancestors, floating flower boats, and vibrant hat ba trao and lion dances. It’s a beautiful fusion of island folk beliefs and deep gratitude for nature. Visitors can even learn about swiftlet nest cultivation and savor local delicacies like che yen and yen chung duong phen.
The Whale God Worship Festival: A sacred legend of the fishing village
The Whale God Worship Festival (or Nghinh Ong) is a crucial ceremony for central coast fishermen, particularly in Hoi An’s fishing villages like Cua Dai and An Bang. Usually held in the middle of the 3rd lunar month, this centuries-old festival is when fishermen express gratitude to the Whale God (whale) – their protective deity.
A distinctive highlight is the grand procession, carrying the Whale God’s remains to the communal house, followed by solemn rituals. The subsequent festival portion is vibrant with activities closely tied to fishing life: tug-of-war, fish carrying, net weaving competitions, and Ho Khoan folk singing.
More than a spiritual event, the festival is an opportunity for the community to unite, share, and pray for a prosperous year at sea. Visitors will experience the gentle, compassionate, and deeply reverent spirit of the coastal people.
The Lady Thien Hau Festival: A tapestry of five-clan culture
Held on the 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month at the Fukian and Five-Clan Assembly Halls – architectural hallmarks of Hoi An’s Chinese community – the Ba Thien Hau Festival honors Ba Thien Hau. Revered by the Chinese, she is the goddess protecting sea voyages and a symbol of benevolence and courage.
The festival features solemn rituals, including incense offerings, imperial edict recitations, and a procession of Ba Thien Hau’s spirit tablet through the Old Town. Lively festivities follow, with lion and dragon dances, traditional music performances, and Vietnamese-Chinese cultural exchanges.
Beyond its scale, the festival’s highlight is its cultural fusion: from the assembly halls’ architecture to the food, costumes, and rituals. It’s a rare chance for visitors to delve into the communities that shaped Hoi An’s prosperous trading port.
Thanh Ha Pottery Village Festival: A symphony of earth and fire
Held annually on the 10th day of the 7th lunar month, the Thanh Ha Pottery Village Festival celebrates a 500-year-old craft village in Hoi An, renowned for its distinctive Central Vietnamese pottery.
The festival kicks off with a procession honoring the craft’s ancestors, followed by lively events. These include pottery-making competitions among artisans, product showcases, and hands-on experiences. Visitors can explore the traditional house, try spinning the potter’s wheel, sculpting, or painting ceramics with expert guidance.
The festival’s highlight is its blend of tradition and modern interaction, letting visitors become a living part of the village. It’s a rare chance to connect with ancient clay and feel the enduring spirit of this time-honored craft. This unique Hoi An festival lets visitors connect with earth, fire, and tradition in the most hands-on way.
Vu Lan Festival: A season of serene gratitude
The Vu Lan Festival takes place annually on the full moon of the 7th lunar month at major pagodas in Hoi An, like Phap Bao. This significant Buddhist holiday honors filial piety and reminds people of their loving origins.
On Vu Lan night, Hoi An’s Old Town is exceptionally tranquil. Locals visit pagodas to offer incense and pray for ancestors. Shimmering flower lanterns float gently on the Hoai River, carrying heartfelt wishes.
A unique aspect is the blend of faith and art. Beyond Buddhist rituals, there are Buddhist music, dharma talks, charity, and bird release. It’s a season of profound love, where hearts quietly express gratitude.
Long Chu Procession: Warding off evil, welcoming peace
The Long Chu Procession is a distinctive folk ritual of Quang Nam’s riverside villages, typically held during major festivals (like the Full Moon of the 1st Lunar Month, Vu Lan) or in times of disaster.
The ceremony occurs at the village communal house or temple, where a lavishly decorated Long Chu (dragon-carved wooden boat) is paraded with drums, gongs, dancing, and singing. This aims to expel evil spirits, pray for favorable weather, and ensure peace and prosperity.
A highlight is the fusion of belief and folk performance. Enthusiastic participation from dancers, procession teams, and villagers creates a vibrant atmosphere. Visitors experience an authentic folk festival where faith, art, and community beautifully intertwine.
A Festival Journey: Your ticket to the soul of the ancient town
The festivals of Hoi An are more than mere events; they are the very cultural lifeblood, the nurtured soul of this ancient town, thriving through generations. If you truly wish to understand Hoi An, don’t just observe – immerse yourself, live alongside it, during one of its vibrant festival seasons.
Bliss Hoi An Beach Resort & Wellness is honored to accompany you on this journey to uncover the most beautiful moments of Hoi An – where light meets memory, and where hearts beat in harmony with this world heritage land and sky. Choose your moment, choose your Hoi An festival, and let your soul dance with the heritage of a timeless town.
