The Hoi An Lantern Festival in November 2026 falls on Sunday, November 22. Here is how that date is calculated, why some sites get it wrong, and what to expect if you plan your trip around it.
The exact date: November 22, 2026
The Hoi An Lantern Festival is not fixed to a Gregorian calendar date. It runs every month on the 14th day of the lunar calendar, the night before the full moon, when the old town switches off its electric lights and relies on paper lanterns instead. In November 2026, the 14th day of the 10th lunar month lands on November 22.
This is confirmed independently by the Hong Kong Observatory's Gregorian-lunar conversion tables (the same astronomical calculation Vietnam's lunar calendar is built on) and by several Hoi An-focused travel operators publishing their 2026 festival calendars.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, November 22, 2026 |
| Lunar reference | 14th day of the 10th lunar month |
| Time | Lanterns lit from around 6 PM, festival runs to roughly 9-10 PM |
| Location | Hoi An Ancient Town, along the Thu Bon River |
Arrive by 5 PM if you want to see the old town's electric lights switch off and the lanterns take over. That transition, not the festival's official start time, is the moment most photos are taken.
Why do some sites say November 24?
A few possible reasons account for the mismatch you have seen:
- Outdated or generic templates. Some travel sites publish a lantern festival calendar once and never recalculate it against the actual lunar-to-Gregorian conversion for that specific year, so the date drifts by a day or two from the real one.
- Confusion with a different observance. November 2026 also falls near other regional dates that get mixed up with the lantern festival in aggregator content.
- Simple rounding errors. Because the lunar month is roughly 29.5 days, manually adding "29 or 30 days" to the previous month's date without checking the actual new moon produces exactly this kind of one-to-two-day drift, which is what had happened on our own site until this was corrected.
If a site you are checking does not cite a specific lunar-calendar source, treat its date as an estimate rather than a confirmed one.
What if I can't make it on the 22nd?
The full moon lantern festival happens every month, not just in November. If your travel dates do not line up with November 22, you have two options:
- The old town runs decorative lanterns every night of the year, so you will still get the atmosphere, just with the electric street lighting left on rather than switched off.
- Check whether your dates line up with the 14th day of an adjacent lunar month. See the full 2026 lantern festival calendar for every month's date.
One thing to plan around: November is flood season
Before you lock in a November trip for the festival, know that November is Hoi An's wettest month and the peak of flood risk for the old town. Heavy rain upstream can raise the Thu Bon River fast enough to close streets and cancel the festival outright with little notice.
If your dates are flexible, March through April gives you the same monthly lantern festival with none of the flood risk. If November 22 is the date you are set on, book accommodation above ground level, pack quick-dry clothing, and check the local flood forecast in the days before you arrive. The Vietnam in November guide covers what else to expect that month, and the Hoi An weather and lantern festival guide has the full month-by-month breakdown, flood data, and photography tips.
FAQ
Q: Is the Hoi An Lantern Festival definitely on November 22, 2026, and not the 24th?
Yes. November 22 is the 14th day of the 10th lunar month in 2026, verified against the Hong Kong Observatory's lunar calendar conversion table, which Vietnam's lunar calendar follows for this date.
Q: What time does the festival start and end?
Lanterns are typically lit from around 6 PM, with the atmosphere building until 9 or 10 PM. Arrive by 5 PM for the light transition and to beat the crowds.
Q: Do I need a ticket?
Some areas of the old town require the standard Hoi An old town entrance ticket, which also grants access to a set number of historic sites. No separate ticket is required for the lantern festival itself.
Q: Is the festival cancelled if it floods?
Yes, when the Thu Bon River rises significantly, the festival is cancelled for safety. November carries the highest flood risk of the year, so check conditions close to your travel date.
Q: Is November 22 a good day to visit Hoi An overall?
It is a good day for the festival, but a risky month for weather. If your trip dates are flexible, consider the March or April lantern festival dates instead for similar atmosphere with drier conditions.