by Sissy Mallard
For the UNESCO Heritage Town of Hoi An, it’s all about the lanterns, from the cute floating ones to the impressive hanging ones, there isn’t a night when you can’t experience the colorful beauty of these little gifts to the gods that hopefully bring us fortune and love. While the biggest and best lantern festival of the year happens in February on the first full moon of the year after Tet, on the 14th day of each lunar month Hoi An comes alive as locals and tourists celebrate by lighting candles and floating lanterns down the Thu Bon River.
The full moon plays a significant role in the monthly Lantern Festival but don’t worry if you plan your visit to Hoi An on days other than when the full moon occurs because the lanterns are permanently linked since the Japanese merchants brought them in various shapes and sizes to hang in front of their homes. Many opportunities exist to make your own lanterns but many are available for purchase, you can even hop aboard a sampan to see the gorgeous display of lights and colors of the hanging lanterns from surrounding buildings reflecting from the water, launch your own floating lantern and hear some traditional music on bamboo flutes and fiddles.
Around 1998, local authorities began planning the lantern festivals around the full moon, a time to honor deceased loved ones by burning incense and making offerings such as food, flowers, candles and fake money which is deeply rooted in Buddhist traditions that are both transformative and enlightening. Hoi An goes dark at 8 pm and turns off all fluorescent lighting and a magical glow takes over the town as people walk throughout the old quarter along the river enjoying delicious food from street food stalls, especially moon cakes, a sweet, yummy pastry filled with red bean paste.
