Hoi An After Dark: Night Market, Lantern Boats, and the Full Moon Festival
Hoi An after dark centers on three things: the Nguyen Hoang night market, a lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon River, and — once a month — the Full Moon Lantern Festival, when the town dims its electric lights entirely in favor of candlelight. None of it requires advance booking except timing your trip around the lunar calendar if the festival specifically is the draw. This guide covers what each experience actually costs and when to show up.
What Is There to Do in Hoi An at Night?
Start at the Nguyen Hoang Night Market (also called An Hoi Night Market) on Nguyen Hoang Street, a roughly 300-meter pedestrian strip of about 150 food and souvenir stalls that runs from sunset until 9:30–10pm daily with free entry. From there, the riverside ticket booths for lantern boat rides are an easy walk away, and the Ancient Town itself is at its most atmospheric after the sun goes down, when paper lanterns replace most of the daytime foot traffic.
| Experience | Cost | Best Time | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nguyen Hoang Night Market | Free entry, pay per item | 7–9pm (peak, also most crowded) | Yes — go earlier (sunset) to beat the crowds |
| Lantern boat ride | 50,000–120,000₫ per person | 7:30–9pm | Yes, especially with a floating lantern to release |
| Floating paper lantern | 10,000–36,000₫ each (buy on shore, not on the boat) | Same as boat ride | Yes, the classic Hoi An photo moment |
| Full Moon Lantern Festival | Free (experience only) | 14th day of the lunar month | Yes if your dates align — genuinely different from a normal night |
TTC Verdict: Buy your floating lantern on shore before boarding a boat, not from a vendor mid-river — boat vendors commonly charge double or triple the shore price for the exact same lantern. Arrive at the night market right at sunset rather than the 7–9pm peak if crowds and pickpocket risk are a concern.
Lantern shop: Oscar Saunders / CC BY 3.0 · Lantern boats: Kuroczynski / CC BY-SA 4.0
What Is the Hoi An Full Moon Lantern Festival, and When Is It?
The Full Moon Lantern Festival happens monthly, on the 14th day of each lunar month, when local businesses and residents are encouraged to switch off electric lighting in favor of candlelit paper lanterns across the Ancient Town. The effect is a noticeably softer, more traditional atmosphere than a regular evening, plus extra folk performances and traditional games in the streets. Lunar-calendar dates shift against the Western calendar every year, so confirm the exact date close to your travel dates rather than relying on a fixed day of the month.
Is Hoi An a Party Town, or Is It More Low-Key at Night?
Low-key — Hoi An is not a nightlife destination in the Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City sense, and that is generally considered part of its appeal rather than a shortcoming. A handful of riverside bars and a small late-night strip cater to travelers who want a drink after dinner, but the town’s after-dark identity is built around lanterns, markets, and river walks rather than clubs. If you specifically want louder nightlife, Da Nang is close enough (about 30 minutes) for an easy evening trip.
A shared boat runs 50,000–120,000₫ per person, with a private boat for 2–6 people costing 200,000–480,000₫ total. Floating paper lanterns to release cost an extra 10,000–36,000₫ each if bought on shore before boarding.
It happens monthly on the 14th day of the lunar month, which lands on different Western-calendar dates each time — check a current lunar calendar close to your travel dates for the exact day, since these shift year to year.
Yes, the Nguyen Hoang (An Hoi) Night Market runs nightly from sunset until roughly 9:30–10pm, not just on Full Moon Festival nights. The festival adds extra atmosphere and dimmed electric lighting on top of a market that already operates every evening.
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