Hoi An Ancient Town at Night: Lanterns and the River
How to spend an evening in Hoi An: the old houses and Japanese Bridge before dark, the night market, the lantern boat on the Hoai River, and tours from Da Nang.
By AmGo Travel5 min read
Hoi An Ancient Town is lovely by day, but it is at dusk that it becomes the place people remember. Silk lanterns light up above the streets, the Hoai River fills with small boats, and the old merchant houses glow yellow against the dark. This guide explains how to spend an evening in Hoi An: what to see before the lanterns come on, the night market, the boat ride and flower lantern release, and how to join from Da Nang, from the AmGo Travel team.
Why Hoi An is best at night
Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a former trading port where Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese merchants lived side by side for centuries. In the heat of the afternoon the lanes are busy and bright. As the sun goes down, the lanterns are lit, the air cools and the whole town softens. That is why the best way to see Hoi An is to arrive in the afternoon and stay into the evening: you see the heritage sights in daylight, then the lantern-lit town after dark.
Before dark: the old houses and the Japanese Bridge
Start in the late afternoon, while the museums and old houses are open. On our Hoi An city tour you walk these sights with a guide:
- A traditional arts performance at the Hoi An Traditional Performing Arts House, with local folk music and dance.
- The Museum of Trade Ceramics, whose collection of ceramics from Vietnam and across Asia tells the story of Hoi An as a major port.
- Tan Ky Ancient House, a 200-year-old merchant home where Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese styles meet.
- The Cantonese Assembly Hall, admired for its carvings and bright colours, and important to Hoi An's Chinese community.
- The Japanese Covered Bridge, about 400 years old, built to connect the Japanese and Chinese communities. It is the symbol of the town.
After dark: the night market
As evening falls, the Hoi An Night Market comes to life. This is free time to wander under the lanterns, browse local handicrafts, try snacks and take photos. Lanterns of every colour hang from the stalls, and many shops will make one for you to take home.
A few tips for the market:
- Go slowly. The lanes are narrow and busy, especially at weekends.
- Keep small notes for snacks and souvenirs.
- Take photos from the bridges over the river, where you see the lanterns reflected in the water.
The boat ride and flower lantern release
The moment most people come for is the Hoai River. You board a small wooden boat and, as it drifts past the lit-up riverfront, release a paper flower lantern with a candle onto the water. Vietnamese families do this as a wish for good luck for themselves and their loved ones.
On our Hoi An city tour and our Marble Mountains tour from Da Nang, the boat ride and flower lantern are included. For children under 4, parents pay a small boat fee directly. Before or after the boat, you sit down to a set dinner of Hoi An specialities.
If you want to learn to cook those dishes yourself, read our Hoi An cooking class guide.
Coming from Da Nang
Many travellers stay in Da Nang by the beach and come to Hoi An for the evening. You have three good ways to do it with a guide:
- Hoi An city tour from Da Nang: the van picks you up in central Da Nang at about 1:30 PM and you are back at your hotel around 8:00 PM. From a Hoi An hotel, pick-up is at about 2:30 PM and the tour ends around 7:00 PM. Small group, from 1 to 12 guests from Hoi An or 2 to 12 from Da Nang.
- Marble Mountains, Hoi An and lantern boat: an afternoon from Da Nang that starts with the 19th-century pagodas and caves of the Marble Mountains and the stone carving workshops, then Hoi An's old houses, the Japanese Bridge, dinner and the boat with a flower lantern. The elevator at the Marble Mountains is optional.
- Monkey Mountain, Marble Mountains and Hoi An by night: adds Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula and its 70-metre Lady Buddha, then Tang Chon Cave, the River View and Ocean View towers and Non Nuoc stone carving village, before Hoi An, Lantern Street and the Nguyen Hoang Night Market on foot with dinner. This one has no boat ride. It runs as a medium group of up to 22 guests and returns to Da Nang around 8:30 to 9:00 PM.
Tips for a Hoi An evening
- Arrive in the afternoon so you see the heritage houses before they close and the lanterns as they come on.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The old town is best on foot.
- Dress for heat and rain. Hoi An can be hot and humid, and showers come quickly in the wet season.
- Bring insect repellent for the riverside.
- Be patient on the river. Around sunset many boats leave at once; it is part of the atmosphere.
FAQ
What time do the lanterns come on in Hoi An? The lanterns light up as the sun goes down, so early evening is the best time to be in the old town. Our tours are timed to arrive in the afternoon and stay until after dark.
Is the boat ride included? Yes, on our Hoi An city tour and on the Marble Mountains lantern boat tour from Da Nang. The Monkey Mountain night tour visits Lantern Street and the river on foot and has no boat ride.
Can I do this tour from Da Nang? Yes. All three tours include pick-up from hotels in central Da Nang, and the Hoi An city tour also picks up in Hoi An.
Where can I book a Hoi An night tour? AmGo Travel, a Vietnamese team of trip planners and guides based at 61 Hang Ga in Hanoi's Old Quarter, arranges Hoi An evening tours from Hoi An and Da Nang. You can book online at amgotravel.com or message the team on WhatsApp.
Is dinner included? Yes. Every tour in this guide includes a set dinner of Hoi An food.
Hoi An evening tours with AmGo Travel
See all Hoi An tours, or message AmGo Travel on WhatsApp and a local trip planner will help you pick the right evening in Hoi An.
