Fodor's Expert Review Hoi An Lantern Festival

Every month on the 14th day of the lunar calendar, Hoi An closes Old Town to traffic, switches off its lights, and hosts the magical Lantern Festival. Domestic travelers flock to the streets, and temples and pagodas open their doors for ancestor worship. Most people choose to watch the festivities from a restaurant balcony, but to really get the best experience you need to tackle the crowds head on and mingle with the locals at street level. Festivities start at sunset and this is the best time to visit the candlelit pagodas (which are free to enter on full moon) and take in the street entertainment, pop-up poetry reading groups, and live music. As darkness falls, approach the small river boats that line Bach Dang and arrange for a half-hour cruise, ending at An Hoi, where a short stroll on quieter streets lined with restaurants leads you to the glowing night lantern market where you can pick up souvenirs and grab a taxi back to your hotel.