Discover the 8 most sparkling lantern festivals in Asia

Lantern festivals in Asia are not only cultural events, but also a journey that takes you into a magical space. From ancient lantern festivals to modern events, where lights blend with tradition and art. Each festival will give you an insight into the unique traditions of each country, opening up a colorful and meaningful journey.

When night falls, the whole of Asia seems to put on a cloak of light, where lanterns glow like small flames, lighting up a real-life fairy tale. The Lantern Festival in Asia is a journey of light and color, where long-standing traditions blend with modern breath.

1. Hoi An Lantern Festival - Vietnam

The shimmering and ancient beauty of Hoi An lantern festival (Photo source: Collected)

The Asian Lantern Festival in Hoi An, Vietnam is one of the most magical and enchanting experiences, taking place on the night of the full moon every month. However, the festival is most spectacular and vibrant around the first lunar month and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

On this day, all the electric lights in the old quarter are turned off, making way for hundreds of colorful lanterns to light up each street, creating a magical scene. In particular, the area along the Hoai River is always the center of the festival, where visitors can release flower lanterns to pray for luck and peace.

In addition, traditional art performances such as lion and dragon dances, martial arts, and music add to the excitement, turning the Hoi An Lantern Festival into a colorful and enchanting cultural journey.

2. Seoul Lantern Festival - Korea

Seoul Lantern Festival stands out with giant lanterns (Photo source: Collected)

The Seoul Lantern Festival in South Korea is a must-see event in the series of lantern festivals in Asia. It takes place every November, lasting from the first Friday to the third Sunday. When night falls, the historic Cheonggyecheon Stream lights up with thousands of colorful and shaped lanterns, painting a magical picture in the heart of the city.

Each lantern is not only a work of art but also carries inspiring stories, from cultural traditions to messages of peace and happiness. Visitors come here not only to admire the sparkling scenery but also to immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere through unique cultural and artistic activities. From making lanterns by hand to releasing lanterns and participating in lantern parades, all create unforgettable experiences, connecting people with the spirit of solidarity and hope.

3. Yi Peng Festival - Thailand

Thailand's Yi Peng sky lantern festival lights up the night sky (Photo source: Collected)

The Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival, one of the most spectacular lantern festivals in Asia, features a magical spectacle of thousands of glowing lanterns floating into the sky over Chiang Mai. Held on the night of the full moon in the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, the festival is a symbol of purification and praying for blessings. Each lantern carries a wish, and as it flies high, it seems to convey hope to Buddha, creating a sparkling and sacred space.

4. Loy Krathong Festival - Thailand

Meaningful flower lanterns at Loy Krathong festival (Photo source: Collected)

If the Yi Peng festival in Thailand is a prominent festival with colorful sky lanterns in the night sky, the Loy Krathong festival is an occasion for people to release flower lanterns into the river, expressing gratitude to the water god Phra Mae Khongkha.

This is one of the most ancient and colorful festivals in Thailand, taking place on the full moon night of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. Participants believe that difficulties and worries will flow away with the water, giving way to wishes for peace and happiness. The sight of shimmering lanterns illuminating the water is the enchanting beauty, making this festival a must-see destination when exploring lantern festivals in Asia.

5. Nagasaki Lantern Festival - Japan

Colorful lantern festival in Nagasaki, Japan (Photo source: Collected)

Lantern festivals in Asia are a visual feast not to be missed, and Nagasaki is the brightest highlight during the first 15 days of the Lunar New Year in Japan. As you step into the city, you will be greeted by streets lined with thousands of shimmering lanterns, from Minato Park to Dejima Pier and Meganebashi, transforming Nagasaki into a city of light. Highlights not to be missed are the vibrant performances such as the Jaodori dragon dance, the magical mask changing, and the colorful parades, creating a unique and captivating festival atmosphere.

6. Pingxi Lantern Festival - Taiwan

Lantern Festival with traditional Taiwanese features (Photo source: Collected)

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is an annual event held in Taiwan on the 15th day of the first lunar month to mark the end of the Chinese New Year. As the full moon shines brightly in the sky, thousands of lanterns are lit and released into the sky, carrying wishes for peace and good fortune in the new year. The Kongming lanterns, made of paper and bamboo, create a poetic and brilliant scene, like bright stars in the night sky.

In addition to the lantern releasing activity, the festival is also a vibrant cultural feast with street art performances, lion dances, dragon dances and a rich food market. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival not only attracts locals but is also an ideal destination for tourists who want to explore the beauty of traditional Taiwanese culture, one of the prominent symbols of the lantern festival in Asia.

7. Chinese Lantern Festival

Chinese Lantern Festival lights up every street (Photo source: Collected)

The Lantern Festival in Asia in China is one of the most colorful and culturally significant festivals in China. This festival takes place on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, ending the Lunar New Year and opening a new year full of hope and luck. Each lantern is lit up throughout the streets, carrying the message of "illuminating the future", praying for a year of peace and prosperity.

In particular, the activity of releasing lanterns into the sky creates a magical scene, when thousands of shimmering lights fly up, carrying everyone's wishes, making the sky bright and colorful. The festival is not only an occasion to say goodbye to the old year, but also a time for each family and each individual to place their hopes in the future.

8. Spring Lantern Festival - Singapore

Colorful lantern festival in Singapore (Photo source: Collected)

The Spring Lantern Festival in Singapore, also known as the Lantern Festival, is a culturally rich event. Held on February 26 every year, the festival marks the end of the Lunar New Year with thousands of sparkling lanterns. Visitors will have the opportunity to admire simple paper lanterns, along with modern designs of various colors and sizes, creating a colorful space.

In addition to admiring the lantern artworks, you can also participate in exciting activities such as releasing your own lantern and immersing yourself in the festive atmosphere with special art performances in Chinatown. The Spring Lantern Festival is an experience not to be missed for those who love the cultural exchange between East and West during the lantern festival in Asia.

Closing the journey to discover the sparkling beauty of the lantern festival in Asia, you will see that each lantern is not only a light, but also a hope, a dream and a cultural identity of each country. Let Vietravel accompany you on this colorful trip!

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/le-hoi-den-long-o-chau-a-v15909.aspx