The dazzling lantern festival night in Hoi An.

A family chose to experience a boat ride and release lanterns on the night of the 14th day of the first lunar month this year. Photo: Ha Sau

The Lantern Festival in Hoi An has been maintained for decades on the full moon nights of each lunar month. In addition, this activity is also organized on several other special occasions throughout the year and is enthusiastically experienced by many tourists.

During this year's Lantern Festival, starting from the night of the 14th day of the first lunar month, thousands of tourists flocked to Hoi An ancient town to celebrate, and many of them chose to release a floating lantern onto the Hoai River to make their wishes.

A tourist prays and takes a commemorative photo before releasing a floating lantern onto the Hoai River. Photo: Ha Sau

In recent rankings of top international destinations where Hoi An has been honored, the experience of releasing lanterns on the Hoai River has become an indispensable suggestion for all tourists visiting this world cultural heritage site.

Most recently, Time Travel magazine (UK) ranked Hoi An among the top 20 most romantic cities in the world and an ideal destination for couples on Valentine's Day.

The Hoai River shimmers and glows magically thanks to the lanterns. Photo: Ha Sau.

According to Time Travel, taking a boat ride on the Hoai River, releasing lanterns, and listening to folk songs will certainly be special and memorable experiences for couples in love.

As night falls, along with the lanterns, the flickering light from hundreds of floating lanterns makes the Hoai River shimmer and become magical.

International tourists take souvenir photos with trays of floating lanterns before releasing them into the river. Photo: Ha Sau

Tourists have many ways to experience releasing lanterns on the Hoai River. The most popular option is to take a boat ride combined with releasing lanterns. Others may choose to release lanterns by standing on a bridge, attaching a small pole to it, and slowly lowering it into the water, or they may release the lantern themselves from the riverbank.

A tourist releases a floating lantern by attaching it to a pole. Photo: Ha Sau

Releasing floating lanterns is a beautiful tradition in the spiritual culture of the people of Hoi An in particular and of Vietnam in general. Many tourists, before releasing lanterns onto the Hoai River, often take commemorative photos and pray for good fortune.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/lung-linh-dem-hoa-dang-hoi-an-3148886.html