The best time to visit Hoi An is on the 14th of every lunar month.
It is the night before the full moon – the day of Buddhist worship, when modernity takes a step back and the Old Town become more festive than the usual.
If you happen to be in Hoi An on this day, you’ll be treated to Vietnamese full moon party. The night of the full moon is the time for the locals to honor their ancestors by setting up altars and offering fruits, food and flowers. The town is marvellously decorated with colorful cloth and paper lanterns while all electrical lightning system is off and street is close to traffic, leaving the town bathed in warm yellow glow of the lanterns. T
This is a great time for a visit to temple when monks hold candlelit ceremonies and people from local fishing families gather to honor the goddess of the sea – Lady Thien Hau – at the Phuc Kien (Fujian) Assembly Hall.
On this special occasion, all attractions are free to visit. There are also lots of entertainment activities including street musicians playing traditional instruments, poetry reading, Chinese chess matches and games such as bai choi (bài chòi). Tourists shouldn’t miss this great opportunity to get a rare glimpse into the Vietnamese spiritual life and enjoy the sparkling and romantic view.