Our LGBT-Tours in Vietnam

Hoi An - the city of the Lanterns

With its old-world architecture, cobblestone streets, and distinctive yellow shop fronts festooned with colorful lanterns, it's no wonder that Hoi An is considered one of the most beautiful places in all of Vietnam. In 2021, Hoi An – a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1999 – was named Asia's Best Cultural City at the World Travel Awards. Still, there's more to it than rewards and postcard-worthy beauty. The city boasts a long history that has attracted people from all over the world.

Ever since Chinese and Japanese traders introduced them hundreds of years ago, lanterns have always been hung – and made – here in Hoi An. For an unforgettable trip (and gorgeous photos), the best time to visit Hoi An is the Lantern Festival, which takes place on the 14th day of each lunar month, when the moon is full. At night, the city reduces its electricity consumption, so candlelit lanterns steal the show. I suggest you discover this show with a craftsman who will teach you how to make one so that you too can be part of this lunar evening.

My role as a guide is to take you and show you what you could not discover on your own. I leave you the noisy streets of Hoi an in the evening, the central market and the tourist shops. To be done only once