Hoi An’s Lantern festival to light up lunar New Year

The ancient city of Hoi An will host a lantern festival to celebrate the lunar New Year on February 9-16, the city’s culture and sport centre told Viet Nam News yesterday.

The festival's organising committee said that around 50 lantern centres in the city would take part in the annual cultural event.

"The best lanterns with traditional designs will light up for lunar New Year's eve on February 9. The 500m long road from An Hoi bridge to the Hoai River Square will be lit up by hundreds of colourful lanterns during seven days of the festival," said event organiser Le Son Ca.

"We will also host a series of cultural and art performances to celebrate across the seven days. We hope domestic and foreign tourists will flock to the town during the lantern festival."

The city, which was included on a list of the top ten Asian cities decided by the US magazine Conde Nast Traveler's Readers Choice Awards, will also host boat racing on the Hoai River, bonsai, calligraphy and flock performances.

The main roads of Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Hue and Hoang Dieu will be transformed into a flower display for the new year celebrations.