Overview of the Light and Heritage Festival 2026
The Light and Heritage Festival 2026 is a series of cultural and artistic activities organized on a large scale, aiming to supplement night tourism products in Hoi An – a new attraction for domestic and international tourists during the Lunar New Year and spring travel season. The event is not just a simple entertainment – art activity, but also a journey to retell the historical story of the Faifo trading port – one of the busiest trading centers in Southeast Asia in the 17th century – using the language of light and contemporary technology.
With the message "Lighting up Vietnamese Culture", the festival offers a novel approach to heritage and tradition by combining unique installation art, drone light show technology, and diverse experiential activities throughout the spring.
The Journey of Light – recreating the glorious past of the Faifo trading port
One of the most outstanding highlights of the festival is the large-scale lantern art installations arranged along the Hoai River bank, recreating the image of the Red Seal Ship (Shuinsen) – a symbol of Faifo - a once international trading port. These are not just traditional artistic decorations, but are also designed as vivid "historical fragments", leading viewers through layers of heritage spaces told through light.
The Hoi An Memory Island space is therefore like an "open light museum" – where visitors can not only admire but also interact, feel, and "live" within each historical story of the ancient town.
Vibrant lanterns in the Festival of Light and Heritage 2026: Hoi An Memory Island.
Technological highlight: Dragon – Phoenix Drone Performance
One of the most anticipated activities of the Festival of Light and Heritage 2026 is the Drone Light Show performance featuring Dragon – Phoenix imagery, symbols of auspiciousness and prosperity in East Asian culture. The opening night is expected to take place on March 4, 2026, promising a visually spectacular moment in the skies of Hoi An.
According to Ms. Than Thi Thu Huyen – CEO of Hoi An Memory Island, integrating modern performance art into the traditional heritage space not only creates a novel experience for visitors but also expands the potential for sustainable night tourism development – one of Hoi An's strategic directions in the coming years.
Dragon - Phoenix Drone Light Performance at the opening night of the Festival of Light and Heritage 2026
Activities throughout spring
Not organized as a short-term event, the Festival of Light and Heritage is designed as a cultural experience journey lasting over two months with many impressive themes, including:
1. Heritage Tet (17/02 – 01/03/2026)
Kicking off the festival series is a traditional Tet space with many attractive activities: lucky money festival, folk games, cuisine from the three regions, and many characteristic experiences of Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
2. Opening Night and Drone Performance (04/03/2026)
The opening night with the Dragon – Phoenix drone performance will be a prominent visual activity attracting a large number of tourists and young people who love technology art.
3. Silk Week (10/03 – 23/03/2026)
This period honors the traditional silk reeling and weaving craft – one of the quintessential handicrafts of Quang Nam. Tourists can participate in workshops, watch art performances, and learn more about the manual silk production process.
4. Pottery Week (24/03 – 13/04/2026)
Following is a festival dedicated to the essence of Thanh Ha pottery – a famous craft village with a long history. The activities during the pottery week introduce unique pottery products, creative installation art, and direct interaction with artisans.
5. Sky Lantern & Flower Lantern Ceremony (30/04/2026)
The closing activities are marked by the sky lantern and flower lantern ceremony – bringing a shimmering, magical space on the Hoai River and conveying wishes for peace and happiness to tourists.
Elevating the Tourist Experience
With its extended duration and rich content, the Festival of Light and Heritage 2026 is expected to create a strong attraction, extending the length of stay for tourists, especially in the period after Tet.
The festival is not just a place for entertainment – leisure but also a journey to explore the culture, art, and history of Hoi An from a novel perspective. Tourists can both admire the brilliant lights, and deeply learn about the international trading port of Faifo, traditional crafts, and the Vietnamese cultural spirit illuminated in each work of art.
