All rights reserved by the author | 15/09/2025
In Hoi An, Vietnam, the night of the Lantern Festival transforms the ancient town into a dreamscape. Streets glow with hundreds of lanterns, their reflections dancing on the Thu Bon River. Locals release paper lanterns with wishes, believing they carry prayers downstream. Travelers too join in, touched by the quiet magic of light on water. It is not just a spectacle, but a collective act of hope and remembrance.
Hoi An’s heritage houses, painted yellow, provide the perfect backdrop. As you walk through the lantern-lit alleys, the scent of incense and the murmur of prayers mingle with laughter and music. The festival reveals how traditions survive not by resisting modernity but by weaving beauty into everyday life. In that glow, you feel the spirit of Vietnam—resilient, warm, and timeless.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati, Assam, India
Instagram: @rajatchandrasarmah
Website: rajatchandrasarmah.com
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