Events in Hoi An -Festivities in Hoi An

Date: 2nd of Lunar January

Organized with the hope of creating an atmosphere of cheer and goodwill among the people as spring breaks over the country, boat racing festival spreads far beyond being a mere competition. It is also a ritual conducted in honour of Water God. The ritual has its roots among agricultural population, who often used to pray for water.

The races are twofold: in one, the boats are decorated extravagantly, morphing them into Chinese dragons, with heads adorning the front of the boats while the back is transformed into a tail; in the second type of racing there is no decoration. However, both the forms are accompanied by a drummer to keep time for rowing as the local populace vie in a demonstration of strength.

Moving beyond a mere religious activity, boat racing festival has come to become a key sporting event in Hoi An, a festival that is looked forward to by locals and tourists alike.

Date: 7th of Lunar January

Sought after by locals and tourists alike, Can Bong festival takes place in the "vegetable village" of Tra Que in Central Quang Nam. The purpose of the festival is to pay tribute to those who founded vegetable planting in the village, while offering prayers for abundant crops in the coming year, happiness and prosperity. In recent times, the festival has also become the ideal market to introduce special products to visitors.

While the tourists are mere observers in the villagers' rituals of offering thanks, and praying for a prosperous year, they are given the opportunity to experience a day of being a real vegetable farmer. Tourists are encouraged to work alongside the villagers and gauge their skill in plugging the land, making beds, planting seedlings and watering. Interestingly, the vegetable growers of Tra Que are rarely called "planters" or "farmers", instead priding themselves to be artists – because it is their belief that the entire process of farming, from tilling the land to plucking the fruits, is a form of art that can be mastered only through true passion for it.

Date: Beginning of the New Year in Lunar calendar

While lantern festivals are nothing new to Hoi An, the biggest and most entrancing lantern festival is held to welcome the new year, as per the lunar calendar. Around 50 of city's lantern workshops take part in this cultural event, each attempting to outdo the other in this display of colour and spirit. The whole city joins in celebrations by turning off lights and completely shutting down motorized vehicles. This transforms the city to a glimpse of the majesty it had afforded many centuries ago when Hoi An was at its finest.

A mesmerizing snapshot of the festival can be captured in your mind if you view the festival from a Hoi An river resort. One can take part in the festival in their own accord, with sufficient preparation, by taking a lesson in lantern making offered at many resorts such as Anantara Hoi An Resort.

Dates: 15th of Lunar January and July

The Long Chu, meaning "Royal Barge" is a festival that has its roots in fending off ghosts, evil and diseases from the fishing villages. Celebrated during the summer months, it was hoped in the historical times that this festival would help to keep the village free from plagues and epidemics which often spread during the seasonal transition. In accordance with this belief, the rituals are still performed by priest doctors or "Shamans, who hang amulets and talismans in the ghost's abode while the villagers chant religious prayers.

Once the rituals have been completed, there is much song, drama and dance – all of which culminates in the entire village coming together to share a common meal. Post meal is dedicated for entertainment where a variety of games are played. Highlighting the conclusion of the festival, the procession of Long Chu is held, where the royal barge – a boat in the shape of a dragon – is carried from the village to the sea, and set afloat to be swept away by the lapping waves.