The streets of a township in a district of the central German state of Saxony-Anhalt will be illuminated with the iconic handcrafted lanterns of its sister city of Hoi An in central Vietnam next month.

The Hoi An lantern festival is scheduled to take place in Wernigerode, a town in Harz District, from August 23 to 25, the administration of the Vietnamese city said on July 11.

During the three-day fest, craftsmen and artisans from Hoi An will showcase their lantern making skills to visitors, while chefs will treat them to a variety of traditional foods of the ancient city.

In addition, Vietnamese and German artists will put on special performances during the lantern festival.

In 2013, Hoi An and Wernigerode signed an agreement to establish sisterhood between the two localities. A festival featuring a lantern display and other sporting and cultural activities was held to mark the occasion.

During the upcoming event in the German town, experts from Hoi An and Wernigerode will also brief visitors on projects between the two localities in such fields as economic cooperation, human resource training and hospitality.

The two localities have jointly invested in the installation of solar farms in Hoi An, with the German government paying 90 percent of the total cost.

Hoi An has a population of approximately 120,000 and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, while Wernigerode is a small town with a population of about 35,000.

While the Vietnamese city is known for its well-preserved ancient town, Wernigerode is home to more than 2,000 old houses.

The lantern, traditionally made of silk, is the hallmark of Hoi An. They are omnipresent in the city, hung on the streets and in front of houses and stores, helping to light up the place when night falls.

Traditionally, Hoi An holds a monthly lantern festival on the 14th day of each lunar month to celebrate the full moon. 

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