wandering souls day vietnam 2022

Top 15 Festivals in Vietnam that you should not miss

One of the best ways to make sure that your trip to Vietnam is an unforgettable one is to plan it around the time of the festivals celebrated in the country. Inspired by the Chinese Lunar calendar, most of the cultural events and festivals in Vietnam are celebrated during specific times of the year. These festivals will not only let you witness and absorb the culture of the country but also give you a soul-touching experience. So, the next time you visit Vietnam keep these festivals in mind to turn your holiday into extraordinary!

Traditional Vietnamese New Year (Tết Nguyên Đán)
Lim Festival
First Full Moon Festival (Tết Nguyên Tiêu)
Perfume Pagoda Festival
Phu Giay Festival
Hung King Temple Festival
Hue Festival
Reunification Day
Buddha Birthday (Vesak)
Wandering Souls Day (Lễ Vu Lan)
Vietnam Independence Day
Mid-Autumn Festival / Full Moon Festival
Hoi An Lantern Festival
2021-2022-2023 Vietnam Festivals Calendar
EXTRA: Popular public holidays in Vietnam
Frequently Asked Questions About Festivals In Vietnam

Top 15 Vietnam Festivals & Events

Lunar Calendar: 1st – 3rd of the 1st month
Gregorian Calendar: Around late January to early February

What’s so good about it?

Lunar New Year, locally called Tet, is the biggest festival of the year with the whole country downing tools for family get-togethers. Principally a religious celebration, don’t expect too much of a wild party, but it’s still a fascinating time to visit Vietnam and you’ll certainly find locals lighting fireworks, visiting temples with their families, and the interesting sight of many flower stalls set up as giving flowers is customary during Tet.

Where's the best place to celebrate?

Tet is celebrated throughout Vietnam, but it’s best to be in the larger cities, as smaller towns really do shut down, making it difficult to find food and transport. Hanoi is the best place to enjoy this festivity. Quan Su Pagoda or Ngoc Son Temple is where you can see locals lighting incenses and praying to their ancestors in the morning while Hanoi Opera House often organize vibrant parties and fireworks displays.

Here is more detail about Tet Vietnam

Lunar Calendar: 13 of the 1st month
Gregorian Calendar: Mid-February

What's so good about it?

Lim Festival is where you can enjoy UNESCO-listed Quan Ho folk singing performances and a wide range of traditional games during your visit. Held on the 12th and 13th day of the first lunar month, several stages are built within the village where you get to see locals performing in traditional costumes. We highly recommend heading over to the lake outside the Lim Communal House to catch Quan Ho singing performance on a dragon boat. Lim Festival also hosts folk games such as danh du (bamboo swings), cockfighting, tug-of-war, wrestling, human chess, and blind man’s bluff.

Lim Festival is celebrated in Lim Village, which is located within the Tien Du District, Bac Ninh Province. Located 18km from Hanoi, You can easily make your way to this traditional village by bus or rental car.

Lunar Calendar: 14th – 15th of the 1st month
Gregorian Calendar: mid-February

This festival originates from China but over time, it became an important aspect in Vietnamese’s cultural and religious life. The story behind this was that long time ago, a hunter on earth killed a swan from heaven. To revenge that, the Heaven God planned out a rain of fire on the first full moon night to destroy mankind. However, there were some gods do not agree with this action and told human to burn big fires, light up lanterns and pray on that day, so that the Heaven God was thought that mankind was burned by the fire rain. Traditionally on this day, locals go to pagodas to pray for good things for their family members and their beloved.

This is best to see at the big pagoda where people come to pray for good luck & health for the family members.

First Full Moon Festival - Tet Nguyen Tieu

Lunar Calendar: 15th of the 1st month
Gregorian Calendar: Mid-February/March

Perfume Festival draws throngs of local pilgrims from all over Vietnam to Hanoi’s iconic Perfume Pagoda, where they to pray for a prosperous year and pay their respects to Buddha. The pilgrimage starts with a dragon dance at Den Trinh Pagoda on the 15th day of the 1st Lunar, where pilgrims (and even travellers) travel by boat along the Yen River to the base of Huong Mountain, passing by limestone caves and rice fields. The journey continues on foot by climbing hundreds of stone steps towards Huong Tich Cave, offering a colourful display of food offerings, statues of deities, lit incenses, and praying locals.

Perfume Festival takes place at the Perfume Pagoda in Hanoi, from the 15th day of the 1st lunar month.

Lunar Calendar: 3rd of the 3rd month
Gregorian Calendar: Late March to Early April

Phu Giay Festival draws in worshippers of the goddess Lieu Hanh to Phu Giay Pagoda, where they pray for good fortune whilst carrying decorated bamboo relics and wearing traditional costumes. Located 88km east of Hanoi, the temple also hosts various games such as capture-the-flag, human chess, lion dancing, and wrestling, resulting in a vibrant atmosphere throughout the day. Visitors can also enjoy folk dance and classical songs such as Trong Quan, Cheo (satirical musical theatre) and Ca Tru (chamber music).

Phu Giay Festival is only celebrated by villages within the Kim Thai Commune, with the best place to celebrate being the Phu Giay Temple.

Lunar Calendar: 10th of the 3rd month
Gregorian Calendar: early April

Hung King Temple Festival is held in commemoration of Kinh Duong Vuong, who became Vietnam’s first king in 2879BC. While the main worship event takes place at the Hung Temple, which is perched atop Nghia Linh Mountain in Phu Tho Province, 100 lanterns are released into the sky on the eve of the festival. The next morning, a flower ceremony is held at Den Thuong (Upper Temple), where the Hung Kings used to worship deities during their reign. Lastly, a huge procession starts at the foot of the mountain, consisting of pilgrims, Xoan classical song performances, and ca tru classical operas at several temples along the way towards the main Hung Temple.

Hung King Temple Festival is celebrated at the Hung Temple on Nghia Linh Mountain in Phong Chau District, Phu Tho Province.

Time: April/May/June every two years of Gregorian calendar

Hue Festival is a biannual celebration that takes place in UNESCO-listed Hue City, where you can enjoy an array of cultural events, games, and performances held over a week. Founded in 2000, the festival was held to preserve traditional customs that were practiced during the Nguyen Dynasty. If you’re visiting Hue in April, May or June, expect unique showcases such as the Hue Poetry Festival, Dialogue of Drums and Percussions, and Ao Dai Fashion Shows, sporting activities like kite flying, boat racing, and human chess, as well as street performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. Where's the best place to celebrate?

Hue Festival is only celebrated in Hue City, which is the capital of Thua Thien Hue province in Central Vietnam.

Here is everything about Hue Festival

Time: 30th April every year (Gregorian Calendar)

Celebrated throughout Vietnam, Reunification Day is another one of the festivals in Vietnam 2020 which is a national festival as well as a public holiday. On 30th April, South Vietnam got free from American troops and came under one government with North Vietnam. The people of Vietnam celebrate their unification at this festival. Events are organized in different parts of the country like Ethnic group performance and exhibition in Sapa, display of fireworks of international teams in Danang and an amazing parade in Hanoi. You can attend all these festivities and if you are on a vacation in Vietnam on their liberation day.

Reunification day is celebrated throughout Vietnam, but it’s best to be in the larger cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city

Here is everything about Vietnam Reunification Day

Lunar Calendar: 8th of 4th month
Gregorian Calendar: Late April – early May

Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated by devotees throughout Vietnam, despite being a communist country. Taking place on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, many temples are adorned with lavish decorations with locals offering fruit, flower garlands, and various Vietnamese dishes. This event often draws thousands of visitors looking to partake in street parades and prayer sessions.

Hoi An is arguably the best place to enjoy this festivity. Held at Phap Bao Pagoda, the day starts with a procession of monks along the streets of Hoi An Ancient Town, before locals flock to the temple to perform religious rites and listen to Buddhist scriptures. In the evening, expect a lively parade along the main road of the Old Town, where animals are released while flower garlands and lanterns are placed along the riverbank. Aside from experiencing the local culture, Buddha’s Birthday is also a great time to enjoy vegetarian dishes sold by street vendors in Hoi An.

Lunar Calendar: 15th of the 7th month
Gregorian Calendar: Early September

The annual Wandering Souls Day takes place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, which locals believe is the day when spirits of their ancestors are able to visit their homes. On the eve of the festival, families flock to Buddhist temples and graves of their departed loved ones to offer prayers, flowers, sticky rice cakes, sugarcane, and fruits. Paper money and clothes are also burned during this time of the year.

While Wandering Souls Day celebrated by Buddhist population across Vietnam, the best place to enjoy this sombre festivity is in Hue, where numerous Buddhist shrines and pagodas are flooded with locals and monks performing ceremonies and prayers. The festival is also known as the Cold Food Festival (Tet Han Thuc) as chilled dishes such as banh troi (floating rice cake) and banh chay (glutinous rice balls with mung bean paste) are typically eaten.

Time: 2nd September every year (Gregorian Calendar)

Every year on 2nd September, Vietnam celebrates the euphoric day of their independence in a grand way. On this day the president of Vietnam read the declaration of Independence of Vietnam and this day is an eminent historical event for the locals. This festival is the National Day of the country and a public holiday. Parades are organized and people celebrate it with great zeal and zest.

Independent day is celebrated throughout Vietnam, but it’s best to be in the larger cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city

Lunar Calendar: 14th – 15th of the 8th month
Gregorian Calendar: early – mid September

Mid-Autumn Festival , held on the 14th and 15th day of the 8th lunar month, features a wide range of activities such as children carrying paper lanterns, lion dances, and food booths selling mooncakes, sticky rice, fruits, and various sweets. Also known as the harvest festival, households set up an altar during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, on which they display offerings in honour of the full moon.

Mid-Autumn Festival is best enjoyed in Hoi An, where you’ll get to see plenty of street performances, lantern processions and arts exhibitions throughout UNESCO-listed Ancient Town. Children also get to participate in essays, drawing and colouring contests during Mid-Autumn Festival, while visitors can enjoy breathtaking sights of colourful paper lanterns lining the Thu Bon Riverside and Japanese Covered Bridge.

Here is more detail about Vietnam Mid-Autumn Festival

Time: 14th day of every lunar month

Hoi An Lantern Festival is a monthly event that transforms the quaint UNESCO World Heritage Site into a spectacular display of paper lanterns. On the 14th day of each lunar month, every shop, restaurant, bar and businesses in the Ancient Town switches off all electricity and relies on hundreds of candles and lanterns. Meanwhile, entrance to all temples is free of charge, where you can see monks and locals holding candlelit ceremonies.

Hoi An Lantern Festival takes place in UNESCO-listed Hoi An, but the best place to celebrate is along the Ancient Town area. Held until late, the streets are also filled with musicians playing traditional instruments, Chinese chess, poetry readings, and lantern-making classes.

Here is more about Hoi An Lantern Festival

Time: 30th October every year (Gregorian Calendar)

Halloween falls on the last day of October and the people of Vietnam have started celebrating this festival in recent times. Halloween is one of the festival that is popular all around the world. Whether its India or Vietnam, the younger generation celebrated all kinds of festivals which sound fun and have a great concept. The most famous spot to witness the celebrations is Hang Ma Street. From Pumpkin lantern to decorations and from masks to Witch hat, you will find everything in the markets. You can head to any bar or club and you can have a great time while you are all decked up in your Halloween costume.

This festival is more popular in the big city like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, which are more affected by western culture.

Time: 24th December every year (Gregorian Calendar)

In the past, Christmas was not very popular among Vietnam festivals except for a minority population of Catholic people. Until today, Christmas is not a public holiday but more and more Vietnamese people are excited, prepare for, and rejoice this day of the year. Coming to Vietnam in December or winter, travelers will have the opportunity to emerge themselves into the Christmas atmosphere celebrated by the local people. On this day, Vietnamese doesn’t put a Christmas tree in each house but there are Christmas trees in stores and hotels. The neon lights on the streets are fantastic and many hotels or shopping centers put on sparkling Christmas decorations such as Christmas trees, snowflake decorations, colorful ribbons and decorative balls.

Jan 1: Western New Year's Day
Feb 3: Founding Day of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Apr 30: Liberation Day of South Vietnam and Saigon
May 1: Labour Day
May 19: Ho Chi Minh's birthday
May 28: Holiday in commemoration of the birth, the enlightenment and the death of the Buddha
Sep 2: National Holiday
Sep 3: Day to commemorate the death of Ho Chi Minh in 1969
Nov: Birthday of Confucius; moveable holiday, as it depends on the moon calendar

Q. What is the Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam?

A. The Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a harvest festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. The celebration involves offering sacrifices to the ‘god of Earth’.

Q. Is Tet a religious holiday?

A. Tet is the Vietnamese New Year and is a national holiday. ‘Tet’ is a short form for ‘Tet Nguyen Dan’ and means ‘festival’.

Q. What religion is the most prevalent in Vietnamese?

A. The majority of the population follows folk religions in Vietnam but Buddhism and Catholicism are the other prevalent religions in the country.

A. It is a festival where parents buy their children various types of lanterns, snacks and funny masks.

Q. What are the traditional celebrations in Vietnam?

A. There are two main traditional festivals celebrated in Vietnam by the locals are Tet and Mid-Autumn Festival. Tet is also known as the Vietnamese New Year and it is considered as the celebration of Thanksgiving, Christmas and one’s birthday on one day. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most eminent festivals in Vietnam and is celebrated throughout the country by all the locals to celebrate harvest time.

Q. Do they celebrate Easter in Vietnam?

A. Easter is an important festival for the Christians residing in Vietnam but it is not celebrated throughout the country. The Christian population celebrates Easter in Vietnam by visiting Churches and organizing special family dinner.

Q. How long is the Tet holiday in Vietnam?

A. The Tet holiday in Vietnam is celebrated for a week or two in Vietnam and it is celebrated in late January or early February.

Q. How is Christmas celebrated in Vietnam?

A. In Vietnam, Christmas Eve is more important than the main day of Christmas. There is no public holiday on Christmas and the Christians residing in Vietnam celebrate it by attending the evening or morning mass held in the church.

Q. Is there a Vietnamese New Year?

A. The Vietnamese New Year falls on the first day of spring and is also called Tet. The Vietnamese New Year is celebrated all over Vietnam as it is the beginning of everything new and it is also a public holiday.

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Apart from 15 biggest yearly festivals above, Vietnam still has many festive & events held in small cities and provinces across the country but these 15 festivals could be enough to make you overwhelmed with the fact that Vietnam is rich in culture and customs and having a glimpse of such Vietnam traditional events will prompt an urge to visit this amazing country.

My name is Jolie, I am a Vietnamese girl growing up in the countryside of Hai Duong, northern Vietnam. Since a little girl, I was always dreaming of exploring the far-away lands, the unseen beauty spots of the world. My dream has been growing bigger and bigger day after day, and I do not miss a chance to make it real. After graduating from the univesity of language in Hanoi, I started the exploration with a travel agency and learning more about travel, especially responsible travel. I love experiencing the different cultures of the different lands and sharing my dream with the whole world. Hope that you love it too!

Hue Festival is a biennial celebration that takes place in Hue City. Here you can enjoy an array of cultural events, games, and performances held over the course of a week. Founded in 2000, the festival is held to preserve the traditional customs that have been practiced since the Nguyen Dynasty.

Hmong New Year - The Celebration of Colors

The Hmong New Year celebration is a cultural tradition that takes place annually in select areas where large Hmong communities exist and in a modified form where smaller communities come together. During the New Year's celebration, Hmong dress in traditional clothing and enjoy Hmong traditional foods, dance, music, bull fights, and other forms of entertainment. Hmong New Year celebrations have Hmong ethnic traditions and culture and may also serve to educate those who have an interest in Hmong tradition. Hmong New Year celebrations frequently occur in November and December (traditionally at the end of the harvest season when all work is done), serving as a Thanksgiving holiday for the Hmong people.

Lantern Festival is celebrated in China and other Asian countries that honors deceased ancestors on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar (usually falls around mid-February of Gregorian calendar). The Lantern Festival aims to promote reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness.

Originally, the holiday marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year. In some other Asian countries such as Thailand or Laos, the festival is celebrated around late October or early November to mark the end of the Buddhist Lent & the beginning of the festive season.

During the festival, houses are festooned with colorful lanterns, often with riddles written on them; if the riddle is answered correctly, the solver earns a small gift. Festival celebrations also include lion and dragon dances, parades, and fireworks.

When is Tet Vietnam - Should you travel during Vietnamese lunar new year?

When many Americans hear the word "Tet," they immediately recall learning about the 1968 Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War. But what is Tet all about?

Considered the first day of spring and most important of national holidays in Vietnam, Tet is the annual Vietnamese New Year celebration, coinciding with the Lunar New Year celebrated throughout the world in January or February.

Technically, "Tet" is a shortened (thank goodness!) form of Tết Nguyên Đán, a way to say "Lunar New Year" in Vietnamese.

Although Tet can be a very exciting time to travel in Vietnam , it's also the busiest time of the year to be there. Millions of people will be moving throughout the country, returning to their home villages to share reunions with friends and family. The Tet holiday will certainly affect your experience in Vietnam.

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Tired of reading? Listen to our below Podcast made by our BEEPODS team to learn more about the biggest and most important festival in Vietnam

Dragon Dances & Other New Year’s Traditions In Asia

New Year’s is not always fireworks and kisses. In Asia, it’s a time to ward off bad luck, celebrate good fortune, and commemorate family.

And since most of these countries follow the lunar or solar calendar, their festivities take place in February, March, or April, instead of on January 1st. Some cultures usher in the New Year with water gun fights, while others chase off evil spirits with demonic effigies.

Intrigued? We’ve got you covered. See how these 12 Asian countries ring in the New Year.

All about Full Moon Lantern Festival in Hoi An

On the lunar full moon, the townsfolk will celebrate Hoi An's bygone days, reenacting cultural activities and honouring ancestors with offerings to shrines and burning incense. The old quarter is pedestrianized (no bicycles or motorized vehicles until 10pm) and fluorescent lights are banned, adding to the old-world charm.)

This is a truly special night where you can wander the old town while it is lit up with lanterns and watch traditional performances, hear musical renditions, poetry recitals or watch as some of the older townsmen play a game of traditional Chinese chess.

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Festivals of Vietnam

What is Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam?

Vu Lan Festival is one of the main holidays of Mahayana Buddhism. On this day, Buddhists will attend the pagoda and participate in a set of activities to demonstrate their filial piety (hiếu) towards their parents and ancestors.

The Etymology of the word Vu Lan

Vu-lan ( Chinese : 盂蘭; sa. ullambana ) is an acronym for Vu-lan-pen, which is a transliteration from the sanskrit noun ullambana. Ullambana comes from the verb meaning “to hang (upside) down”. It refers to the liberation for those who are extremely miserable in the realm of Hell.

Origins Behind the Vu Lan Festival

The origins of Vu Lan are based on one story of the historical buddhist monk Mục Kiền Liên (approximately 500 BC). Mục Kiền Liên’s mother (named Bà Thanh Đề) lived an unwholesome life, which led her to be reborn in the underworld (hell) after death. Mục Kiền Liên found his mother suffering under the torments and pains of hell and prayed to buddha for his mother’s well-being and less sufferable conditions. The Buddha gave Mục Kiền Liên instructions to achieve his mother’s release from hell. Those instructions became known as the Vu Lan ceremony. Once he followed Buddha’s instructions, Mục Kiền Liên’s mother was freed from hell and his actions had changed her mind from one of greed and decadence to one of modesty and repentance. Mục Kiền Liên’s acts of filial piety (hiếu) in liberating his mother from the underworld is the main concept behind Vu Lan festival and the acts committed by buddhists on the day are variations of Buddha’s instructions.

Vu Lan festival is a buddhist tradition of filial piety and ancestor worship. A day for each person to appreciate what they have, and to remind children of their duty to show affection and gratitude towards the merits of their parents. The phrase “uống nước nhớ nguồn” ( when drinking water, remember its source) dominantes Vu Lan festival and is used to reinforce the importance of filial piety.

Dates of Vu Lan Festival

Vu Lan festival coincides with the full moon day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. This is also an important day for the month of wandering souls (tháng cô hồn) so a ceremony to worship the souls with no home nor family occurs during Vu Lan. This date is also the day every soul in Hell has the opportunity to achieve amnesty and be released from hell. Therefore, in addition to offerings for family ancestors, people also prepare an outdoor tray for hungry ghosts to prevent them from disrupting or harassing the household. Over time, the practices of Vu Lan and Tháng cô hồn are often intertwined.

Activities of Buddhists During Vu Lan Festival

Bông hồng cài áo -Buddhists will wear a paper rose on their lapels. Red symbolises their mother is still alive and white represents the passing of their mother.

Notes on this article;

Words and images for this article by Luke Digweed. Images taken at the following locations;

Dieu Phap Buddhist Temple (Chùa Diệu Pháp), Hồ Chí Minh City. Vu Lan 2022.
Vietnam Buddhist Temple (Việt Nam Quốc Tự), Hồ Chí Minh City. Vu Lan 2023.
Tuyen Lam Buddhist Temple (Chùa Tuyền Lâm), Hồ Chí Minh City. Vu Lan 2023.

Published by Luke Digweed

Owner of Festivals of Vietnam and Hue Grit. Writing contributor for Vietnam Coracle. Producer for Chuyện Thanh Trà Podcast. Resident of Vietnam.

View all posts by Luke Digweed →

TRUNG NGUYEN, WANDERING SOULS’ DAY

Trung Nguyen or Vu Lan or Wandering Souls’ Day is the second largest festival of the year (Tet is first). Though it falls on the 15th day of the seventh month, its celebration may be held at any convenient time during the latter half of the month. The festival is celebrated throughout the country, in Buddhist Pagodas, homes, businesses, factories, government offices, and Armed Forces units. It is not just a Buddhist holiday. In general, it’s celebrated by all Vietnamese who believed in the existence of God, good and also evil.

Belief Of Trung Nguyen, Wandering Souls’ Day

Many Vietnamese believe that every person has two souls; one is spiritual (Hon), and the other is material (Via). When a person dies, his soul is taken to a tribunal in hell and judged by ten justices. When the judgment is rendered, the soul is sent to heaven or hell, as a reward or punishment for the person’s conduct on earth.

They believe those sinful souls can be absolved of their punishment and delivered from hell through prayers said by the living on the first and 15 of every month. Wandering Souls’ Day, however, is believed to be the best time for priests and relatives to secure general amnesty for all the souls. On this day, the gates of hell are said to be opened at sunset and the souls there fly out, unclothed and hungry. Those who have relatives fly back to their homes and villages and find plenty of food on their family altars.

Those who have no relatives or have been forsaken by the living are doomed to wander helplessly through the air on black clouds, over the rivers, and from tree to tree. In reality, they are the sad “wandering souls” who are in need of food and prayer. This is why additional altars full of offerings are placed in pagodas and many public places.

Offroad Vietnam Motorbike Adventures - Trung Nguyen, Vu Lan or Wandering Souls' Day

This is a day that the oldsters have said, “the living and the dead meet in thought,” and traditional rites should be respected by all. Weather permitting, the services should be in the open air. Otherwise, the largest room in the house should be used so that there is room for many wandering souls.

During the ceremony, huge tables are covered with offerings which basically consist of three kinds of meat: boiled chicken, roast pork, and crabs; and five fruits. Other foods may be included such as sticky rice cakes, vermicelli soup, and meat rolls to satisfy the appetite of the wandering souls who are supposed to be hungry year-round.

Money and clothes made of votive papers are also burned at this time.

Butcher shops are especially careful to observe this holiday. Many people believe in reincarnation. Therefore, butchers are afraid that they might have killed some poor person.

Also, Vietnamese believe it is extremely bad luck to die away from home. Therefore, transportation carriers who have had fatalities among their passengers strictly observe the ceremonies.

Other Popular (Typical) Festivals, Holidays & Recreation In Vietnam

– Vietnamese Tet Nguyen Dan – Hai Ba Trung Day – Thanh Minh, Holiday Of The Dead – Doan Ngu (Opening Ceremony Of Summer) – The Whale Festival – Trung Thu, Mid-Autumn Festival – Recreation Activities

Vu Lan Festival: How to Celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival in Vietnam

Vu Lan, Yulanpen, Hungry Ghost, Trung Nguyen, Parents’ Day, or Vietnamese Mother’s Day – there are many names for this festival that takes place on the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar in Vietnam.

No matter what you call it, this ancient festival centres around the themes of compassion, gratitude, duty, kindness, and filial piety. It is the second-largest annual traditional festival celebrated in Vietnam after Tet (the lunar new year celebration).

What is the Seventh Full Moon Ghost Festival?

It is a Taoist and Buddhist festival observed by many across East and Southeast Asia, including in China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and of course in Vietnam. Legend has it that on Vu Lan Day, the gates of hell open for a lunar month (or 24 hours depending on the variation of the tale), and the tormented souls roam the mortal world and visit their former homes.

Each culture, and even families, have different rituals and rites for Vu Lan Festival, but ultimately it all focuses on family gatherings to honour the departed and to express love and gratitude. Families in Vietnam invite their ancestors to visit, they offer incense, prayers, food, and more. Food and thoughts are given for the wandering souls that no longer have family. The health and happiness of the living are also prayed for.

Where did Vu Lan Festival come from?

‘Vu Lan’ is a Sanskrit-Han transliteration of the Ullambana Sutra, or the Sutra of Filial Piety. Ullambana, the original Sanskrit term, meant to hang upside down, signifying the extreme suffering souls are enduring in hell to atone for the evil actions of their previous life on earth.

The Ullambana Sutra records the legend of Maudgalyayana (or Muc Kien Lien in Vietnamese). Muc Kien Lien was one of the great disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha who achieved higher knowledge. One day, during his meditations, he discovers that his mother suffering the tortures of hell – she was reborn as a hungry ghost for the evil deeds she had committed.

Struck by her hunger and suffering, the thoughtful son Muc Kien Lien travels to the netherworld with a bowl of rice for his mother. However, before she could eat, the rice had already turned to ash. Back in the mortal world, Maudgalyayana asks the Buddha to help him fulfil his filial duty, as it is a core pillar in Buddhism. Buddha advised Maudgalyayana to organise an assembly of monks, the combined spiritual merits of their prayers and offerings were transferred to the departed parents. The power of their combined efforts proved so powerful that Muc Kien Lien’s mother, and countless other souls, were liberated. This day also happened to fall on the seventh lunar month.

Following Buddha’s teachings, others who want to honour their parents, particularly their mothers, and alleviate their suffering can follow Maudgalyayana’s lead. From this, Vu Lan Festival has been celebrated by Buddhists all over the world and in Vietnam on the seven month of the lunar calendar.

How Vu Lan Festival is Celebrated in Vietnam and Things To Do

Whether you are Buddhist or not, Vu Lan Festival in modern Vietnam has become a day to celebrate your parents and ancestors, and a reason to gather as a family and enjoy time together.

For the Vietnamese people who practice more traditional forms of celebration, there are different rituals to be done at home, at the pagodas, at the cemeteries of their forebears, and during nighttime.

On the morning of the seventh lunar month festival, a tray filled lavishly with fruits, snacks and dishes is placed on the family’s ancestral alter at home. Incense is burned to welcome ancestors back home to celebrate the festival with family. The living family will gather to pray and have lunch together, often vegetarian food.

At the Pagodas

On Vu Lan Festival, pagodas all over the country are filled with activity as Buddhist monks, nuns and devotees gather to pray. Popular places of worship to visit in Ho Chi Minh City include Dieu Phap, Hoang Phap, and Vinh Nghiem.

The temples often have a ‘rose on the shirt’ ceremony for visitors. A red rose is worn if their mother is alive, whereas a white rose is worn for deceased mothers. The rose flower has become a symbol of love and connection among the community.

Apart from prayers, the Vietnamese people also express gratitude by offering flowers, fruits, joss paper, sticky rice cakes, snacks, to their ancestors. Many also offer fake banknotes and paper models of luxury items, including clothing, bags, air conditioners, and even villas and cars, in the hope that their relatives will be able to enjoy these items in the afterlife.

The monks also often offer a lecture to visitors, advising attendees on the responsibilities as children to their parents, and how to respect them whether they are living or have passed away.

Foreigners are also welcomed to visit the temples during Vu Lan Festival and take part in the celebrations.

Visiting Cemeteries

Some people will also take the time during Vu Lan Festival to visit the graves of their ancestors. As part of the ceremony, the graves will be cleaned and maintained, people will pray and give gifts to the departed.

At some places across the country, and particularly known in Hoi An, a lantern releasing festival takes place along the rivers. These lanterns are beautifully shaped like lotus flowers.

Once lit, the Vietnamese make wishes for their parents and released the lanterns on the river, and it is believed that the flow of the river steam will bring the wishes made along with it. It is a wonderful bright sight to behold.

During COVID-19 Lockdowns

During the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, some mass celebrations for the Vu Lan Festival were put on hold. Some cemeteries and pagodas offered online ceremonial packages so that the families could celebrate without being there in person. People virtually visited the places of worship, and the staff would make the offerings or clean the graves while being captured on film.

Seeing that it is likely that many parts of the country would still be affected by lockdowns, many people will also opt for online services this year for Vu Lan Day.

Although celebrations may look different this year, the spirit of Vu Lan Festival stays alive. People across the country will use Vu Lan in remembrance of their parents and ancestors, honouring them and showing gratitude. Lost souls will also be prayed for as the festival is all about showing compassion and kindness. Non-Buddhist and foreigners are welcomed to celebrate Vu Lan Festival too, by showing appreciation for their own ancestors and the elderly, and by being respectful of the offerings laid out during this period. A festival about appreciation and compassion should be widely celebrated!

Be sure to keep updated about festivals and what’s ongoing in Ho Chi Minh city here

Written by My Huynh

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The Ultimate Guide to Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam

Worshippers offer prayers to their ancestors and to Buddha

As the lunar July is coming, many Vietnamese families start to make preparations for the Vu Lan festival (Ullambana). It is also known as the Amnesty of Unquiet Spirits. After the lunar New Year (Tet) festival, this is the second largest annual traditional festival of Vietnam, and is celebrated by Vietnamese people participating in various religious rituals and humanitarian activities.

The Vu Lan Festival is a traditional celebration that occurs annually on the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar. This date typically corresponds to a full moon in the middle to late August or early September based on the solar calendar. In 2024, the Vu Lan Festival will be observed on Sunday, August 18th.

The event holds significant cultural and spiritual significance, particularly in Buddhist traditions. It is a time for honoring ancestors and expressing gratitude for their sacrifices and contributions. Families often visit ancestral graves, offer prayers, and make offerings as a way of paying respect to their departed loved ones.

The festival's name, "Vu Lan," is derived from the Sanskrit term "Ullambana," which means "deliverance from suffering." The celebration's origins can be traced back to a story in Buddhist scriptures about a disciple who sought to save his mother's soul from the realm of hungry ghosts through his compassionate actions and the teachings of the Buddha.

Throughout the festivities, various rituals and practices are observed, including the preparation of traditional dishes, the lighting of incense and candles, and the release of lanterns or lotus flowers into bodies of water. These symbolic gestures are meant to honor ancestors and guide their souls to a peaceful existence in the afterlife.

The Vu Lan Festival is also known as the Ullambana Festival or the Obon Festival in Japan.
It is one of the most important Buddhist festivals in many Asian countries, including Vietnam, China, Japan, and South Korea.
During the festival, people visit pagodas, make offerings of food and flowers, and perform rituals to honor their ancestors' spirits.
In some regions, people release lanterns or lotus flowers onto rivers or lakes to guide the spirits of their ancestors back to the afterlife.
The festival's origins are rooted in a story about a Buddhist monk who used his spiritual powers to save his mother's soul from the realm of hungry ghosts.
Families often prepare special vegan dishes during the festival, as it is believed that the spirits of ancestors cannot consume regular food.
In Vietnam, the festival is closely associated with the legend of Maudgalyayana, one of the Buddha's closest disciples.

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Last updated on 2024-04-26 06:09:23.

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About Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam

Vu Lan, known as Ghost Festival or Wandering Souls Day, is an important day in spiritual life of Vietnamese people. So it is annually held on 15th July of the lunar calendar. After the Lunar New Year (Tet Holiday), this is the second largest annual traditional festival in Vietnam. Because people celebrate this day to pay special tribute to parents and ancestors. Therefore Travel Sense Asia would like to share with you some information about Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam.

1. Legend of the festival

The origin of Vu Lan Festival came from the legend of Muc Kien Lien, one of the Buddha’s ten principal disciples. According to that the mother of Muc Kien Lien has commited many crimes in her previous life. So after died she had been suffered from hell’s tortures and became a starving ghost.

To save her Muc Kien Lien asked the Buddha for his help. Following Buddha’s advice, he collected a group of monks and did a pray for his mother on the 7th full moon day of the year. Thanks to the piety of Muc Lien Lien and pray of the monks his mother was released and no longer suffered from hell’s tortures.

Since then, Vu Lan Festival has been held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. So this is an occasion for people to show their piety and respect to their parents, ancestors. So that the gates of hell will be opened and all the dead souls can come back to the earth and gather to their family.

2. Activities in Vu Lan Festival

Vu Lan Festival can be seen throughout the country with many different activities. Not only Buddha’s followers but all Vietnamese people will celebrate Vu Lan Festival.

On this occasion people will go to pagodas, make offerings to Buddha and the monks, pray and pay tribute to parents. They also listen to the lecture about the responsibility of children to parents from monks as well. Each Buddhist has a flower (usually rose) in front of their chest: red flower if their parents are living and white flower if their parents have passed away.

Moreover people will prepare a tray with various delicious dishes and votive as well to put on ancestral altar at home. The householder, as usual, will burn incense and invite ancestors as well as homeless souls to come and celebrate the festival with family. After that, all family’s members will gather and enjoy the meal together.

Vegetarian food is most popular on this occasion. However in the modern life it is not an obligation to have a meal together at home. Family can go to the restaurant and try vegetarian food. In Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City it is not so hard to find a vegetarian restaurants. Here are some recommendations for you:

Co Dam Restaurant – 68 Tran Hung Dao St.

Vegito – 45 Ngo Thi Nham St.

Uu Dam Chay – 55 Nguyen Du St.

Sadhu – 87 Ly Thuong Kiet St.

Ho Chi Minh City

Man Tu Vega – 201 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St. District 1

Chay Sen Restaurant – 93-95 Pho Duc Chinh St. District 1

Metta Vegetarian – 25C Tu Xuong, District 3

Budhha – 31 Dang Tat, District 1

Although the official Vu Lan holiday is July 15 th , people will celebrate for the whole month. It is called Vu Lan season. In the season, people can visit pagodas to pray every day. Many eat vegetarians for the whole of month.

They also do some volunteer works or give the poor rice, noodles, soy sauce… as well. Or release birds, fishes, help them come back to the natural environment. All of those things are to send besh wishes to their parents.

In almost provinces Vietnamese people will celebrate the festival in the same way. However in Hoi An there is a special activity. That is to light small lanterns for our loved ones and set them afloat on the Hoai River. It is supposed that light will lead the way for wandering souls.

Vu Lan Festival is not only celebrated in Vietnam but also in the countries having Buddhism such as China, Japan, Malaysia etc. It reminds people to remember the birth and parenting of the parents. Vu Lan Festival is an ideal and special event for foreign visitors when travelling to Vietnam to discover Vietnam’s culture, experience and understand more about Vietnamese values.

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Wandering Souls Day (Vu Lan) – Vietnam

Hon and via, festival traditions, where to celebrate.

Wandering Souls Day is celebrated during the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar. Equivalent to the All Souls’ Day celebrated in Christian cultures, this festival, however, is observed by both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

According to the country’s traditionally held belief, a human being possesses two souls: a spiritual soul called Hon and a material soul referred to as Via. The Vietnamese believe that during death, the soul is lead to hell and so must face a ten-judge tribunal.

A judgment is then rendered based on how a person lived on earth and the soul could either be punished by being sent to hell or rewarded by being sent to heaven. Souls who are heavy in sin have the opportunity to be absolved of their transgressions via prayers uttered by the living during the first and fifteenth of each month.

Le Vu Lan – 2012. Photo: Khánh Hmoong

On Wandering Souls’ Day, also called Trang Nguyen or Vu Lan, priests and family members of those who died can request for the sins of their loved ones to be forgiven. On the day of the festival, hell’s gates are said to be open, allowing imprisoned souls freedom to wander.

There hungry souls go back to their villages and homes to feed on a slew of food prepared by their families placed on altars.

Souls who no longer have families or any loved ones are perennially doomed to wander over rivers, trees, and on black clouds. These souls need earnest prayers and food which is the reason why numerous offerings can be found in public places and pagodas.

Locals believe the festival is where the living and the dead meet in thought. Those who have lost their parents often ask for forgiveness for their sins as well as show their parents some gratitude. Locals send lights afloat on the river with the intent that these will help guide souls to heaven.

Events held on this day are usually in the open air, if weather permits, or large rooms inside houses where there is space for wandering souls to rest.

Monks at Vu Lan. Photo: Khánh Hmoong

Tables covered with a slew of offerings can be seen on festival day, which include boiled chicken, crabs, roast pork, and five different kinds of fruits. Sticky rice cakes, meat rolls, vermicelli soup, boiled cassava, sugarcane, and sweet potatoes are similarly served. Meanwhile, paper-made clothes, money, and votive papers are burned due to the belief that these can be used by the dead in the spirit world.

Interestingly enough, butcher shops also observe this festival cautiously as the locals’ belief in reincarnation compels butchers to halt their operation due to the fear of killing a soul who reincarnated in the body of an animal.

The festival is observed in any and every place in Vietnam be it businesses, homes, government offices, factories, or Armed Forces units. According to locals, the best place to celebrate Wandering Souls Day is in Hue due to the many Buddhist shrines and pagodas in the area. Monks, who are more than ready to perform ceremonies and offer prayers, are also present in Hue.

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Wandering Souls Day (Vu Lan) – Vietnam

Hon and Via

On Wandering Souls’ Day, also called Trang Nguyen or Vu Lan , priests and family members of those who died can request for the sins of their loved ones to be forgiven. On the day of the festival, hell’s gates are said to be open, allowing imprisoned souls freedom to wander.

There hungry souls go back to their villages and homes to feed on a slew of food prepared by their families placed on altars.

Festival Traditions

Events held on this day are usually in the open air, if weather permits, or large rooms inside houses where there is space for wandering souls to rest.

Image of monks on Wandering Soul's Day in Vietnam

Where to Celebrate

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Travel Blog

Vu Lan Festival 2024: Honoring Filial Piety and Remembering Ancestors

Updated: May 30, 2024 Mi NGUYEN in Beautiful Vietnam , Vietnam Travel Tips 0 comment.

This is a deeply meaningful tradition for the Vietnamese people. Let’s explore with Paradise Travel the origins, significance, and rituals of this season.

Origins of the Vu Lan Festival

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The Vu Lan Festival originates from the story of the Venerable Maudgalyayana saving his mother from the realm of hungry ghosts. Maudgalyayana, one of the two chief disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni, used his supernatural powers after attaining enlightenment to find his mother. He discovered that his mother, Thanh De, was suffering as a hungry ghost due to her past misdeeds.

Heartbroken, Maudgalyayana asked Buddha for a way to save his mother. Buddha instructed that only through the collective effort of the monastic community and dedicating merit could her negative karma be alleviated. The 15th day of the 7th lunar month was the ideal time for this ritual. Maudgalyayana followed Buddha’s guidance and liberated his mother. Since then, the Vu Lan Festival was born and continues to this day.

Significance of the Vu Lan Festival

Discovering Vietnam means discovering Vietnamese culture. Vu Lan Festival is a profound cultural feature of Vietnam.

Releasing Floating Lanterns

From the story of Bodhisattva Maudgalyayana saving his mother, the Vu Lan Festival has become an occasion to remember and honor the virtues of parents and ancestors. During the Vu Lan season, Buddhists often perform rituals to pray for the deceased, accumulate merit, and wish for their parents’ well-being and relief from suffering.

Beyond its religious significance, this festival deeply resonates with humanitarian values, reminding everyone of their roots, filial piety, and reverence for their ancestors.

Rituals of the Vu Lan Festival

Preparing offerings.

The Vu Lan offerings include rituals for Buddha, deities, ancestors, and wandering souls, each with its own meaning:

Offering to Buddha: Usually includes vegetarian food, fruits, and prayers to accumulate merit and absolve ancestors’ karma.
Offering to Deities: Consists of sticky rice, boiled chicken, Chung cake, tea, wine, fruits, and fresh flowers to seek blessings and protection for the family.
Offering to Ancestors: Can include vegetarian or non-vegetarian food, votive papers to show respect and wish for ancestors’ abundance in the afterlife.
Offering to Wandering Souls: Done outdoors with thin porridge, rock sugar, rice, fruits, candies, incense, candles, paper clothes, and money to help wandering souls receive blessings.

The “Rose Pinning” Ritual

On Vu Lan Day, temples hold the “Rose Pinning” ritual, initiated by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh in his 1962 book. Those with living parents wear a red rose, while those who have lost their parents wear a white rose. This ritual, symbolizing gratitude and filial piety, has since become a hallmark of the Vu Lan Festival among Buddhists.

Releasing floating lanterns has long been a traditional ritual during the Vu Lan Festival. This is an indispensable part of Buddhism, symbolizing prayers for the deceased. Each meticulously designed lantern, lit before being set afloat on the river, carries good wishes and prayers for peace.

Advice for the Vu Lan Festival

The Vu Lan Festival is a time to remember and honor parents and ancestors. However, the 7th lunar month is also considered the month of wandering souls, so certain customs should be observed:

Things to Do

Visit and offer flowers and incense at ancestors’ graves.
Practice vegetarianism, do good deeds, and help those in need to dedicate merit to parents.
Visit temples to pray for peace and participate in Vu Lan activities.
Show care and give meaningful gifts to parents and grandparents.

Things to Avoid

Limit shopping and nighttime outings.
Avoid plucking hair, hanging clothes outside at night.
Refrain from swimming in rivers, lakes.
Postpone opening businesses, housewarming, weddings.
Avoid killing animals and causing conflicts or doing bad deeds.

Note that these customs vary by region and personal beliefs.

This festival is an opportunity to express filial piety and gratitude to parents and ancestors

The Vu Lan Festival is not only significant in Buddhism but also rich in Vietnamese cultural values. It is an occasion for descendants to express filial piety and gratitude towards their parents and ancestors. Through rituals such as offerings to Buddha and ancestors, rose pinning, and floating lanterns, we express our appreciation and remind ourselves to live responsibly, lovingly, and altruistically.

This festival is a time for reflection, gratitude, and compassionate action. Let this season be a meaningful time for us to connect more deeply with our families, ancestors and communities, spreading good values and kindness in life through a Vietnam tour .

Read more: Celebrate Vesak Day Vietnam : Holiest Buddhist Occasion

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Vu Lan Festival

Hello everyone, I'm Mi NGUYEN - passionate about traveling and experiencing culture and history by visiting attractions. So I like to share my information with everyone about the places I visited. If you have any questions, leave a comment below so I can answer them for you!

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Vietnam’s Wandering Souls Day

The Wandering Souls Day is one of the largest festivals in Vietnam, next to the Tet holiday. Also known as the Trung Nguyen, the holiday takes plays every 15th day of the 7th lunar month in the Buddhist calendar. The Wandering Soul’s Day is basically the Buddhist version of the All Soul’s Day of the Christian religion.

The Trung Nguyen festival is being celebrated all over the country, from temples, pagodas, local homes, and even government buildings and offices. This festival is not merely a Buddhist holiday, but a significant national holiday celebrated by almost all Vietnamese locals.

Local Belief

According to Vietnamese belief, each person has two souls, the material soul, and spiritual soul. The material soul is known as Via while the spiritual soul is Hon. Once a person dies, his soul will be taken into a tribunal in hell to be judged. After the judgment is rendered, the soul will either go to heaven or hell, depending on how the person behaved while still on Earth.

Locals believe those sinful souls can still be saved from hell by the prayers of the living relatives, which is done during the 1st and 15th of every month. During the Wandering Souls, locals believe that this is the best time for the relatives of the deceased to pray and ask forgiveness on behalf of these sinful souls. It is their belief that the gates of hell will be opened during the sunset and the souls would fly towards it hungrily and unclothed. Some souls would head home to their homes and villages, which is why relatives would cook plenty of food and place on their altars.

Those whose souls don’t have any home to go to or the ones that have been forsaken by the living would be wandering helplessly into the air of black clouds and over rivers, from one tree to another. Basically, these “wandering souls” are the ones who are in need of prayer the most. This is why locals would place additional altars filled with offerings in some public places.

Wandering Souls Celebration

Locals believe that the dead and the living will meet in thought during the Wandering Souls Celebration. Everyone is expected to abide by the tradition. If the weather permits, religious services, and ceremonies will be held in the open air. In some cases, the largest area of the house is often used allowing more space for the souls to wander around.

During the Wandering Souls Ceremony, huge tables will be filled with offerings that often consist of boiled meat, pork, chicken, and crabs, along with fruits. Some other foods that will be included are vermicelli soup, rice cakes, as well as meat rolls in order to feed the souls who are wandering around and are believed to be hungry.

During the celebration, money and clothes made from papers are being burned. Those who are in the business of butchering meat are said to exercise utmost caution during this holiday celebration. It’s because locals believe that this is a time for reincarnation. Thus, butchers have to be careful or they could end up killing some poor person’s soul.

Furthermore, the Vietnamese also believe that it’s bad luck for someone to die far away from home. This is why transport carriers that have encountered fatalities among its passengers would strictly observe the ceremony.

Vu Lan Day in Hoi An

All regions in Vietnam celebrate the Wandering Souls, but some places have their own different version. In Hoi An, the Wandering Souls is known as Vu Lan Day and is based on a legend. The legend was about a young boy named Muc Kien Lien who was among the ten principle disciples of Buddha who attained enlightenment at a very early age.

Her mother is said to have lived a wicked life and when she died, she was asked to pass into the 18 gates of hell as her punishment. Each door gets tougher and tougher and more terrifying for his mom to get through. Eventually, was overwhelmed by extreme hunger and when Muc Kien Lien found out about this, he decided to smuggle some food for her through a magic spell. He was able to successfully do that, however the tormentors of hell turned these foods into flame as soon as his mom eats them.

When Muc Kien Lien went back to the physical world, he asked guidance from Buddha to save his mother. The Buddha asked him to gather monks and devotees and have them pray every 15th day of the 7th lunar month. And this is how the Wandering Soul’s Day in Hoi An started.

Just like with the rest of the locals in the country, people in Hoi An believe that the gates of hell are opened during the Wandering Soul’s Day in order to give those sinful souls a chance to wander around and redeem themselves.

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Specialty tours & events, wandering souls’ day in hoi an, vietnam.

by Angelique Platas

Known by many names, including Vu Lan Day, Ghost Festival and Wandering Souls’ Day, this is a spiritual celebration in Hoi An, Vietnam. Travel to the ancient city Aug. 25 and observe as locals offer flowers, fresh fruit, sweet potatoes, rice cakes and sugarcane for the wandering souls of their ancestors. Festivalgoers celebrate deceased family and friends whose souls are able to roam for one day each year. The beautiful sight of candles and lanterns floating on the river are meant to guide the wandering souls to nirvana.

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Vietnamese Community in The RoK Celebrates Vu Lan Festival

The Vietnamese Buddhist Culture Centre in the Republic of Korea (RoK) recently held a grand ceremony to mark the Vu Lan Festival (Parents' Day) in Incheon city, VNA reported.

The event was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to RoK Nguyen Vu Tung; Vice Chairwoman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Tran Thi Minh Nga; Mayor of Incheon city Yoo Jeong Bok, Korean officials and Buddhist followers in the RoK.

The event was attended by Korean local government officials, Korean Buddhist sects, businesses, Vietnamese Buddhists, Korean Buddhists, and a large number of Vietnamese expatriates in RoK.

After the ceremony of saluting the Vietnamese and Korean national flags and Buddhist songs, the organizing committee of the Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Center in Korea chanted the Vu Lan sutra to express gratitude and pray for the Vietnamese heroes and martyrs, legendary deities, and ancestors.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tung said that the 7th full moon festival called “ Vu Lan bao hieu” (Parents' Day) or “Xa toi vong nhan” (Wandering Soul’s Day), is even more meaningful when it is held on the occasion of Vietnam's National Day September 2, especially in the context of the Vietnam-RoK strategic partnership relationship getting better and better.

The ambassador thanked the RoK's officials as well as Korean religious dignitaries and clergymen for their attention and support to Vietnamese people in the fields of economy, culture, and religion.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese community in the RoK has contributed and integrated into the RoK society and considers the East Asian country their second homeland to participate in economic, political, and religious activities.

Mayor of Incheon Yoo Jeong Bok was touched by the Vietnamese custom of drinking water to remember its source during the Vu Lan Festival and said that the Korean-Vietnamese relationship at the national and local levels has been around for more than 30 years.

He said that as an international city of the RoK, Incheon is home to more than 70,000 foreigners, including about 15,000 Vietnamese people, adding that the foreigners are part of the city and have accompanied and developed with local residents.

Witnessing the religious activities of the Vietnamese community in RoK, Vice Chairwoman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Tran Thi Minh Nga, expressed her thanks to the State, the Korean Government, and Korean Buddhism for always paying attention. and support Vietnamese Buddhist activities locally.

She hopes that Vietnamese Buddhists in Korea will stand side by side in life as well as in the path of practice to go further, develop, and be more successful.

Nga voiced her hope that Vietnamese Buddhists will continue to stick together, accompany and share in the common home of the Vietnamese Buddhist Association and the Vietnamese Buddhist Culture Centre in RoK, together with Buddhist nun Thich Nu Gioi Tanh, obey the laws of the host country, has the responsibility to contribute to building the Korean nation and always looks towards the homeland.

Ly Huan, chairman of the Korean-Vietnamese Association, said that in 1226, Prince Ly Long Tuong came to Korea and he was the 32nd generation descendant of Prince Ly Long Tuong.

He said he was born and raised in Incheon. He has many memories in the city and when he often goes to temples. He's very happy that the Vu Lan Festival is held at Heungryunsa Pagoda and hopes that not only the country, people, and culture but also Vietnamese Buddhism will increasingly develop.

The ceremony ended with a Vietnam-Korea cultural exchange art program.

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Held on: 26th April – 1st May 2022

5. Tet Han Thuc

Image Source Also known as the Cold Food Festival, Tet festival, Vietnam is one of the unique Vietnam festivals 2022 celebrated in the honor of Jie Zhitui, the loyal underman of the Duke of Quin in the 7th century B.C. The Duke neglected his loyal underman who then retreated to the woods with his mother. Jie refused all the requests and appeals from the Duke to come back which made Duke light his house on fire to lure them out to the city. But he refused and instead dies in the fire. The Duke then commemorated the festival in his remembrance when any fire lighting is prohibited for the day.

Held in: 3rd April 2022

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6. Hung King Temple Festival

Held On: 10th April 2022

7. Hue Festival

This Vietnam music festival is one of the major Vietnamese festivals and celebration that takes place every two years in the UNESCO-listed Hue City. Experience and enjoy an amazing array of games, cultural events, and performances that is held for a week. In this one of the music festivals in Vietnam activities like dialogue of drums and percussions, Hue Poetry Festival, and Ao Dai Fashion Shows, human chess, boat racing, kite flying, and more, there will never be a dull moment in this festival. You can also enjoy art exhibitions, film screenings, acrobatics, puppetry, and street performances that are a part of traditional customs practiced by the Nguyen Dynasty back then.

Held On: Fri, 1 Apr, 2022 – Wed, 6 Apr, 2022

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8. Buddha’s Birthday

Buddha’s birthday is celebrated by devotees all over the country, and it is one of the most important festivals in Vietnam . Many temples throughout the country are adorned with lavish decorations and locals bring offerings of various Vietnamese dishes, flower garlands, and fruits. Thousands of visitors flock to Hoi An, considered to be the best place to celebrate this day and to partake in prayer sessions and street parades. Buddha’s Birthday is held at Phap Bao Pagoda with the day starting with a procession of monks along Hoi An Ancient Town’s streets before devotees make their way to the temple to listen to Buddhist scriptures and perform religious rites.

Held On: 8th May 2022

9. Reunification Day

Held On: 30th April – 2nd May 2022

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10. Vietnam Independence Day

Every year on 2nd September, Vietnam celebrates the euphoric day of its independence in a grand way. On this day the president of Vietnam read the declaration of Independence of Vietnam and this day is an eminent historical event for the locals. This festival is the National Day of the country and a public holiday. Parades are organized and people celebrate them with great zeal and zest.

Held On: 2nd September 2022

11. Mid Autumn Festival

Image Source

This is one of the best Vietnam festivals 2022 that is celebrated on the 14th and 15th day of the lunar month. It is a very colorful festival wherein children and adults come together to enjoy the festivities. Lanterns are lit during the night time which makes this festival more worthy of visiting. Also known as the harvest festival, special food like moon cakes, jellies, and biscuits are prepared and served. Do not miss the Lion Dance performed on this day as it is a real spectacle.

Held on: 10th September 2022

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12. Halloween

Halloween falls on the last day of October and the people of Vietnam have started celebrating this festival in recent times. Halloween is one of the festivals that are popular all around the world. Whether it’s India or Vietnam, the younger generation celebrated all kinds of festivals which sound fun and have a great concept. The most famous spot to witness the celebrations is Hang Ma Street. From Pumpkin lanterns to decorations and from masks to Witch hats, you will find everything in the markets. You can head to any bar or club and you can have a great time while you are all decked up in your Halloween costume.

Held On: 31st October 2022

13. Hoi An Lantern Festival

If you want to witness a spectacular display, you should not miss the Hoi An Lantern Festival. It is a lantern festival in Vietnam 2022 that takes place every month, transforming the quaint UNESCO World Heritage Site into an awe-inspiring display of paper lanterns of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Every restaurant, bar, shop, and business in the Ancient Town stops using electricity and lights up their venues with hundreds of lanterns as well as candles. While this festival takes place in Hoi An, the Ancient Town area is the best place to celebrate. This too is considered to be a famous festival in Vietnam and also known as the light festival in Vietnam.

Held On: 10th October 2022

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14. Wandering Souls Day

It is believed to be one of the best full moon festivals in Vietnamese culture that the ancestors are able to visit their families on the 15th day of the 7th Lunar Month. On this day families flock to Buddhist temples offering respect to their loved ones and have cakes, treats, food, etc. This is a very extraordinary tradition that is a part of Vietnam festivals and celebrations .

Held on: 25th August 2022

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These fascinating festivals in Vietnam are a fantastic way to experience the country’s culture. Plan a trip to Vietnam now and immerse yourself in the rich culture and vibrant traditions of one of the best holiday destinations in the world.

For our editorial codes of conduct and copyright disclaimer, please click here .

Frequently Asked Questions About Festivals In Vietnam

What is the Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam?

The Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a harvest festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. The celebration involves offering sacrifices to the ‘god of Earth’.

Is Tet a religious holiday?

Tet is the Vietnamese New Year and is a national holiday. ‘Tet’ is a short form for ‘Tet Nguyen Dan’ and means ‘festival’.

What religion is the most prevalent in Vietnamese?

The majority of the population follows folk religions in Vietnam but Buddhism and Catholicism are the other prevalent religions in the country.

It is a festival where parents buy their children various types of lanterns, snacks and funny masks.

What are the traditional celebrations in Vietnam?

There are two main traditional festivals celebrated in Vietnam by the locals are Tet and Mid-Autumn Festival. Tet is also known as the Vietnamese New Year and it is considered as the celebration of Thanksgiving, Christmas and one’s birthday on one day. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most eminent festivals in Vietnam and is celebrated throughout the country by all the locals to celebrate harvest time.

Do they celebrate Easter in Vietnam?

Easter is an important festival for the Christians residing in Vietnam but it is not celebrated throughout the country. The Christian population celebrates Easter in Vietnam by visiting Churches and organizing special family dinner.

How long is the Tet holiday in Vietnam?

The Tet holiday in Vietnam is celebrated for a week or two in Vietnam and it is celebrated in late January or early February.

How is Christmas celebrated in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, Christmas Eve is more important than the main day of Christmas. There is no public holiday on Christmas and the Christians residing in Vietnam celebrate it by attending the evening or morning mass held in the church.

Is there a Vietnamese New Year?

The Vietnamese New Year falls on the first day of spring and is also called Tet. The Vietnamese New Year is celebrated all over Vietnam as it is the beginning of everything new and it is also a public holiday.

Christina Patrick

An empty vessel in Christ’s hands. Rest we can talk over chai. :)

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Top 10 Traditional Festivals in Vietnam with Dates

1. tet nguyen dan (lunar new year), 2. lim festival, 3. perfume pagoda festival, 4. phu giay festival, 5. hung king temple festival.

6. Hue Festival

7. Buddha’s Birthday

8. ghost festival (wandering souls day).

9. Mid Autumn Festival

10. Hoi An Lantern Festival

2022-2024 Vietnam Festivals Calendar

Apart from breathtaking natural views, Vietnam’s rich culture is worth in-depth exploration as it has undergone thousands of years. The best way to have a glimpse of Vietnamese traditions and beliefs on a Vietnam tour is through festivals. The unique cultural characteristics are well displayed through various traditional festivals and events. Visitors can enjoy a mesmerizing and unique experience if they are lucky enough to coincide with one of those memorable festivals. Here we list the most important festivals in Vietnam which are celebrated throughout the year, and keep in mind that nearly all the festivals are calculated according to the lunar calendar. We just help to organize the dates of these important festivals in 2022 and 2023 in a chart for you to spot them accurately.

Time: 1st day of the 1st lunar month

Recommended Place to Celebrate: Hanoi

Tet Nguyen Dan is the most important festival in Vietnamese culture, also the first festival to start the Lunar New Year in the Vietnamese calendar. Vietnamese people pay high attention to this festival. Influenced by deep traditional values of family reunion, and worship of ancestors and deities, most Vietnamese people choose to return home and stay with family together. Locals will prepare for the grand festival even from the end of December. This is really a good time to experience Vietnamese culture when you can take part in rituals like temple fairs, lighting firework shows, and Buffalo dance shows. Ceremonious celebrations are held throughout the country.

However, businesses and restaurants tend to close down in small cities. Thus the capital city of Hanoi becomes the top place to celebrate the festival with the locals. Temple fairs are often held in Quan Su Pagoda or Ngoc Son Temple while busy parties and fascinating fireworks can be enjoyed at the Hanoi Opera House.

Time: 12th or 13th day of the 1st lunar month

Recommended Place to Celebrate: Lim Town, Tien Du district, Bac Ninh province

Lim Festival is surely a traditional Vietnamese festival you cannot miss and it can be dated back more than 300 years. As it is held so close to Lunar New Year, a joint celebration can be enjoyed if you visit Vietnam during this period. Only about 1 hour’s drive east from Hanoi, the festival held in Lim town features a remarkable ritual: Quan Ho singing. Men and women in the UNESCO-recognized tribe dress traditionally to perform dances and sing folk songs. Traditional costumes and dragon boats are highlights.

You can also have fun with the locals by watching and taking part in interesting games like tug-of-war, wrestling, rice cooking, cockfighting, bamboo swings, and human chess.

Time: 6th of the 1st lunar month – the 3rd lunar month

Recommended Place to Celebrate: Perfume Pagoda, My Duc district, Hanoi

Also known as Perfume Festival, this festival lasts about three months in the capital city of Hanoi and attracts people from far and wide. Most of them are pilgrims who come here offering incense and praying to Buddha. However, it is indeed worth your visit for its magnificent pagoda architecture, solemn ritual ceremonies, and beautiful mountainous landscape along the way. During the festival period, the pagoda is gorgeously decorated with beautiful garlands, candles, and gold plating.

Start the pilgrimage with a dragon dance at Den Trinh Pagoda, and then take a boat along the Yen River while listening to folk songs. Finally, climb to Huong Tich Cave to pray for health, love, wealth, or children. If you feel a little challenged to climb the 120-step stairways of Huong Tich Cave, then taking a cable car is available.

Time: 1st to the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month

Recommended Place to Celebrate: Phu Giay Temple, Nam Dinh province

As one of the largest national festivals in Vietnam, Phu Giay Festival is proposed in the honor of Goddess Lieu Hanh, aka ‘Holy Mother’. About 89 km (55 mi) from Hanoi, the Phu Giay Temple holds a grand celebration dedicated to one of the four immortal gods. The grandeur of the rituals is worth experiencing. Pilgrims wear traditional costumes and carry embellished bamboo relics. Also performances and games like folk singing, lion dancing, wrestling, and cockfighting are essential parts of the festival.

Time: 8th to 11th day of the 3rd lunar month

Recommended Place to Celebrate: Hung Temple, Phong Chau district, Phu Tho province

Hung King Temple Festival is to commemorate the first king of Vietnam. During the festival, the epic story of this state founder is celebrated every year. Generally, the festival is celebrated in all the Hung King Temples throughout the country. However, the most recommended place is Hung Temple in Phu Tho, where you can experience the most atmospheric festival. Apart from traditional performances, you can witness a large number of lanterns ascending the sky on the eve of the festival. The ceremony also includes a procession that begins at the foot of the Nghia Linh Mountain.

6. Hue Festival & Hue Craft Village Festival

Time: late April to early May, every two years

Recommended Place to Celebrate: Hue City, Central Vietnam

Hue is one of the best places to visit on your Vietnam tour, moreover, Hue Festival greatly adds highlights to the ancient city. What you can expect in the celebration of the illustrious legacy of the Nguyen Dynasty is a combination of interesting games, fun performances, and most meaningful cultural renditions. It is amazing in this traditional festival to see history come to life and the traditions and indigenous customs are well preserved. Another highlight is the Hue Craft Village Festival, which boasts artistic crafts exhibitions and some of which have been made in nearby villages for centuries.

Time: 8th day of the 4th lunar month

Recommended Place to Celebrate: Pap Bhao Pagoda in Hoi An, Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi

As Buddhism is widely practiced in Vietnam, the birthday of Buddha is celebrated by devotees from all over the country. On the day of the festival, numerous devotees and ordinary people offer traditional Vietnamese dishes, fresh flowers, and fruits to Buddha. All the Buddhist temples are decorated lavishly and the Buddha statues are surrounded by colorful lanterns. Ritual parades are displayed through the streets in big cities. You can also listen to Buddhist scriptures and watch religious rite performances.

Time: 15th day of the 7th lunar month

Recommended Place to Celebrate: Hue City

The Ghost Festival falling on the 7th lunar month is important to Vietnamese locals as they believe that on this day the ghosts of ancestors return from the nether world to visit their children and families. Generally, people will offer flowers, fruits, and prayers to the departed on the night before Wandering Souls Day. Paper clothes and paper money are also burned at the graves for spirits, which are said to can be used in the afterlife. Moreover, lots of fire will be set to burn votive paper for the lost ghosts who have no families. Temples and pagodas become busier as many people worship on the day and solemn prayer rituals will be performed to honor the dead.

9. Mid-Autumn Festival

Time: 15th day of the 8th lunar month

Recommended Place to Celebrate: Hoi An Ancient Town

The bustling atmosphere and delicious moon cakes make Mid-Autumn Festival become the day that children are longing for. In the Vietnamese language, this festival is also called Tet Trung Thu or Children’s Festival. Different from the Chinese Mid Autumn festival, the Vietnamese edition has its own features, traditions and legends. It boasts spectacular lion dances on streets and lantern processions. Hoi An Ancient Town must be the best place to celebrate the festival as the boats and colorful lanterns float down the Thu Bon River, offering the most gorgeous night views.

Time: 14th day of every lunar month

If you want to visit Hoi An, remember to choose the 14th day of every lunar month to celebrate the unmissable Vietnam festival. Combining a blend of tradition and creativity, the monthly festival endows Hoi An Ancient Town with unique charm and displays the most vibrant nightlife in Vietnam. You will be amazed at the myriad hues of light and beautiful paper lanterns of various shapes, sizes, and colors. The entire city is lightened up and even the Thu Bon River is included. The soft amber hue of lanterns turns the place into a magical world. On the day, monks in temples and local people also hold candlelit ceremonies. It is free for visitors to enter temples during the time.

Vietnam Festivals Calendar for 2022, 2023, and 2024

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Top 10 festivals & holidays in Vietnam

All photography by Christian Berg

Vietnam’s festivals and holidays are colorful experiences, often showcasing national heritage, music and dance performances, and high-energy activities such as dragon boat races and street parades. Take part in the fun and learn about the legends that have shaped Vietnam by joining one of these celebrations during your trip. Here are the top 10 festivals to add to your Vietnam itinerary.

Lunar new year.

The Lunar New Year, or Tết, is Vietnam’s largest and most important festival. Emphasis is placed on family with many returning to their home town to celebrate. Yet Tết still offers plenty for travellers to enjoy throughout the country. Usually falling in January or February, Tết Eve is the most important day in the lunar calendar and the excitement is palpable! Join the fun by enjoying the outdoor flower displays and toasting midnight fireworks with locals.

Tết is always held on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar.

Lim festival.

A jovial celebration of spring, the Lim Festival commemorates the festival founder while highlighting the unique culture of the Red River Delta. The festival has a remarkable ritual: quan họ. Quan họ folk songs are preformed by traditionally dressed men and women who serenade each other from aboard dragon boats. Sit back and listen to their haunting voices carry across the lake.

The Lim Festival is held on the 12th or 13th day of the first lunar month.

TIP: If you’re in Hanoi around February, you can find the Lim Festival an hour’s drive east in Bac Ninh Province.

Huế Festival & Huế Craft Village Festival

Huế's annual festivals are held over a week from late April to early May.

Hùng kings temple festival.

The Hùng Kings Temple Festival commemorates the first king of Vietnam. King Vương is legendary and his origin story is celebrated every year in either April or May as a testament of Vietnam’s epic history. To join the festival, travel to the Hùng Temple in Việt Trì City, where you can witness hundreds of lanterns set aloft into the sky on the eve of the festival. The day of the festival, watch as processions of pilgrims make their way up the mountain.

Hùng Kings Day is from 8th to 11th day of the third lunar month.

Xến xó phốn festival.

The beautiful valley of Mai Châu is the scene of the Xến Xó Phốn festival between April and May each year. The festival belongs to the calendars of the White Thai people, a minority group and is essentially a ritual to call for rain. This is done with a variety of songs and offerings made throughout the village. Local lore states that the bigger the festival, the heavier the rains and the more prosperous the harvest.

The Xến Xó Phốn Festival takes plan in the 4th lunar month.

Ghost festival or wandering souls day.

The Vietnamese believe that on one day in late August or early September, the spirits of ancestors return to visit their earthly homes. This moment where the spirit realm opens is at time to pay respects to the dead. The night before Wandering Souls Day families will offer prayers, flowers and fruits at the graves of their ancestors. Paper money and clothes are burned for spirits to use in the afterlife.

The Ghost Festival is on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.

TIP: While practiced throughout the country, Hue’s pagodas are an atmospheric place to witness the ritual of Wandering Souls Day.

Independence Day

Sept. 2, 1945 was the day Ho Chi Minh declared the Independence of the Nation of Vietnam from France in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Square. This annual celebration commemorates that historic moment with patriotic displays and flags adorning alleyways throughout Vietnam. Major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City hold parades during the day and light fireworks at night. Everyone is out in the streets celebrating, and travellers are welcome to enjoy the festivities too.

Vietnamese Independence Day is on September 2.

Mid-autumn festival.

Children are the stars of the Mid-autumn Festival as an abundance of toys, paper lanterns and masks are given out as playthings. Celebrated between September and October, this joyful day is known for its lion dances and lantern processions. Many families gather in their gardens with tea and sweets to watch the harvest moon and enjoy performances from passing dance troupes.

The Mid-autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.

TIP: Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed Ancient Town is a magical place in Vietnam to mark the Mid-autumn Festival, as boats and lanterns float down the Thu Bon River.

In early December, the Khmer living in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam stage a lively festival known as Oóc Om Bóc. Celebrated in Sóc Trăng province, where Khmer culture is everywhere, this festival offers an incredible glimpse into Vietnam’s diversity. Look out for activities thanking the moon god for the year’s harvest, as well as feasting, singing and dancing. Crowds of thousands gather for the festival’s highlight: A thrilling ‘Ngo’ boat race.

Oóc Om Bóc is marked on the night of the 14th day of the 10th lunar month.

New year’s eve.

Fortunately, Vietnam celebrates both the Lunar New Year and the Gregorian New Year, raising the chances for double the fun throughout the country. Despite the cultural importance of Tết, everyone is always thrilled to ring in the first day of a new calendar. For a memorable New Year’s Eve in Vietnam, head to a major city for fireworks, live concerts and streets teeming with locals in a party mood.

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Top 10 Traditional Festivals in Vietnam That Travelers Should Not Miss

Vietnamese Festivals, Celebrations, Events & Holidays

Vietnam has an unique culture that has undergone over the millennia. This leads to numerous special festivals where it shows belief and tradition of Vietnamese people clearly. Apart from admiring breathtaking natural landscapes, it is also worth enjoying some of the festivals in Vietnam to get a better understanding of this peaceful country.

Vietnam is divided into 3 regions: the North, Central, and the South. The unique characteristics of each region is clearly shown in their festivals.

Below are the 10 biggest and most popular festivals in Vietnam , celebrated all year round, that you should not miss.

1. Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan)

When it is held : Beginning of Lunar New Year

Recommended place : Hanoi, Vietnam

Lunar New Year , or Tet, is considered the most important festival and holiday in Vietnam. All schools, companies, factories are temporarily closed. It is the occasion for family unions and gatherings when people return to their families. To prepare for this special day, most Vietnamese people prepare by cleaning and decorating their houses as well as cooking delicious foods. There are a lot of special Vietnamese customs during this time that you could learn. For example, the importance of the first person visiting the house on the new year, wishing greetings of New Year, ancestral worship, and giving lucky money to elderly people and children (aka “Li Xi” in Vietnamese language). During Tet, Vietnamese people will visit their relatives, go to pagodas and temples to pray for a better upcoming year.

2. Hung King Temple Festival

When it is held : 8th to 11th day of the 3rd lunar month

Recommended place : Hung Temple, Co Tich village, Hy Cuong commune, Phong Chau district, Phu Tho province.

Hung King Temple festival is a national event that is held in Phu Tho. As its name suggests, it takes place annually to commemorate Hung Kings – the founder of the nation . During the festival, people from all over the country and those living abroad head for the main temple on Nghia Linh, Phu Tho to take part in this meaningful festival. The atmosphere of the festival is always bustling with many different folk games including human chess, bamboo swings, rice cooking competitions, “nem con”, wrestling, lion dance, etc. The highlight of the festival is the procession up to Den Thuong (Upper Temple) with participation of governmental leaders, villagers, and many visitors.

3. Giong Festival

When it is held : 6th to 8th day of 1st lunar month

Place : Soc Temple, Ve Linh mountain, Phu Linh commune, Soc Son district, Hanoi

In spring time annually, local people are excited to attend the Giong Festival . The festival is mainly held in Phu Dong Temple, Soc Son, to commemorate Saint Giong, one of the 4 Vietnamese immortals. It is so meaningful and notable that it was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of mankind by UNESCO. During the festival, visitors can witness ceremonies including processions, cleaning the statue of Saint Giong, and incense offerings. The stories will let you know information about Saint Giong and the reason why he became one of the 4 immortals in Vietnam.

Besides, you also have a chance to immerse yourself in interesting folk games and enjoy traditional singing. For local people, it is an occasion not only to commemorate the Saint but also to pray for abundant harvest and happy lives. Giong Festival could be held in different places but Soc Temple and Phu Dong Temple are the 2 most well known ones. Don’t forget to attend this interesting festivals in Vietnam.

4. Lim Festival

When it is held : 12th to 13th day of the 1st lunar month

Place : Lim Town, Tien Du district, Bac Ninh province

The list of traditional festivals in Vietnam would not be complete without Lim Festival . Held around the 12th and 13th day of the first lunar month, this festival dates back more than 300 years. It takes place in Bac Ninh where “Quan Ho” singing features. To start the festival, the representatives of the villagers will offer incense and flowers at the pagoda to worship Nguyen Dinh Dien – the man who brought great honour to Lim town and also founded the festival. Undoubtedly, “Quan Ho” singing is one of the main highlights that many tourists have on the list of must-dos when travelling to Vietnam.

It is easy to realize local female singers by looking at their clothes. They wear their own traditional costumes including “ao tu than” – the local traditional dresses with 4 panels, and “non quai thao” – a big round hat. The males’ costumes are no less elegant. In some performances, you can listen to sweet love duets involving some couple singers. Apart from Quan Ho singing, there are also many Vietnamese traditional games to join including rice cooking , human chess , wrestling and bamboo swings.

5. Perfume Pagoda Festival

When it is held : 6th of lunar January until March

Place : Perfume Pagoda, Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi

Perfume Pagoda festival draws visitors all over Vietnam to the iconic Perfume Pagoda. As one of the most popular festivals in Hanoi, there are plenty of tour companies that operate day trips to the pagoda during this festival. On the way to Perfume Pagoda , you will pass by many beautiful mountainous landscapes, rice fields, and limestone caves. After that, you can choose to climb 120-step stone stairways or take a cable car to the pagoda. During the 3 months, the temple is always decorated with beautiful garlands, candles, and gold. One of the most important activities in the festival is praying in the Huong Tich Cave. It is believed that if you pray here to get a son or daughter by touching the mountain, your wish will come true. And, if you touch the silver or gold trees in the cave, you can pray for wealth and prosperity.

6. Budda’s Birthday

When it is held : 9th day of lunar April

Recommended places : Quan Su Pagoda, 73 Quan Su street, Tran Hung Dao ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

With more than 50% of the population following Buddhist practices, Buddha’s Birthday becomes a really important event to Vietnamese people. It is their chance to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and the death of Buddha. In Vietnam, it is not just a religious festival but also a national festival . Before the festival, hundreds of monks and thousands of people will gather in big pagodas chosen to be the holding place. These pagodas will be cleaned and decorated with Buddha’s statue in the middle of a pink lotus. Around them, there are also many colorful lanterns, different kinds of flowers, and small lotus flowers.

Buddhist followers will gather in the early morning of the 15th day to prepare for the festival. Buddha’s Birthday has 2 main parts including the ceremony and entertaining activities. For thousands of years, sacred rituals like offering incense and flowers to celebrate the birthday of Buddha and pray for peace still remain. Also on this day, people will actively participate in charity activities like helping the unlucky, mental retarded and the elderly. Visiting the pagodas during the festival, you will have a chance to enjoy delicious Vietnamese vegetarian dishes.

7. Mid-Autumn Festival

When it is held : 14th to 15th day of the 8th lunar month

Recommended place : Hang Ma street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Every Vietnamese child dreams of an amazing Mid Autumn Festival with a belly full of mooncakes and their own bright lantern. Mid Autumn is also called “ Children’s Festival ” or “Tet Trung Thu” in Vietnamese. Though this festival is also held in China and many Asian countries, Vietnam version is different with their own traditions and legends. It takes quite a long time to prepare for this special event. In the weeks before it, you can see groups of lion dancers practicing on the streets, mooncakes, lanterns, and colorful masks sold in every corner.

During the festival, the atmosphere becomes more bustling. The streets are packed with so many people and their children. In certain places like Hang Ma street in Hanoi or riverside of Hoi An ancient town , music is louder and performances make the atmosphere hotter than ever. But, the most satisfying thing when joining in the Mid Autumn Festival might be seeing the happy faces of every child.

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8. Kate Festival

When it is held : 1st day to 3rd day of the 7th month in the Cham calendar.

Recommended place : Champa Towers, Binh Thuan province

Vietnam has a considerable population of Cham people living in Southern Central Vietnam. To this community, Kate Festival is the most important festival. Several places hold this festival but the main one takes place at the 3 temple towers of Po Rome, Po Nagar, Po Klong Garai in Ninh Thuan Province. It aims at commemorating the Cham people’s heroes, their kings and ancestors. Besides, it is also a chance for this community to socialize, wish for good luck, visit family members and friends, and enjoy various cultural activities. If you are a culture lover, it would be a miss not to join this festival in Vietnam. It is truly a great opportunity to explore the beauty of Cham culture, admire unique architecture, get to know their customs and traditional songs.

9. Ghost Festival/ Wandering Souls Day

When it is held : 15th night of the 7th lunar month

Recommended place : Hue city, Vietnam

Many festivals in Vietnam take place on the occasions of the moon, so does the Wandering Souls Day. It is believed that lunar July will bring bad luck and also curses of the wandering souls. It is the time when ghosts roam around and make trouble for everyone. For the lost ghosts who had no families or died of hunger, 15th July annually is the only day they can be fed. If they are hungry, they will be angry and create trouble. Therefore, all of Vietnamese people will do offerings and support homeless souls this month. Lots of fire will be set to burn votive paper for them. Pagodas and temples will become busier with people coming to send their offerings of clothes, food, and other items to worship ghosts and hungry spirits.

10. Khau Vai Love Market Festival

When it is held : lunar March 26th

Place : Khau Vai Love Market, Meo Vac district, Ha Giang

If lush rice terraces in Northern Vietnam attracts you to Vietnam, don’t miss out on Khau Vai Love Market Festival . Held in Ha Giang province – the land of spectacular mountains, it is the natural beauty of ethnic minorities groups. On the 26th and 27th of the 3rd lunar month annually, you will see a huge number of ethnic locals gathering in one of the most famous love markets called Khau Vai.

Existing for more than 100 years, the festival is an occasion for couples who used to love but cannot get married to come and meet each other again. Their partners will not be angry or jealous because they understand it is a temporary feeling and will not influence the normal life. For those who have not married yet, the festival gives them a chance to find their partner. Coming here, you will not only get a deeper understanding of Vietnamese ethnic minorities’s culture but also immerse yourself in the lovely melody from local youngsters and take part in many fun and exciting games that you have never seen before.

There are plenty of interesting festivals in Vietnam all year round. Above are just some of them. If your visiting time coincides with any Vietnam festivals, we highly recommend joining them to get closer with local customs and conditions.

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5 of the best festivals in vietnam.

Imbued with tradition and rituals, festivals provide an authentic way to see the “real” Vietnam. The calendar is peppered with events, but here are five of our favourites.

Dates for each can vary year on year (in accordance with the lunar calendar), so it’s worth checking in advance to avoid disappointment. If you want to make sure you're going at the right time - either to avoid the busy periods or get to experience these amazing festivities - get in touch with us!

1. Hue Arts Festival

If you consider yourself somewhat of a culture vulture, Hue Arts Festival is a must. As a celebration of customs practised during the Nguyen dynasty, it's a great insight into the vibrant art scene and fascinating heritage of this historical town.

There are impressive showcases - from theatre and live music to film screenings and street performances - as well as activities including boat races, kite flying and human chess games. Note: The festival takes place every two years.

2. Hoi An Lantern Festival

As perhaps Vietnam’s most famous festival, the Hoi An Lantern Festival draws huge numbers of visitors. This charming town is a firm favourite amongst visitors anyway, but when the lights go out, and those twinkly lanterns are sent down the river it’s particularly special.

Join the crowds on the banks, or find your way to a sampan boat to see the best of it. For more information about the festival, including top tips and 2023 dates visit here .

3. Wandering Souls Day/Ghost Festival (Trung Nguyen)

Gateway to Imperial Citadel in Hue, Vietnam

The story behind Wandering Souls Day, the second largest festival after Vietnamese New Year (Tet), is one of the most interesting of Vietnam’s festivals. This Buddhist celebration is built on the belief that a person’s soul is sent to heaven or hell when they die.

On Wandering Souls Day (or Trung Nguyen), those sinful souls who find themselves in the latter may return to their mortal homes for absolution. The day before the celebration, families travel to the temples to make offerings of flowers and food for those souls without relatives, and altars are set up in each home with food offerings to guide ancestral spirits home.

4. Perfume Pagoda Festival

Every year, thousands of Buddhist pilgrims travel by boat across the Yen Vi River to the caves of the Huong Tich Mountain. Take on the hundreds of stone steps to the top to see colourful parades, traditional performances, long-practiced rituals and to try local food - fortunately there are plenty of shrines to rest your feet at on the way up.

5. Mid-Autumn Festival

The mid-autumn festival was originally conceived as an opportunity for parents to spend time with their children following the harvest season. As a celebration of children, the streets are normally filled with kids singing and taking part in lantern parades.

Don’t miss the chance to try a mooncake during the festival (an ode to the full moon); this sweet dessert (normally containing red bean paste and salted egg yolk) is a treat.

For dates and more information about festivals and events in Vietnam, get in touch with us - or, to find out more about the kinds of trips we do, take a look at the Vietnam section of our website . With a wealth of experience in the country, we'll be happy to help you plan your holiday.

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Holidays & Events in Vietnam

Dalat flower festival.

It is held early in the month and this is always a great holiday, with huge extensive flower displays. It has become an international event with music and fashion shows and a wine festival.

North of Danang there are cold winds with mostly gray, cloudy conditions. Conversely, sunny warm days are the norm in the southern provinces.

Tet (Tet Nguyen Dan)

The biggest holiday of the year! Vietnamese New Year falls in January or early February. Traveling is difficult at the moment, because buses and planes are all fully booked and many companies are closing.

Quang Trung

Wrestling competitions, lion dancing and human chess take place in Hanoi on the fifth day of the first lunar month in Dong Da Mound, location of the uprising against the Chinese led by Emperor Quang Trung (Nguyen Hué) in 1788.

Gray skies and cool temperatures have an effect everywhere north of Hoi An, but the thermometer starts to rise towards the end of the month. The dry season ends in the south.

Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival

Caffeine addicts should go to the highlands in March, because Buon Ma Thuot is the holiday of an annual coffee festival. Growers, grinders, blenders and addicts root in the main park of the city and local entertainment is offered.

Overall an excellent time to discover Vietnam and there are some excellent festivals and holidays. Flights are usually reasonably priced.

Holiday of the Dead (Thanh Minh)

It is time to honor the ancestors with a visit to the graves of deceased relatives to clean up and sweep tombstones. Flowers, food and paper are sacrificed. It is held on the first three days of the third moon.

Hue Festival (Biennial)

Vietnam’s largest cultural event ( www.huefestival.com ) is held every two years, with events in 2016 and 2018. Most of the art, theater, music, circus and dance performances are held at Hue’s Citadel.

Danang Fireworks Festival

The riverbank of Danang explodes with sound, light and color during this spectacular event with competing pyrotechnic teams from the US, China, Europe and Vietnam. Is held in the last week of the month.

A good time to explore the center and north, with a good chance of clear skies and warm days. The sea temperature warms up nicely and it is a fairly quiet month for tourism.

Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death (Phong Sinh)

A big celebration in Buddhist temples with lively street parades and lanterns used to decorate pagodas. Complexes such as Chua Bai Dinh near Ninh Binh and the Jade Emperor Pagoda from HCMC organize exuberant parties. Fifteenth day of the fourth lunar month.

Nha Trang Sea Festival

Falls at the end of May (and early June) and includes a street festival, photo exhibitions, embroidery shows and kite competitions.

A good time to visit Vietnam as it is just before the peak season. The humidity can be very high at this time of the year, so plan to spend some time on the coast.

Summer Solstice Day (Tet Doan Ngo)

Keep epidemics at bay with sacrifices to the spirits and the God of Death on the fifth day of the fifth moon. Sticky rice wine (ruou fake) is drunk in industrial quantities.

The peak month for tourism with domestic and international tourists. Book flights and accommodation well in advance. The weather is warm and hot.

Children’s (or Mid-Autumn) Festival, Hoi An

Dit is een groot evenement in Hoi An en Hanoi, wanneer de lokake mensen de volle maan vieren, maancakes eten en op de drums slaan. De processies van leeuw, eenhoorn en drakendans worden uitgevoerd en kinderen zijn volledig betrokken bij de vieringen.

Wandering Souls Day (Trung Nguyen)

De tweede in de pikorde van Tet is deze oude Vietnamese traditie. Enorm veel eten wordt achtergelaten voor verloren geesten die, naar men gelooft, op deze dag over de aarde zwerven. Gehouden op de 15e dag van de zevende maan.

Excellent time to explore the entire country. The coastal towns are less crowded and fewer people are traveling. Temperatures and humidity are decreasing.

Independence Day / National holiday Vietnam (2 Sep)

Large parades and events are being held on September 2 in Vietnam. Celebrated with a rally and fireworks on Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi (in front of the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum) and there are also boat races on Hoan Kiem Lake.

A good time to visit the north, with a good chance of clear skies and mild temperatures. Winter winds and rain begin to affect the center, but in the south it is often dry.

Mid-Autumn Festival (Trung Thu)

A good time for gourmets, with moon cakes of sticky rice filled with lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, peanuts, yolk of duck eggs, raisins and other delicacies. It is celebrated across the country on the 15th day of the eighth moon and can fall in September or October

Cham new year (Kate)

This is celebrated at Po Klong Garai Cham Towers in Thap Cham on the seventh month of the Cham calendar. The festival commemorates the ancestors, Cham national heroes and gods, such as the peasant goddess Po Ino Nagar.

Khmer Oc Bom Boc Festival

The Khmer community of the Mekong Delta celebrates on the 15th day of the 10th moon of the lunar calendar (late October or November) with colorful boat races on Ba Dong Beach in the Tra Vinh province and on the Soc Trang river.

The month starts quietly, but from mid-December the popular tourist places become more crowded. Book well in advance to have a room during the Christmas holidays. Humid in the south, but can get chilly in the north.

Christmas Day (Giang Sinh)

Not a national holiday, but is celebrated throughout Vietnam, especially by the significant Catholic population. It is a special time to be in places such as Phat Diem and HCMC, where thousands attend the midnight mass.

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Vu Lan Festival
22 Aug 2021 - 22 Aug 2021. Vu Lan Festival, or Wandering Souls Day, is an important spiritual holiday in Vietnam. Held in the middle of Ghost Month, it's said that the world of the spirits is open to that of humans during this magical time. Many Vietnamese will pay a visit to their local temple to honour their family and ancestors with votive ...
Top 15 Vietnam festivals with calendar 2021
Buddha Birthday (Vesak) Wandering Souls Day (Lễ Vu Lan) Vietnam Independence Day. Mid-Autumn Festival / Full Moon Festival. Hoi An Lantern Festival. Halloween. Christmas. 2021-2022-2023 Vietnam Festivals Calendar. EXTRA: Popular public holidays in Vietnam.
What is Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam?
Vu Lan festival coincides with the full moon day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. This is also an important day for the month of wandering souls (tháng cô hồn) so a ceremony to worship the souls with no home nor family occurs during Vu Lan. This date is also the day every soul in Hell has the opportunity to achieve amnesty and be ...
TRUNG NGUYEN, WANDERING SOULS' DAY
Trung Nguyen or Vu Lan or Wandering Souls' Day is the second largest festival of the year (Tet is first). Though it falls on the 15th day of the seventh month, its celebration may be held at any convenient time during the latter half of the month. The festival is celebrated throughout the country, in Buddhist Pagodas, homes, businesses ...
Vu Lan Festival of Vietnamese people
In Vietnam, the 7th full moon festival is called "Vu Lan bao hieu" (Parents' Day) or "Xa toi vong nhan" (Wandering Soul's Day). This is the second largest annual traditional festival in Vietnam after the lunar New Year (Tet) festival, and is celebrated by Vietnamese people through various religious rituals.
Vu Lan Festival: How to Celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival in Vietnam
It is a Taoist and Buddhist festival observed by many across East and Southeast Asia, including in China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and of course in Vietnam. Legend has it that on Vu Lan Day, the gates of hell open for a lunar month (or 24 hours depending on the variation of the tale), and the tormented souls roam the mortal ...
The Ultimate Guide to Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam
Since then, the Vu Lan festival has been held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month in honor of mothers and the gates of hell are believed to be opened to give the tormented souls 24 hour holiday (Wandering Soul's Day) at the same time. The diversity of the Vu Lan festival can be seen throughout the country with many different activities. On ...
About Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam
Vu Lan Festival is an ideal and special event for foreign visitors when travelling to Vietnam to discover Vietnam's culture, experience and understand more about Vietnamese values. Vu Lan, known as Ghost Festival or Wandering Souls Day, is an important day in spiritual life of Vietnamese people. So it is annually held on 15th July of the ...
Wandering Souls Day (Vu Lan)
Hon and Via Festival Traditions Where to Celebrate Wandering Souls Day is celebrated during the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar. Equivalent to the All Souls' Day celebrated in Christian cultures, this festival, however, is observed by both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Hon and Via According to the country's traditionally held belief, a human being possesses two ...
Wandering Souls Day (Vu Lan)
According to locals, the best place to celebrate Wandering Souls Day is in Hue due to the many Buddhist shrines and pagodas in the area. Monks, who are more than ready to perform ceremonies and offer prayers, are also present in Hue. Hue Festival - Vietnam. Buon Don Elephant Races. Wandering Souls Day is celebrated during the 15th day of the ...
Vu Lan Festival 2024: Honoring Ancestors with Filial Piety
Vietnam travel with the Vu Lan Festival, also known as the Day of Filial Piety, takes place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, coinciding with the "Forgiveness for Wandering Souls" festival. This is an important occasion for descendants to express gratitude and pay tribute to their parents and ancestors. This is a deeply meaningful ...
Vietnam's Wandering Souls Day
June 8, 2019. evisa.vn. The Wandering Souls Day is one of the largest festivals in Vietnam, next to the Tet holiday. Also known as the Trung Nguyen, the holiday takes plays every 15th day of the 7th lunar month in the Buddhist calendar. The Wandering Soul's Day is basically the Buddhist version of the All Soul's Day of the Christian religion.
Wandering Souls' Day in Hoi An, Vietnam
Wandering Souls' Day in Hoi An, Vietnam. Known by many names, including Vu Lan Day, Ghost Festival and Wandering Souls' Day, this is a spiritual celebration in Hoi An, Vietnam. Travel to the ancient city Aug. 25 and observe as locals offer flowers, fresh fruit, sweet potatoes, rice cakes and sugarcane for the wandering souls of their ancestors.
Vietnamese Community in The RoK Celebrates Vu Lan Festival
In Vietnam, the "Vu Lan bao hieu" (Parents' Day) or "Xa toi vong nhan" (Wandering Soul's Day) is considered the second most significant event of the year, after Tet holiday, and is an occasion to give thanks and praise to parents and ancestors as well as to embrace the "wandering souls".
Festivals in Vietnam
The Hungry Ghosts Festival is observed throughout the full seventh Lunar month (in 2022 from 29 July to 26 August). Generally, two feasts will be prepared during on the 15th day of the Lunar month, one for your own ancestors early in the day and another one for the lost souls after sunset. Offerings are made in the pagodas and food offered to ...
14 Festivals in Vietnam (Updated 2022 List With Dates) To Enjoy On Your
While this festival takes place in Hoi An, the Ancient Town area is the best place to celebrate. This too is considered to be a famous festival in Vietnam and also known as the light festival in Vietnam. Held On: 10th October 2022. 10 Best Honeymoon Destinations In Vietnam. 14. Wandering Souls Day
Top 10 Traditional Festivals in Vietnam with Dates
8. Ghost Festival (Wandering Souls Day) 9. Mid Autumn Festival. 10. Hoi An Lantern Festival. 2022-2024 Vietnam Festivals Calendar. Apart from breathtaking natural views, Vietnam's rich culture is worth in-depth exploration as it has undergone thousands of years. The best way to have a glimpse of Vietnamese traditions and beliefs on a Vietnam ...
Top 10 festivals & holidays in Vietnam
This moment where the spirit realm opens is at time to pay respects to the dead. The night before Wandering Souls Day families will offer prayers, flowers and fruits at the graves of their ancestors. Paper money and clothes are burned for spirits to use in the afterlife. The Ghost Festival is on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.
Ghost Festival
Various food items being sacrificed for the wandering souls in Tháng Cô Hồn Buddhists and monks prepare to water lanterns on the occasion of Vu Lan festival. This festival is known as Tết Trung Nguyên [36] and is viewed as a time for the pardoning of condemned souls who are released from hell. The "homeless" should be "fed" and appeased ...
Top 10 Traditional Festivals in Vietnam with Dates & Place (List Updated)
Below are the 10 biggest and most popular festivals in Vietnam, celebrated all year round, that you should not miss. 1. Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan) When it is held: Beginning of Lunar New Year. Recommended place: Hanoi, Vietnam. Lunar New Year, or Tet, is considered the most important festival and holiday in Vietnam.
5 of the best festivals in Vietnam
3. Wandering Souls Day/Ghost Festival (Trung Nguyen) The story behind Wandering Souls Day, the second largest festival after Vietnamese New Year (Tet), is one of the most interesting of Vietnam's festivals. This Buddhist celebration is built on the belief that a person's soul is sent to heaven or hell when they die.
Vietnam calendar 2024: Local & National holidays & events
Wandering Souls Day (Trung Nguyen) De tweede in de pikorde van Tet is deze oude Vietnamese traditie. Enorm veel eten wordt achtergelaten voor verloren geesten die, naar men gelooft, op deze dag over de aarde zwerven. Gehouden op de 15e dag van de zevende maan. September. Excellent time to explore the entire country.
Operation Wandering Soul
Like most cultures, Vietnamese culture includes beliefs and rituals that show respect for the dead. Vietnamese culture calls for a proper burial and it is believed that if this does not occur, the soul of the deceased continues to wander the earth thus becoming a "Wandering Soul," a ghost or spirit. [1]It is the Vietnamese belief that the dead must be buried in their homeland, or their soul ...

Top 15 Vietnam Festivals & Events

Festivals of Vietnam

What is Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam?

The Etymology of the word Vu Lan

Origins Behind the Vu Lan Festival

Dates of Vu Lan Festival

Activities of Buddhists During Vu Lan Festival

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