Festivities and holidays observed in Vietnam are colorful gatherings that accentuate the nation's rich history. They include colourful events like dragon boat races and street parades as well as traditional music and dance presentations.
Engaging in these celebrations will help you to study and explore the legends influencing Vietnam's culture. Here are the top 10 traditional celebrations in Vietnam you should include on your travel schedule.
1. Lunar New Year (Tet Festival)
Date: 1st day of the 1st lunar month (late January or early February)
Location: Nationwide
The biggest and most important festival in Vietnam is Tet, sometimes called the Lunar New Year. It usually lies between late January and early February, it occurs on the first day of the first lunar month.
Family get-togethers, house cleaning, ancestor worship, and New Year celebrations abound here. People wish each other luck, present red envelopes to elderly people and children, and savor traditional dishes such as candied fruits, banh chung, and banh tet.
Read more: Travel To Vietnam During Tet Holiday
2. Lim Festival
Date: 12th or 13th day of the 1st lunar month
Location: Tien Du, Bac Ninh Province
In Bac Ninh Province, the native territory of Quan Ho, Lim Festival falls on the 12th or 13th day of the first lunar month. With Quan Ho singing as the major attraction, this celebration highlights the Kinh Bac area's folk culture.
You can participate in folk games including swinging, wrestling, and human chess and listen to classic Quan Ho tunes on boats.
Lim Festival
3. Hung King Temple Festival
Date: 8th to 11th day of the 3rd lunar month
Location: Hung Temple, Phu Tho Province
Among the biggest and most revered Vietnam celebrations is the Hung King Temple Festival. It last from the eighth to the eleventh day of the third lunar month in Phú Thọ Province. The celebration celebrates the founders of Vietnam, the Hung King.
Travellers from all throughout the nation visit Hung Temple to offer incense, deliver offerings, and pray for a year marked in peace and prosperity. Key among the customary celebrations in Vietnam, the festival offers cultural events, sports contests, and traditional games.
Hung King Temple Festival
4. Xen Xo Phon Festival
Date: 4th lunar month
Location: Son La Province
Celebrated in the 4th lunar month, the Xến Xó Phốn Festival is a customary celebration of White Thai ethnic group in Son La Province. It's meant for prayer for a decent crop and a nice temperature.
People engage in traditional Xoe dance, play folk games, and savor large dinners including Thai cuisine during the celebration. Among the most distinctive ancient celebrations in Vietnam is this one.
Read more: Perfume Pagoda Festival
5. Ghost Festival (Wandering Souls Day)
Date: 15th day of the 7th lunar month
Location: Nationwide, with emphasis on pagodas and temples
The Ghost Festival also known as Vu Lan or Hungry Ghost Festival occurs on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.
This is the moment to pray for lost souls and ancestors. To show respect for the spirits, people visit pagodas, make offerings at home, and feed the underprivileged food. In Vietnam, it is among the serious customary celebrations.
Ghost Festival
6. Mid-Autumn Festival (Tet Trung Thu)
Date: 15th day of the 8th lunar month
Location: Nationwide
Celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, the Mid Autumn Festival also known as the Moon Festival or Children's Festival is among the well-known events in Vietnam. Children participate in this celebration, they get lanterns, see lion dances, and walk beneath the full moon.
The presents consist of mooncakes, fruit platters, and several sweets. In addition, families gather to appreciate the brilliant full moon and share folk stories.
Mid-Autumn Festival
7. Hue Festival & Hue Craft Village Festival
Date: Late April to early May
Location: Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province
Usually occurring in the old city of Hue, Hue Festival is a well-known cultural event ranging from late April to early May. Through parades, fairs, and shows, it highlights Hue's rich arts and culture.
You can participate in the celebration, artists from traditional craft communities exhibit conical hats, ceramics, and embroidery.
Hue Festival
8. Independence Day of Vietnam
Date: September 2
Location: Major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and nationwide
Every year on September 2, Vietnam's Independence Day marks the occasion President Ho Chi Minh announced Vietnam's independence in 1945.
Big cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi celebrate this day with parades, pyrotechnics, and cultural events. The most famous festival in Vietnam is a day of thankfulness and pride for people who gave their lives to secure the independence of their nation.
Vietnam’s Independence Day
9. Oóc Om Bóc Festival
Date: Night of the 14th day of the 10th lunar month
Location: Soc Trang Province and other Khmer communities in the Mekong Delta
Celebrated on the evening of the 14th day of the 10th lunar month, Oóc Om Bóc is a customary celebration of the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta. The celebration symbolises thanks to the Moon God for abundant crops and prosperity.
It is one of the vibrant popular celebrations in Vietnam, activities include lantern floating on the waterways, Ghe Ngo boat racing, and several entertainment events.
Read more: Ox Racing - A Must-see Festival For You in An Giang
Oóc Om Bóc
10. New Year's Eve
Date: The night before Lunar New Year
Location: Nationwide, especially in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
New Year's Eve, or Giao Thua, is the most important night of the year, marking the end of the old year and the start of the Lunar New Year. People pray for peace at this time, carry out ancestral rites, and rejoice with pyrotechnics. Families get together to express hopes for a lucky and contented new year.
New Year's Eve
Vietnam holds a great variety of interesting celebrations all year long, the ones listed here are only a handful of them. We strongly advise participating in the local customs and traditions should your trip coincide with any of these celebrations.
Renting a car in Vietnam at Vietnam Budget Car Rental can help you to guarantee a quick and fun travel if you like to visit these celebrations. Choosing a private car will enable you to visit many sites, explore at your speed, and maximize your festival experience free from transportation concerns.
You’re traveling solo, with family, or in a group, Vietnam Budget Car Rental also offers a range of vehicle options to suit your needs, ensuring comfort and safety throughout your journey.
