There are many different and wonderful festivals in Vietnam that show the traditional culture and unique lifestyle of the Vietnamese. If you want to learn more about them, read the Seni World travel guide now.
Tet Holiday
- Place: Celebrated all over Vietnam.
- Time: From the 1st to the 3rd day of the 1st lunar month, which is commonly from late January or early February.
Tet Holiday, or Tet Nguyen Dan, or Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is one of the most important and biggest festivals in Vietnam. Tet Holiday is an extremely widespread cultural occasion in Vietnam, a period marked by family gatherings. This is a custom and tradition that has lasted for thousands of years in this country’s history.
During the Tet festival in Vietnam, many different conventional activities take place, including cleaning and redecorating homes with peach or apricot blossoms, making sticky rice cakes and other delicious, traditional Vietnamese foods, and arranging colorful five-fruit trays.
Especially, on this occasion, Vietnamese people will go to their family and relatives, enjoy a happy atmosphere, exchange best wishes, and give Li Xi (Lucky Money) to both kids and the elderly.
Mid-Autumn Festival In Vietnam
- Place: Celebrated all over Vietnam.
- Time: On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, which is commonly from late August or early September.
The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a fascinating event packed with cultural activities. This event is an opportunity for all family members to come back together, showing the warmth of a heartfelt reunion. Family members will prepare a tray of offerings, which includes Banh Trung Thu (Mooncakes), food, tea, fruits, and sometimes joss paper.
During the Mid-Autumn festival in Vietnam, as the moon shines brightly, the streets will become more energetic, happy, and noisy with the luminosity of colorful paper lanterns of children. Followed by the aid of the dynamic lion dances and the rhythmic beats of drums, creating a warm and pleasant night for everyone in the family.
Hue Festival
- Place: Hue Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam.
- Time: 7 days in one of these months, April, May, or June (once every 2 years).
The biennial Hue Festival is a way for everyone to remember the cultural legacies of the Nguyen dynasty, Vietnam’s final feudal dynasty. During the occasion, travelers can participate in many fascinating showcases, artwork, and calligraphy exhibitions.
Especially, in this festival, you can see boat racing performances, kite flying, and enjoy the human chess competition. This also has dance performances and fireworks, one of the attractive points of this festival.
Hoi An Lantern Festival
- Place: Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam Province.
- Time: On the 14th day of each lunar month.
Hoi An Lantern is one of the extraordinary festivals in Vietnam that attracts both Vietnamese travelers and travelers from all over the world. At this event, participants can see the enchanting life of Hoi An, as the city is decorated with vibrant lanterns.
All through this Vietnam festival, all vehicular traffic will be prohibited inside Hoi An, so travelers can freely walk around and enjoy the fresh atmosphere here. This is a perfect opportunity for you to enjoy traditional performances, join folk games, and try world-famous Hoi An foods.
Perfume Pagoda Festival
- Place: Huong Pagoda (also called Perfume Pagoda), Huong Son Commune, My Duc District, Hanoi.
- Time: From the 6th day of the 1st lunar month to the end of the 3rd lunar month, which is commonly from late January or early February to middle or late April.
If you want to learn more about Vietnam’s culture, faith, and traditions, fear not, plan the Perfume Pagoda festival in Hanoi. The Perfume Pagoda journey, one of the highest-quality fairs and festivals in Vietnam, is a pilgrimage to the sacred Buddhist realm in this country.
Based on the legend, this pagoda is where one of the Buddhas attained enlightenment, making this draws pilgrims from all corners of the country as well as travelers from all over the world.
Hung King Festival
- Place: Hung King Temple, Phong Chau District, Phu Tho Province.
- Time: On the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, which is commonly from late March or early April.
The yearly Hung King Temple festival in Vietnam is celebrated in Phu Tho province, about 90 kilometers from Hanoi. That is one of the most crucial festivals in Vietnam, which is a commemorative holiday of the 18 Hung Kings of Vietnam – the founders and primary emperors of this country.
This occasion has the 2 important elements: the rite and the festival. The Hung King Temple festival’s symbol is the impressive palanquin procession and the solemn imparting of incense on Den Thuong (Upper Temple) on the 10th day of the third lunar month. Here, you may see and take part in Vietnamese folk games, which include bamboo swings, human chess, and local rice cooking competitions.
Lim Festival
- Place: Lim village, Tien Du District, Bac Ninh Province.
- Time: On the 12th and 13th day of the 1st lunar month, which is commonly from late January or early February.
The Lim Vietnam festival pays tribute to Hat Quan Ho (Quan Ho Singing), a wonderful traditional art performance of Vietnam. Beyond classical games like bamboo fight, tug-of-war, or wrestling, the Lim festival’s main impression is choir performances. The art performers will wear conventional apparel and sing famous local folk songs of Northern Vietnam. This holiday offers the best opportunity for travelers to unveil Vietnam’s rich traditions and lifestyles.
Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival
- Place: Buon Ma Thuot town, Dak Lak province, Vietnam.
- Time: In March each year, typically approximately 5-7 days.
The Buon Ma Thuot coffee festival is a main countrywide and worldwide event celebrating Vietnam’s coffee. There are various booths exhibiting coffee, coffee machinery, and related industries, attracting both businesses, travelers, and buyers.
This time, travelers can also see the traditional Cong Chien (Gong Tune) performances, a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of humanity of the imperative Vietnam highlands. This is one of the important festivals in Vietnam that promotes tourism to Dak Lak province, expressing the location’s herbal beauty and culture.
Kate Festival
- Place: In the Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan Provinces of Vietnam.
- Time: On the 1st day of the 7th month of the Cham calendar, which is usually later September or early October.
The Kate festival is the maximum crucial conventional festival of the Cham people, in particular, those who follow the Balamon (Brahmanical) religion. This is a colourful vacation for commemorating ancestors and deities, praying for peace, good weather, and prosperity.
Besides, there are many intricate rituals, traditional Cham dances, and Cham traditional costumes performances. This festival attracts many worldwide travelers interested in the Cham tradition.
Da Nang International Fireworks Festival
- Place: The Han River Port Place in Da Nang, Vietnam.
- Time: In Summer, from May to July.
The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival is one of the biggest fireworks festivals in Vietnam. Beyond the Vietnamese team, it also has many other global teams from countries worldwide. Each team presents fireworks based on that year’s theme.
This festival is really exceedingly anticipated for its massively upgraded degree, as well as ultra-modern performance era, perfect light show, and cultural performances along the Han River.
Reunification Day Festival
- Place: Celebrated all over Vietnam.
- Time: April 30.
Vietnam Reunification Day is one of the most prominent national days as well as the most anticipated festivals in Vietnam. This day marks the liberation of South Vietnam and the unification of the entire Vietnam on April 30, 1975.
Celebrated with amazing enthusiasm and passion of the Vietnamese, Vietnam Reunification Day holds cultural and historic importance for the Vietnamese. Historical song performances remind past victories and the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese forces. They are an indispensable part of this festival.
Independence Day Festival
- Place: Celebrated all over Vietnam.
- Time: September 2.
The Independence Day or the National Day in Vietnam holds outstanding importance. It is an annual holiday that commemorates the historic moment when President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi.
This festival is a tribute to Vietnam’s independence and sovereignty, also showing the nation’s unwavering patriotism of all Vietnamese. From wonderful parades and traditional performances, there are numerous chances for Vietnamese travelers and travelers from all over the world to fully immerse themselves in the spirit of this occasion.
Giong Festival
- Place: Soc Temple, Phu Linh Commune, Soc Son District, Hanoi.
- Time: From the 6th to the 8th day of the 1st lunar month.
Giong Festival, one of the famous festivals in Vietnam, is held yearly in spring. This is a large occasion for the locals in Hanoi. Giong Festival is also celebrated in many different locations, but the vacation in the Soc Temple is the most well-known.
Attendees can see diverse ceremonies, from processions, statue cleaning, to incense, showing deep insights into the lifestyles and importance of Thanh Giong (Saint Giong), a legendary figure of Vietnam.
Buddha’s Birthday Festival
- Place: All Buddhist pagodas and temples in Vietnam.
- Time: On the 9th day of the 4th lunar month.
Buddha’s birthday is one of the important festivals in Vietnam, especially for the general public of Buddhists in this country. This is a momentous occasion to honor the birth, enlightenment, as well as passing of Buddha. During this festival, there are hundreds or maybe millions of pilgrims arriving at Buddhist pagodas and temples in Vietnam.
Vietnam Ghost Festival
- Place: All Buddhist pagodas and temples in Vietnam.
- Time: On the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.
Nowadays, some Asia people believe that the 7th lunar month within the year brings misfortune, and this will be an opportunity for wandering souls to make trouble. With the lost spirits without a home, this Vietnam festival will become the time to “receive food” from alive people. At this time, Vietnamese regularly visit Buddhist pagodas and temples to offer to the hungry and lost souls.
Final Thoughts: Are Festivals In Vietnam Worth Visiting?
Many festivals in Vietnam express an important part of the traditional culture and lifestyle of the Vietnamese. If you want to explore festivals in Vietnam, as well as consult travel tips, and receive support for the visa process, let’s contact Seni World, a reputable tour operator from Vietnam. We are here to help you from A to Z on your festival discovery journey.
