Vietnam is a country that likes to celebrate its festivals and holidays with pomp, galore, and colors. The country is a great place to visit any time of the year but it truly shines during the various Vietnamese celebrations held throughout the year.
Whenever you are in Vietnam, make sure your trip coincides with a festival so that you can experience a Vietnamese festival to the fullest.
Let's take a look at some of the best Vietnamese festivals you need to attend.
Date- January/February
Arguably the most important festival in Vietnam, Tet Nguyen Dan or Lunar New Year is when the streets of every town and city are filled with festive spirit. It is usually celebrated during January and February. The festival places importance on family so a lot of people spend the time with their family and friends, eating home-cooked meals, and lighting fireworks.
Date- February
Lim Festival is a festival celebrated by the indigenous Quan Ho tribe. The UNESCO recognized tribe celebrates the festival by wearing traditional clothes, dancing, and playing games. This festival is a great opportunity to take a deep dive into the rich culture of Vietnam.
Date- February/March
The Perfume Festival draws people from all over Vietnam to the iconic 18th-century Perfume Pagoda temple in Hanoi. People come to pray for a prosperous year by offering food and lighting incense. It takes a 2-hour car ride, a boat ride, and another hour of trekking to reach the temple. Along the way, there are a variety of spectacular sights including rice fields and limestone caves.
Check out this quick guide to Hanoi to help you prepare for your vacation in Hanoi.
Date- April
The picturesque city of Hue lights up in April to celebrate the colorful bi-annual Hue Festival. It is one of the best Vietnam festivals. Founded in 2000, the festival was created to preserve the rich traditions and culture of the Nguyen Dynasty. It features performances, games, film and art shows, boat racing, and artisanal craft exhibitions throughout the city.
Date- April and May
Between April and May every year, the White Thai people, a minority group in Vietnam, celebrate the Xến Xó Phốn Festival. This festival is a celebration of rain. Rituals including traditional rain dances and offerings are done to call for rain. The festival is an amazing sight to see and a great opportunity to learn more about the various cultures and people living in Vietnam.
Date- April/May
Every year, thousands of Vietnamese travel to Hung Temple in Việt Trì City to commemorate the first king and founder of Vietnam, King Vương. The Hung Kings Temple Festival as it is called is a spectacular show of the richness of Vietnamese culture and history. Witness spectacular lantern shows, traditional songs, dances, and games as well as the processions to the temple.
Read about Vietnam rules: The do's and don'ts when visiting Vietnam to make sure you avoid any unwanted or embarrassing situation during your celebration of a Vietnam festival
Date- August/ September
One of the biggest festivals in Vietnam, Wandering Souls Day or Trung Nguyen is a day to give offerings and respect to the dead. The Vietnamese believe that during this festival their ancestors return to visit them. Offerings like fruits, flowers, paper money, and clothes are placed in their graves or burned so that their ancestors can use them in the afterlife.
Date- 2nd September
On 2nd September 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence from France. The day has since then been celebrated annually to commemorate the birth of Vietnam as an independent nation. The day is marked with flags hoisted on the streets, fireworks, parades, street celebrations, and visits to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Date- September/October
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a great way to participate in Vietnamese culture. It is held on the 14th and 15th days of the Lunar month. The festival is marked by its famous lion dances and lantern processions. Children are given paper lanterns, sweets, and toys to celebrate the festival. You’ll also find altars and offerings in every home.
Date- Every month
During the Hoi An Lantern Festival, the entire town of Hoi An is illuminated with lanterns. Held every month on the 14th day of the Lunar Calendar (the biggest night is during February) this festival attracts thousands of tourists and locals who visit the city to witness the magical sight. You can also enjoy the variety of musical performances, vendors selling handmade crafts, and street food stalls.
Before you start planning your trip to Vietnam to witness and celebrate these Vietnamese festivals with the locals, make sure you have a valid visa. BDAtrip will help you save time and money by assisting you with your online Vietnam visa application process.
