What festivals are celebrated in Vietnam?

With various festivals conducted all year long, Vietnam enjoys a rich cultural past. The nation's customs, religious convictions and historical happenings are all represented in these festivals.

Major festivals in Vietnam

Tet Nguyen Dan - Lunar New Year – January/February (Lunar calendar: 1st day of the 1st lunar month)

• Vietnam's most prominent celebration, which ushers in the lunar new year.
• Families join together, clean their residences, feed the ancestors and exchange auspicious coins (or "lì xì").
• Highlights include dragon dances, fireworks and traditional dishes like sticky rice cake or “banh chung”. 

Hung Kings' Festival – 10th day of the 3rd lunar month (around mid-April)

• Honors the Hung Kings, Vietnam's renowned founding forefathers.
• Commemorated in temples all around the nation with rites, parades and cultural displays.

Reunification Day – April 30 (Gregorian calendar)

• Commemorates the 1975 reunification of North and South Vietnam.
• Across the nation, there are public festivities, military parades and fireworks.

Mid-Autumn Festival) – September/October (Lunar calendar: 15th day of the 8th lunar month)

• A kid-friendly celebration with lion dances, mooncakes and vibrant lanterns.
• Families get together to savor customary sweets and take in the full moon.
• Festival of the Mid-Autumn, September/October.

Vu Lan Festival (Ghost Festival) – 7th lunar month (August on the Gregorian calendar)

• A Buddhist celebration of the departed ancestors.
• Temples receive offerings and people throw paper lanterns into waterways.

Perfume Pagoda Festival – February/March (Lunar Calendar)

• A visit to one of Vietnam's holiest Buddhist locations, the Perfume Pagoda.
• To pray for health and wealth, thousands of tourists travel there on foot and by boat.

Hoi An Lantern Festival – Monthly (Lunar Calendar)

• Held at Hoi An on the fourteenth day of every lunar month.
• Beautiful paper lanterns light up the village, giving it a mystical feel.

Conclusion: Vietnamese festivals

Vietnamese festivals have a deep cultural and historic background. Attending a festival may give a different and intriguing view into Vietnamese culture and life if you desire to vacation there.

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