Top Festivals In Vietnam Travelers Should Add On The Bucket List

By Jenna Jolie

Festivals in Vietnam are an integral part of the country's rich and diverse culture, reflecting its customs, beliefs, traditions, and history. Vietnamese people celebrated with enthusiasm and were offered the chance to showcase their heritage. These lively events often feature music, dance performances, and exciting activities like dragon boat races and street parades, providing visitors with an immersive experience into the legends that have shaped Vietnam's unique identity. With a diverse array of traditional festivals throughout the year, visitors can gain insight into Vietnam's myths and customs. 

Discover Top 5 Festival In Vietnam: A Journey To Rich Traditions And Culture

1. Feel the joy and unity through the Tet festival in Vietnam

The Tet Festival in Vietnam is a time for joy, unity, and celebration. It brings together family and friends to share in the traditions and customs that have been passed down through generations. It is a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to a new year filled with hope and prosperity. As Tet is the most significant festival in Vietnam, it requires early preparation. People usually start making offerings and praying at temples two weeks before and after Tet, as visiting temples during this time are believed to bring good luck. Additionally, many families visit the graves of their ancestors in the week leading up to Tet.

One of the most popular traditions during Tet in Vietnam is the giving of red envelopes (li xi) filled with lucky money to children. This tradition is believed to bring good luck and blessings to the children for the new year. Vietnamese people also visit temples and pagodas to pray for health, happiness, and prosperity.

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Vietnamese family members making Banh Chung together  

2. Mid-Autumn festival symbolizes the reunion and reunion of Vietnamese people

The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a significant cultural holiday in Vietnam, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, usually in September or October. It is the second most important occasion for family reunions after Tet, providing a chance for family members to participate in a variety of activities, including lantern parades, lion dances, and visiting food booths. 

Mooncakes are a notable feature of the festival, filled with sweet or savory ingredients and traditionally given as gifts. During the festival, children carry colorful lanterns shaped like animals, flowers, or cartoon characters. The lanterns are made from bamboo frames covered with colored paper or silk, with candles or electric lights inside. Hang Ma Street in Hanoi and Luong Nhu Hoc Street in Ho Chi Minh City are popular places to enjoy the festival. Over time, the Mid-Autumn Festival became a time for family reunions and moon worship. Vietnamese people believe that the full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival is the brightest and fullest of the year, and it symbolizes unity, prosperity, and happiness.

Lion Dance show during the Autumn Festival 

3. Hue Festival: A vibrant celebration of Vietnamese customs and traditions

Hue Festival is one of the events honoring the rich and brilliant history of the Nguyen Dynasty held in Hue city. This is the most famous and largest event in Hue because this is the space to recreate community festivals, contributing to honoring and preserving the culture of this land. Moreover, the Festival is also a gathering place for many artistic activities from artisans and artists to many countries around the world.

The festival usually commences with a lively opening ceremony featuring various artistic performances. Following the opening ceremony, a series of interesting events take place such as the Hue Poetry Festival, the Ao Dai fashion show, and the Dialogue of Drums and Percussion. Along with these artistic events, the festival also features sporting events such as boat racing, human chess, and kite flying. It is held every two years over a week period in either April, May or June.

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4. A meaningful pilgrimage to Lim Festival in Bac Ninh

The Lim Festival, which originates from the town of Lim in Bac Ninh province's Tien Du district, takes place at the beginning of Spring from the 13th to the 15th day of the first lunar month. The festival features various cultural activities such as folk games, entertainment, fairs, and contests like human chess, martial arts performances, swings, rice-blowing contests, and more. However, the most remarkable aspect of the festival is the Quan Ho singing section, making it one of the top music festivals in Vietnam. Quan ho singing is a traditional folk art form that blends customs such as betel nut eating and ferrying and has been passed down for over five centuries. Recently recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity, it offers a vivid glimpse into the daily lives of Vietnamese people and remains a crucial part of the country's cultural heritage. 

Visitors to Lim Festival can experience the festival's vibrant atmosphere filled with music and poetry, as well as traditional clothing, conical hats, and bibs. Located just a 20-minute drive from Hanoi, Lim Festival provides a unique opportunity for visitors to learn more about Vietnamese traditions and local culture and has become an integral part of the national culture, renowned not only in Bac Ninh province but also throughout the Red River Delta region.

Quan Ho singing on the boat during the Lim Festival 

5. Hung King Festival in Vietnam

The Hung King Temple Festival is a public holiday celebrated throughout Vietnam that commemorates the 18 Hung Kings, who are widely credited with establishing Vietnamese civilization. These kings made significant advancements in agriculture and society during a crucial and turbulent time in Vietnamese history, creating a foundation for Vietnamese patriotism that endures to this day. The festival is celebrated from April 8-11 at approximately 1400 Hung temples throughout Vietnam, but the main event takes place in Phu Tho Province. During the festival, Vietnamese people pay homage to their historical roots by dressing in colorful traditional clothing and participating in processions to the most important Hung temple on Nghia Linh Mountain. The festival features traditional food, folk music, competitions, traditional costume, and other cultural activities that offer a unique insight into Vietnamese culture.

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The atmosphere at Hung King Festival in Vietnam 

In conclusion, festivals in Vietnam are an important part of the country's culture and tradition. They provide an opportunity for people to come together, share their customs and traditions, and celebrate their heritage. With their abundance of history and ritual, these festivals present a unique perspective into the lively culture of Vietnam. So don’t miss the chance to join these festivals when visiting Vietnam.

If you're a traveler planning to visit Vietnam to experience these fantastic festivals, you can obtain an e-visa through the Vietnam Immigration Services website. However, it's important to check your eligibility before applying for the visa. For more information as well as available service, please proceed to Vietnam Immigration Services for up-to-date information about the current status of Vietnam at the moment.

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