7 Best Festivals in Vietnam that are all about Razzle-Dazzle

The Vietnamese Lunar New year is celebrated to thank the gods for the arrival of spring. The locals come together as a family and welcome the new year by offering prayers to their ancestors. Many travel back to their hometowns to be with their family and hence you will find cities like Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi relatively less crowded during this period. The Hanoi Opera House hosts firework displays and wonderful parties at night. In the morning, the locals proceed to the Ngoc Son Temple or Quan Su Pagoda to light incense sticks and pray to their ancestors. One of the best Vietnamese festivals, Hanoi would make an ideal spot to enjoy the Tet Festival. Enjoy it with your partner by booking a Vietnam honeymoon package.

When – The First Day of the First Month of the Chinese lunar calendar 

The Perfume Pagoda welcomes thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world to visit the sacred caves. The visitors pray for a happy and prosperous year ahead. The Perfume Pagoda is one of the sought after Pilgrimage sites in the country thus making it one of the best festivals in Vietnam and an extremely important one as well. To visit the Perfume Pagoda one has to travel through a beautiful limestone mountain via rice paddies and historical shrines. Then you need to take a boat and climb about a hundred stone steps to arrive at the breathtaking caves. 

When – The festival begins on February 15 on the lunar calendar and continues till mid-March.

This is one of the national public holidays and it is one of the most prominent and celebrated festivals in Vietnam. The Hung King temples spread across the country play host to this colourful festival. The main ceremony is held at Hung Temple in Phong Chau District and it is one of the best places to witness the grand event. The festival is celebrated every year around the 8th or 11th day of the lunar month according to the Chinese calendar. Tourists can witness the festival from across the country even if they are not able to visit the main temple.

When – The main festival day takes place on 10 March every year and the activities last for the first 10 days of the third lunar month. 

Taking place every 2 years, the UNESCO-listed Hue city is home to one of the most major festivals in Vietnam celebrated with joy and splendour – The Vietnam Music Festival. This week-long festival portrays an amazing array of cultural events, games and performances. There is never a dull moment at this festival as there is a multitude of activities like human chess, boat racing, kite flying, drums and percussions, Hue Poetry Festival and many more. Your day will be entertained with multiple film screenings, acrobatics, puppet shows, art exhibitions, street performances that are part of their traditional customs.

When – Happens every 2 years in April, May or June 

One of the most important festivals in Vietnam, Buddha’s birthday is celebrated by devotees across the country. The locals bring various offerings to the decorated temples including flower garlands, fruits and a variety of Vietnamese dishes. Considered to be one of the best places to celebrate this day, Hoi An holds witness to thousands visiting to partake in street parades and prayer sessions. The celebrations start off with a procession of monks walking along the Ancient Town of Hoi An. The devotees make their way to the Phap Bao Pagoda to perform religious rites and listen to Buddhist Scriptures. 

When – 30th April 

This colourful festival is celebrated on the 14th and 15th of the lunar month. Lanterns are lit during the night time and both children and elders come together and enjoy the festivities. This harvest festival is one of the best festivals in Vietnam. People get to witness the spectacular Lion Dance and also get to taste special food like jellies, biscuits and moon cakes. 

When – 1st October

Taking place every full moon, this festival transforms the UNESCO World Heritage Site into a striking display of colours. The ancient city is decorated with paper lanterns of all size, colours and shapes. This serene town is transformed into a very happy place with all shops, restaurants and business in the ancient town with hundreds of lanterns and candles. These shops stop using electricity to make use of the lanterns and candles to the fullest. This light festival though it takes place in Hoi An, the Ancient Town is the best places to witness this festival in Vietnam. 

When – Every month on the Full moon day 

A fantastic way to experience the country’s culture is by taking part in these beautiful festivals in Vietnam. So what is the wait for? Plan a trip to Vietnam with our experts at Pickyourtrail to indulge yourself in the rich heritage and vibrant culture. You can also explore our recently booked Vietnam package page to get inspiration from our popular Vietnam tour package. Let’s start your Vietnam vacation planning and book your dream Vietnam trip with Pickyourtrail!