Top 10 Must-See New Year Festivals in Northern Vietnam

Lim Festival is the largest festival in the Kinh Bac region, held annually from the 12th to 14th of the lunar new year in Tien Du, Bac Ninh. The main ritual starts on the 13th day of the lunar month, with the procession. At exactly 8 AM, participants dressed in colorful, elaborate costumes gather to begin the procession. The morning ritual involves elders, young men, and women performing a ceremony at Hong Van Tomb and singing Quan Ho in honor of the deity. The male and female singers from Noi Due village stand in front of the tomb, singing praises of the god’s deeds.

After the ritual, the festival continues with exciting activities like wrestling, chess games, rice cooking competitions, and especially the Quan Ho singing contest. Singers from different villages take to boats and perform impromptu duets, continuing until nearly noon. In the evening of the 12th, the festival features a spectacular Quan Ho competition among villages. The Lim Festival is known for its uniqueness, rich cultural traditions, and its ability to attract tourists, making it a cherished cultural heritage of Kinh Bac people and the Vietnamese community as a whole.

Yen Tu is the largest Buddhist center in Vietnam and the birthplace of the Truc Lam Zen sect. The Yen Tu complex consists of 11 pagodas and hundreds of shrines, with the highest point being Dong Pagoda in Quang Ninh.

The Yen Tu Festival begins on the 9th day of the lunar new year and lasts until the end of the third lunar month. The religious ceremonies are deeply sacred and majestic, including incense offerings to the Buddha, paying respects to the founders of Truc Lam, cultural performances, and the special 'Dong Pagoda Seal Ceremony.' Afterward, pilgrims and visitors embark on a spiritual journey to the summit of Yen Tu, where Dong Pagoda is located. The hike takes about 3 hours, passing hundreds of shrines along the way.

Upon reaching the top, visitors are treated to stunning views. The experience is both humbling and awe-inspiring, offering a moment to reflect on nature and show reverence to the Buddha. This pilgrimage is a blend of sightseeing, spiritual devotion, and personal discovery.

The Đống Đa Mound Festival takes place on the 5th day of the first lunar month every year at Đống Đa Mound, Quang Trung ward, Đống Đa district, Hanoi, to commemorate the great contribution of King Quang Trung during the heroic resistance against foreign invaders. Over 200 years ago, during the fight against the invading Song Dynasty, the enemy general Sầm Nghi Đống was defeated and committed suicide here. Đống Đa Mound has since become a historical landmark, honoring King Quang Trung's victory and the humiliating defeat of the northern invaders. The festival begins early in the morning on the 5th with local elders and dignitaries gathering to prepare for the grand ceremony. Around noon, a procession moves from the Khương Thượng village temple to Đống Đa Mound to celebrate the victory. Offerings are also made for the souls of the defeated invaders, reflecting the compassionate nature of the Vietnamese people. In the afternoon, the celebration continues with vibrant activities like lion dances, dragon dances, wrestling, cockfights, and drum performances. Attending the Đống Đa Mound Festival on the 5th is a cherished tradition for the people of Hanoi and surrounding areas.

The Côn Sơn - Kiếp Bạc Festival takes place annually on the 16th day of the first lunar month in Hải Dương. The festivities begin with a ceremonial offering of incense, followed by a water procession. Buddhist monks, nuns, and local residents, along with visitors, gather at the Côn Sơn Lake to light incense, chant prayers, and perform rituals to request blessings for a prosperous year, favorable weather, and success in agriculture and business. Afterward, the sacred water is carried back to Côn Sơn Temple, where it is used in the traditional Mộc Dục ritual dedicated to the three founders of the Trúc Lâm Zen sect. On the 17th day, the festival continues with a ceremony at the Trung Nhạc Temple on Mount Ngũ Nhạc, where prayers are offered to heaven and earth, seeking divine blessings for the nation's well-being and the people's prosperity. Following this, leaders distribute grains and seeds to the public, encouraging them to plant and cultivate in hopes of a bountiful harvest.

An essential part of the spring rituals at Côn Sơn - Kiếp Bạc is the Mông Sơn Thí Thực ceremony, held on the 23rd day of the first lunar month. This sacred and solemn ritual is followed by a lively celebration, during which people eagerly compete to snatch ritual items for good luck. In addition to the religious ceremonies, the festival features vibrant activities such as making traditional rice cakes (bánh chưng, bánh giày), fireworks displays, water puppet performances, boat racing, wrestling, and other cultural activities that attract many visitors and participants.

The Xoan Festival takes place annually from the 7th to the 10th day of the first lunar month in Hương Nha village, Tam Nông district, Phú Thọ province. The festival is dedicated to honoring Xuân Nương, a skilled female general during the reign of the two Trung Sisters. The event begins with a ceremonial feast offering vegetarian dishes to the local deity, Thành Hoàng. On the 10th day, traditional performances are held along the riverbank in front of the village temple, showcasing agricultural practices such as plowing, sowing rice, and weaving. During the Xoan Festival, local singing groups gather at the temple gate to compete in singing contests, and there is a custom of guarding the temple gate to prevent disputes. Another important tradition is the formation of Xoan family ties between the locals and visitors, further strengthening the bonds of friendship and community.

Keo Pagoda is located in Duy Nhất Commune, Vũ Thư District, Thái Bình Province. It is one of the most famous ancient pagodas in Vietnam. The bell tower of Keo Pagoda is a unique wooden architectural masterpiece. The pagoda complex consists of 21 buildings with 157 rooms, spread over an area of 58,000 square meters.

In addition to worshiping Buddha, Keo Pagoda also honors Saints (pre-Buddha and post-Buddha figures). The saint revered here is Saint Dương Không Lộ, a monk from the Lý Dynasty who had a profound understanding of Buddhist philosophy. Keo Pagoda, with nearly 400 years of history, is one of Vietnam's top 10 architectural relics. The site spans 41,561.9 square meters, containing 17 structures with 128 rooms, built according to the "Internal harmony, external foreign" architectural style.

The pagoda hosts two major festivals each year: the Spring Festival on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year and the main autumn festival from the 13th to the 15th of the 9th month in the lunar calendar. The Keo Pagoda Festival honors the contributions of Saint Dương Không Lộ (1016-1094) and others who contributed to building the pagoda. This festival not only promotes tourism in Thái Bình but also serves spiritual and cultural needs, showcasing the unique values of architecture, sculpture, and traditional heritage.

The Chùa Hương Festival, also known as the pilgrimage to Chùa Hương, is a major annual event in Vietnam, particularly renowned in the North. It attracts a large number of monks, Buddhists, and tourists who come to offer prayers and join in the festivities. The festival begins on the 6th day of the Lunar New Year and continues until the 3rd month of the lunar calendar. When the apricot flowers bloom across the hills of Hương Sơn in Mỹ Đức District, Hà Nội, millions of pilgrims and visitors gather to pay homage and make wishes to the Bodhisattvas. Chùa Hương is a stunning natural site, home to numerous caves and temples nestled within the mountains, forming a vast complex that captivates visitors. The atmosphere at the start of the festival is filled with incense smoke.

The ritual activities at the festival are simple, primarily involving offerings of incense, flowers, lights, candles, fruit, and vegetarian food. Occasionally, monks will perform chanting and drum ceremonies. The spiritual rituals here encompass various elements of Vietnamese religious life, including Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and the veneration of nature. During the festival's celebrations, visitors can participate in sacred processions, boat rides, mountain climbing, and enjoy traditional performances such as hát chầu and hát văn.

In essence, the Chùa Hương pilgrimage offers a chance to connect with nature, immerse in the sacred atmosphere of the land, and experience the deep spiritual significance of the event.

The Gióng Temple Festival is a grand annual event that honors the heroic feats of Saint Gióng, portraying his legendary battles against the Ân invaders. It not only brings to life the ancient history but also reminds descendants of their deep gratitude toward their ancestors while celebrating the bravery of the Vietnamese people in defending their homeland.

This festival is celebrated in several locations across the northern region of Vietnam, with the largest and most significant being the Gióng Festival in Sóc Sơn. This event takes place from the 6th to the 8th of the first month of the Lunar calendar. According to legend, Phù Linh is the final resting place of Saint Gióng before his ascent to the heavens. To honor him, the people built a temple here and organize the festival each year, featuring rituals such as the symbolic statue bathing, processions, incense offerings, and the ceremonial burning of effigies of elephants and horses.

The festival kicks off on the evening of the 5th with the statue bathing ritual, inviting the saint to attend the festivities. On the 6th, villagers from surrounding areas present offerings to Saint Gióng, praying for a year of good weather and prosperity. One of the notable rituals involves offering bamboo flowers (crafted from long bamboo sticks adorned with blossoms representing Saint Gióng's weapon) carried from the Upper Temple to the Lower Temple and distributed among the people for good luck.

The 7th day sees the reenactment of Saint Gióng's legendary battle against the enemy generals before his ascension. On the 8th, the ritual of burning effigies of the sacred elephant and horse takes place, symbols deeply connected to Saint Gióng. Visitors can also participate in and enjoy various cultural performances, including chèo opera, ca trù singing, and rooster fighting.

The Trần Temple Seal Opening Festival takes place on the evening of the 14th, marking the beginning of the 15th day of the Lunar New Year at the Trần Temple historical site in Lộc Vương Ward, Nam Định City. The festival revives an ancient tradition from the 13th century during the Trần Dynasty known as the Ancestor Worship Ceremony. After interruptions and the loss of the original seal, Emperor Minh Mạng restored the ritual in 1822, carving a new seal, and it has continued annually ever since. The ceremony runs from 11 PM on the 14th to 1 AM on the 15th, showing gratitude to the heavens, the earth, and ancestors, while signaling the end of the Lunar New Year and the return to work.

The festival begins at the Cố Trạch Temple, where village elders gather to offer incense to the gods and initiate the seal-opening ritual. At midnight, an elder of high respect leads the ceremony, carrying the seal, accompanied by the sound of drums and gongs, to the Thiên Trường Temple for the continuation of the rites. Once there, the seal is pressed onto a sheet of white paper, and the stamped papers are distributed to the people as a symbol of good fortune and blessings. Following the sacred rituals, the festival transitions into lively cultural activities, including lion dances, wrestling, rooster fights, and traditional swings, creating an atmosphere full of joy and excitement.