Top 10 Significant Lunar Festivals in Vietnam

Tet Nguyen Dan (or Lunar New Year) is a major and significant festival in the lunar calendar of the Vietnamese people. It is considered the happiest, busiest, and warmest time of the year. Tet marks the transition between years, the change of seasons, and the renewal of all living things. It carries the hope for a new year filled with prosperity and peace. Most importantly, it is a sacred occasion for family reunions, bonding, and enjoying the excitement of the new year together.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, Tet offers a temporary reprieve, bringing relaxation and joy to the soul as people immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of spring. Additionally, Tet is an opportunity for Vietnamese people to pay homage to their ancestors and wish each other the best.

As a significant moment of new beginnings, filled with hope, luck, and sincere wishes, Tet Nguyen Dan holds profound humanistic meanings beyond other festivals throughout the year.

The next significant lunar festival in Vietnam, also imported from China but with a Vietnamese touch, is The Cold Food Festival (Tet Han Thuc). Vietnamese people have creatively crafted a unique dish for this day called 'banh troi' and 'banh chay'.

'Banh troi' and 'banh chay' are typical foods of the Cold Food Festival on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, made with main ingredients such as glutinous rice flour, red bean paste, and green beans. These are cold foods offered solemnly on ancestral altars to honor ancestors and remember their nurturing care. 'Banh troi' and 'banh chay' have become a beautiful tradition in Vietnamese culinary culture.

Moreover, these foods are also offered during the Hai Ba Trung festival on the 6th day of the 3rd lunar month in Hat Mon village (Phuc Tho - Ha Tay); on the death anniversary of Hung Kings on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month; and during the Phu Giay festival in March to honor the Mother Goddess. According to legend, the origin of 'banh troi' and 'banh chay' dates back to the Hung Kings era, with a story of Au Co and Lac Long Quan's hundred eggs, symbolized by the one hundred small 'banh troi' representing the one hundred eggs of Lac Long Quan. The 'banh troi' represents 50 eggs hatching into 50 sons following their mother into the mountains, while the 'banh chay' symbolizes the other 50 eggs hatching into 50 sons following their father into the sea.

The Lantern Festival takes place on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which is the first full moon of the new year. This is considered the most sacred day of the new year. Originating from China, but Vietnam's Lantern Festival has its own distinct characteristics. On this day, Vietnamese people often visit temples to pray for peace and prosperity for their family members, hoping for a smooth and successful year in all endeavors.

Therefore, the saying “A Buddhist holiday all year round is not as important as the full moon of the first lunar month” speaks to the importance of the full moon festival in the consciousness of the Vietnamese people and reflects the significance of temple worship for most people across the S-shaped land. Today, the full moon night of the first lunar month has become a traditional cultural activity of the nation and imbued with humanistic values in both urban and rural areas.

For thousands of years, Buddhism has been introduced to Vietnam. Until now, this religion has occupied an important position in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people, with many devout followers devoted to Buddhism. In addition, the beliefs of Buddhism have become the way of life for most Vietnamese people.

Therefore, Vesak Day has become a major festival of the nation, organized by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in a solemn manner to celebrate the joy with people around the world in commemorating the birth of the Buddha. On this day, Buddhists refrain from killing, everyone practices vegetarianism, cleans their homes, and decorates the Buddha altar beautifully. They participate in bathing the Buddha ceremony, go to pagodas to perform meritorious deeds, listen to lectures on life... to purify the soul.

Many people also release fish, release birds... to create joy and dedicate life to all beings. This is also a way to express reverence and pray for peace and goodness for the whole family.

The Death Anniversary of Hung Kings, also known as the Hung Kings Temple Festival or the National Anniversary, is a festival of Vietnam. This is a traditional festival of the Vietnamese people to commemorate the merits of Hung Kings in building the nation. The traditional ceremony is held annually on the 10th day of the third lunar month at the Hung Temple, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province and is commemorated by Vietnamese people worldwide.

The Hung Kings Temple Festival is a large festival to commemorate and express gratitude for the merits of the Hung Kings, the first kings of the nation. Since ancient times, the Death Anniversary of Hung Kings has held a special place in the consciousness of the Vietnamese people.

The folk saying “No matter where you go, remember the 10th of March” is deeply imbued with affection and loyalty, echoing in the hearts of millions of Vietnamese people for thousands of years. For thousands of years, on the 10th day of the third lunar month, Vietnamese people have enthusiastically returned to attend the Hung Kings Temple Festival in Viet Tri, Phu Tho. This is a national festival, a day when all hearts, no matter where they live and work, beat together, and all eyes look in the same direction. All people remember their roots and express gratitude to the Hung Kings for their merits in founding the nation and to the ancestors for protecting the country.

The worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho has also been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 6, 2012.

In the consciousness of every Vietnamese, Vu Lan Festival (on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month) has long been a significant day, indispensable in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese. It is an occasion to remind descendants of the nurturing and giving birth of grandparents, parents, ancestors, as well as the significant contributions of national heroes, those who have contributed to the country.

It is also a soul-nurturing practice in accordance with Buddhist culture, emphasizing compassion, benevolence, joy, and liberation, as well as the saying 'you reap what you sow,' 'selflessness, compassion,' and 'eating the fruit while remembering the one who planted the tree.' During these days, besides going to the pagoda to pray for peace, people everywhere also prepare offerings and dedicate them to their ancestors. For those who still have mothers, they will give their mothers a rose to show filial piety.

Alongside Buddha's Birthday, Tet Doan Ngo is also a major festival in our lunar calendar. People colloquially refer to Tet Doan Ngo as the 'worm-killing festival' because during the transition between seasons and the arrival of diseases, it's easy for pests and illnesses to emerge. Therefore, on this day, people have various customs to prevent diseases.

The offering tray for Tet Doan Ngo usually consists of fruits, rice cakes, and fermented glutinous rice wine to eradicate pests and ward off diseases. Additionally, it's a time for family members to gather and celebrate, marking the beginning of a new season, rejoicing in the brightness and clarity, and praying for peace.

Tet Tao Quan, also known as the Kitchen Gods Festival, is a deeply rooted spiritual celebration in Vietnam. It takes place on the 23rd of December every year. According to legend, on this day, the Kitchen Gods of each household return to heaven to report on the family's affairs over the past year.

Therefore, on this day, every family prepares offerings and sees off the Kitchen Gods to ascend to the heavens. This gesture expresses gratitude and serves as repentance for any wrongdoings towards the deities throughout the year. In Vietnam, people also often buy carp to release into rivers and lakes on this day.

Mid-Autumn Festival is a major holiday in the lunar calendar of Vietnam dedicated to children. Throughout thousands of years, people have believed in the connection between humans and the moon. Whether full or crescent, life encompasses both joy and sorrow, reunions and farewells. Hence, the full moon symbolizes reunion, and Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the Reunion Festival.

On this day, according to Vietnamese customs, all family members aspire to gather together to prepare offerings for their ancestors. As night falls and the ground bathes in moonlight, neighborhoods come together to enjoy green tea, cakes, and display fruits and sweets for children to play with. Lantern parades, lion dances, moon gazing, and breaking of the feast are common activities.

The last major festival in the lunar calendar in Vietnam and also the end of the year is New Year's Eve (or commonly known as the year-end party). This is a long-standing tradition that carries the cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people to mark the end of the old year and welcome the new year. If it's a 30-day month, this event will take place on 30/12, and if it's a 29-day month, it will be on 29/12. Houses are lavishly decorated with flashing lights, fresh flowers, and ornamental plants in preparation for Tet.

On this day, people often gather together to make offerings for the end of the year and celebrate, reflecting on the past year and eagerly awaiting the moment of New Year's Eve to usher in the new year. After a busy year of studying, working, and racing with life, everyone comes together to enjoy the festive atmosphere and share joy with family members.