Top 18 Festivals You Must Attend in the Year

In our country, festivals are considered an indispensable part of people's spiritual lives, attracting thousands of visitors from both within and outside the country eager to participate. Across the nation, from the North to the South, festivals of all sizes are organized to vividly reflect the unique customs and traditions of each region. In this article, let's explore the list of the biggest festivals throughout the year across the three regions of the country!

1. Hung Kings Temple Festival 
2. Miss Bà Chúa Xứ Festival 
3. Huong Pagoda Festival 
4. Nghinh Ông Festival
5. Yên Tử Spring Festival 
6. Ngũ Hành Nương Nương's Death Anniversary 
7. Bái Đính Pagoda Festival 
8. Trần Temple Festival
9. Tháp Bà Ponagar Festival 
10. Lim Festival 
11. Vu Lan Victory Festival
12. Mỹ Long Sea Worshiping Ceremony
13. Giong Temple Festival 
14. Hai Bà Trưng – Mê Linh Temple Festival
15. Keo Pagoda Festival
16. Gò Đống Đa Festival
17. Buffalo Stabbing Festival
18. Lam Kinh Festival

1. Hung Kings Temple Festival (08-11/03 lunar calendar)

Undoubtedly, each of us has heard the proverb: 'No matter who goes against the current – Remember the anniversary of our ancestors on the tenth day of the third lunar month.' And every time this proverb is mentioned, one immediately thinks of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day. This is one of the largest and most significant festivals in our country. Annually, this festival is organized to commemorate and honor the contributions of the Hung Kings who founded the nation. The tradition of the Hung Kings' commemoration has become an indispensable part of Vietnamese culture. Usually taking place in spring, the festival lasts from the 8th to the 11th day of the third lunar month, with the 10th day being the main celebration. This festival attracts tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists who come to pay homage.

2. Lady of the Realm Temple Festival (23-27/04 lunar calendar)

The Lady of the Realm Temple Festival is one of the largest folk festivals in Southern Vietnam. Typically held from the night of the 23rd to the 27th day of the fourth lunar month every year at the Lady of the Realm Temple on Sam Mountain, An Giang province. During these days, locals and tourists have the opportunity to participate in various traditional cultural activities such as lantern dances and classical drama performances. Especially on the night of the 23rd, the ritual of bathing the Lady is an event that attracts a large audience. After that, the Lady's statue will be brought down and bathed in rainwater mixed with perfume. The annual Lady's procession attracts visitors from all over to participate in the folk festival, pray for prosperity, and admire the natural beauty of Sam Mountain and nearby historical sites such as the Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb and Tay An Pagoda.

3. Perfume Pagoda Festival (23/01 –  23/04 lunar calendar)

The pilgrimage to Perfume Pagoda in spring has become a familiar cultural tradition for Vietnamese people in general and those in the Northern region in particular. Perfume Pagoda is not just a place for Buddhist rituals, but also a place to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and rivers, to immerse in the tranquility bestowed by nature on this land. The Perfume Pagoda Festival takes place annually, starting from the 6th day of January and lasting until the end of the third lunar month. Known as one of the longest festivals, the Perfume Pagoda Festival attracts a large number of tourists from everywhere who come here to pray for fortune, prosperity, and combine it with sightseeing tours.

4. Nghinh Ong Festival (15 – 16/08 lunar calendar)

Every year, on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, the Nghinh Ong Festival takes place in Can Gio district. This is a traditional festival organized to honor 'His Excellency Mr. Whale,' also known as the Southern Sea General, and it attracts a large number of people to attend. Although this festival is a long-standing folk custom of fishermen, due to Can Gio's proximity to Saigon, it attracts many people from afar to participate. Nowadays, the Nghinh Ong Festival has become a unique part of the local culture and is widely introduced to domestic and international tourists. Therefore, during this occasion, Can Gio district is always ready to welcome a large number of visitors and locals to participate in the festival.

5. Yen Tu Spring Festival (10/01 - end of the third lunar month)

When Yen Tu is mentioned, people often recall the saying: 'A hundred years of accumulating virtue and practicing - Not going to Yen Tu is not fulfilling the practice.' and this is not without basis. Quang Ninh, besides the famous Ha Long Bay, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, also has another sacred place that any Buddhist desires to visit - Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery. Yen Tu was the spiritual center of ancient Dai Viet, the cradle of the Truc Lam Zen sect. Participating in the Yen Tu Pagoda festival, you will experience a religious pilgrimage amidst the majestic beauty of nature. This festival lasts from the 10th day of January to the end of March in the lunar calendar every year, attracting many international and domestic tourists to participate in Vietnam's festival tourism season.

6. Veneration Festival of the Five Female Buddhas (18/01 – 21/01 lunar calendar)

The Temple of the Five Female Buddhas is located in Can Giuoc town, Long An province, and is a place to worship the Five Female Buddhas - five deities who assist in bringing favorable weather and protecting handicrafts. The Veneration Festival of the Five Female Buddhas takes place on the 20th day of January in the lunar calendar annually and lasts for 3 days. This festival is organized with great solemnity, including traditional ceremonies such as the Ky Yen Ceremony and folk art performances such as inviting dances, praying to the deities, offering flowers and trays, selling luck, especially the singing of the Dia Nang duet. Every year, this festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over to pay homage. Due to the preserved cultural and historical values here, in February 1997, the Temple of the Five Female Buddhas was ranked as a provincial-level historical-cultural relic.

7. Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival (06/01 - end of March lunar calendar)

Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival is a famous spring festival and pilgrimage in the ancient land of Hoa Lu, taking place from the 6th day of Tet to the end of March every year in Sinh Duoc village, Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district. Considered a symbol of the traditional festival of the Vietnamese people, Bai Dinh Pagoda attracts millions of Buddhists and tourists from all over the country during the festive season. The festival is not only a combination of visiting the temple's historical sites and enjoying the natural beauty but also an opportunity to connect people with nature in a vast space.

8. Tran Temple Festival (13-15/01 lunar calendar)

Tran Temple Festival, also known as Tran Temple Seal Opening Ceremony, takes place annually from the 13th to the 15th day of the lunar January. This festival is conducted with solemnity, including a procession from the surrounding shrines and temples to Tran Temple, along with rituals at the Upper Temple honoring the 14 Tran kings. The incense offering is performed by 14 virgin girls. Tran Temple Festival is vibrant with various activities such as martial arts performances, wrestling, lion dance, card games, and more. Moreover, it is an occasion for the people of Nam Dinh and Vietnam to take pride in their origins and the kings and generals of the Tran dynasty.

9. Thap Ba Ponagar Festival (20-23/03 lunar calendar)

Ponagar Tower Festival takes place annually at the Ponagar Tower site, located in Vinh Phuoc ward, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province. It symbolizes the unity of the nation and contributes to strengthening the bonds of the communities of various ethnic groups in the central region. The festival is a significant activity that helps preserve and develop the ethnic culture. Rituals, worship objects, traditional costumes, and performances such as the Bong dance and ancient Tuong drama are all reproduced in the festival, meeting the creative and cultural enjoyment needs of the people. The natural cultural source flows through generations without fading over time.

10. Lim Festival (12-14/01 lunar calendar)

Lim Festival, one of the largest-scale festivals in Bac Ninh, attracts tourists during the Lunar New Year with outstanding programs such as Quan Ho singing and various traditional folk games. This festival marks the combination of spiritual culture and the solidarity spirit of the people of Northern Vietnam. Lim Festival not only holds symbolic significance but also conveys the value of remembering the contributions of previous generations and educating future generations to preserve and uphold the beauty of national traditions. The festival lasts for 3 days, from the 12th to the 14th day of the lunar January each year, with the 13th day being the main festival day. Lim Festival is organized in three main locations: Lim town, Noi Due commune, and Lien Bao commune.

11. Ullambana Festival (27-28/07 lunar calendar)

Vu Lan Thang Hoi Festival, also known as the Offering Festival to Ong Bon, takes place in Cau Ke town, with the main venue being the Van Nien Phong Cung, commonly known as Chua Cho (due to its proximity to Cau Ke market) located in Ward 1. This is one of the traditional folk festivals related to the worship of Ong Bon, prevalent in the Chinese community in Tra Vinh and southern provinces. Ong Bon, originally Trinh Tu Hoa, was a Mandarin envoy sent by the Ming Dynasty to negotiate with Southeast Asian countries, facilitating the migration and settlement of the Chinese in this region. After his passing, the Ming Dynasty revered him as a deity overseeing settlement and livelihoods for the people.

12. Mỹ Long Sea Worship Festival (10 – 12/05 lunar calendar)

The Mỹ Long Sea Worship Festival, also known as the Nghinh Ong Festival or the Ceremony of Honoring the Southern Sea Gate, is one of the distinctive traditional folk festivals of the Kinh community, engaged in salt-making along the coastal areas of Tra Vinh. The Sea Worship Festival is held on the 11th and 12th days of May lunar calendar each year at the temple dedicated to the Goddess of the Region, expanding across the My Long town, Cau Ngang district. This festival is not only an important day for the fishermen of My Long and the local community in Tra Vinh but also attracts a large number of tourists from neighboring provinces such as Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Soc Trang, and beyond, coming to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

13. Gióng Temple Festival (06-08/01 lunar calendar)

Giong Temple complex encompasses Trinh Temple, Mau Temple, Dai Bi Pagoda, Thuong Temple, Saint Giong Statue, Non Nuoc Pagoda, and stone steles detailing the history and festivals of Soc Temple. In 2011, Giong Festival proudly gained recognition as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. The festival takes place in Phu Linh commune, Soc Son district, Hanoi. According to legend, this is where Saint Giong made his final stop before discarding his armor and ascending to the sky. The festival spans three days with traditional ceremonies such as opening rituals, processions, incense offerings, and bamboo flower offerings to Thuong Temple, the shrine of Saint Giong. The festival attracts the attention of both locals and international tourists.

14. Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival – Me Linh (06-08/01 lunar calendar)

Vietnam boasts many heroic historical tales, and among them, the story of Hai Ba Trung – two renowned female heroes who expelled the Tô army from the region of Giao Chi. Annually, numerous festivals are held to commemorate their contributions, with the Hai Ba Trung Me Linh Temple Festival standing out as one of the most remarkable and unique events. During these days, aside from processions and worship ceremonies at local village temples, the festival organizes cultural and artistic activities, traditional folk games, and sports competitions to bring joy to both locals and participating tourists.

15. Keo Pagoda Festival

Keo Pagoda, one of Vietnam's most famous ancient temples, is located in Duy Nhat commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province. The temple's bell tower is also a unique and rare piece of art, creating a focal point amidst the lush greenery of the Thai Binh rice fields. Keo Pagoda Festival, featuring the worship of Zen master Khong Lo, attracts people of all ages and walks of life in the region. The festival is held twice a year: the Spring Festival on the 4th day of Lunar New Year and the Autumn Festival on the 13th, 14th, and 15th days of the 9th month. In addition to Buddhist rituals, the Keo Pagoda festival includes traditional entertainment activities related to agricultural life, such as duck-catching, rice-cooking, and firecracker throwing.

16. Dong Da Mound Festival (05/01 lunar calendar)

The Dong Da Mound Festival, held in Hanoi, is a celebration honoring the great achievements of King Quang Trung, who defeated the invading forces of the Qing Dynasty. The festival attracts numerous tourists and especially the city's residents. The festival features various lively games to showcase martial spirit and patriotism. Particularly, the Fire Dragon procession is considered one of the most spectacular and impressive highlights of this celebration.

17. Buffalo Fighting Festival (3rd-4th lunar months)

Buffalo Fighting Festival is a unique cultural aspect of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands and the northern part of the Southeast region. The festival usually takes place during the leisure farming season, in the third or fourth lunar month. For the people of the Central Highlands, buffaloes are often used as sacrificial offerings because they symbolize prosperity. After the ritual of worshipping deities, the buffalo is brought to the center and tethered to a bamboo pole. People of all ages, children to the elderly, men and women in the village, participate in lively dances to the music of gongs and bells. Subsequently, a group of young men, adorned with traditional attire, enters the arena to perform the buffalo fighting ceremony.

18. Lam Kinh Festival (22/08 lunar calendar)

Taking place at the Lam Kinh historical site, Xuan Lam commune, Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province, this festival honors the national hero Le Loi and the generals of the Lam Son uprising. Lam Kinh is also a site preserving many important relics related to the kings of the later Le dynasty and numerous contemporary generals. The festival attracts people from various northern regions. During the event, a solemn procession from the tomb of King Le Thai To to the temple is organized. After the commemorative ceremony, visitors can explore the Lam Kinh historical complex, enjoy performances such as the Spring Flow dance, or participate in traditional folk games like the Binh Ngo breaking formation.

Every traditional festival is a precious occasion for the Vietnamese people to reconnect with their roots, impart positive values to younger generations, and preserve the beauty of traditional culture. It also demonstrates the unity of the nation, contributing to the strong bond among the people of Vietnam.

VIDEO: Discover the 18 Biggest Festivals of the Year Everyone Should Attend

Posted by: Nguyen Tuyet Beautiful

Keywords: 18 biggest festivals of the year, must-attend events