Vietnam, a country rich in history and culture, is famous for its unique and colorful traditional festivals. From solemn and sacred rituals to lively entertainment activities, Vietnamese festivals are not only occasions for people to remember their ancestors and pray for a year of good weather and prosperity but also wonderful opportunities for tourists to explore and experience unique traditional cultural features. Let “Du lịch khắp thế gian” discover the most unique festivals in Vietnam that you should not miss on your journey to explore the S-shaped country.
1. Tet Nguyen Dan Festival
Streets of Hanoi decorated with flags, flowers, and lanterns during Tet Nguyen Dan, the biggest traditional festival in Vietnam.
Tet Nguyen Dan, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important and largest festival of the year for Vietnamese people. This is an opportunity for everyone to gather with family, exchange best wishes, and welcome the new year together. Tet Nguyen Dan is not just a simple holiday but also a series of rituals and traditional customs that have been preserved and passed down through many generations. From cleaning the house, shopping for Tet, preparing offerings to ancestors, to entertainment activities such as spring outings, lucky draws, and lion dances, all create a very special and warm Tet atmosphere. Tet Nguyen Dan is a great opportunity for you to deeply feel Vietnamese traditional culture, from sacred family values to unique customs and habits.
2. Huong Pagoda Festival
Crowds of pilgrims flock to Huong Pagoda, a famous spiritual tourist destination in Hanoi, during the spring festival season.
Huong Pagoda Festival is one of the largest and longest festivals in Vietnam, usually starting from January and lasting until March of the Lunar calendar. Huong Pagoda is not only a sacred pagoda but also a beautiful scenic complex with majestic mountains, mysterious caves, and the poetic Yen stream. Huong Pagoda Festival attracts millions of tourists and Buddhists from all over to pilgrimage, pray for peace, and admire the beautiful scenery. Coming to Huong Pagoda Festival, you will experience mountain climbing, sightseeing pagodas, visiting famous caves such as Huong Tich cave, Tien Son cave, and immerse yourself in the bustling festival atmosphere with unique folk cultural activities.
3. Giong Festival
Recreation of Saint Giong riding an iron horse to fight against the An invaders during the Giong Festival at Phu Dong Temple, Gia Lam, Hanoi.
Giong Festival is a traditional festival held annually at Phu Dong Temple (Gia Lam, Hanoi) and Soc Temple (Soc Son, Hanoi) to commemorate Saint Giong, one of the four immortals of Vietnam. Giong Festival is not only a cultural and religious activity but also a magnificent theatrical performance reenacting the legend of Saint Giong defeating the An invaders and protecting the country. With solemn and unique rituals and unique folk performing arts activities, the Giong Festival has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Participating in the Giong Festival, you will witness impressive performances, imbued with the martial spirit and patriotism of the Vietnamese people.
4. Hung Kings Temple Festival
Solemn procession offering incense at Hung Temple, Phu Tho, on Hung Kings Commemoration Day, remembering the Hung Kings.
Hung Kings Temple Festival, also known as Hung Kings Commemoration Day, is an important national festival of Vietnam, held annually on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month at the Hung Kings historical relic site (Phu Tho). Hung Kings Temple Festival is an opportunity for Vietnamese people from all over the country and overseas Vietnamese to look towards their roots, remember the merits of building and defending the country of the Hung Kings. The festival ceremony takes place solemnly and sacredly with traditional rituals, palanquin processions, and incense offerings. The festival part is bustling and lively with many cultural, artistic, sports, and unique folk games. Hung Kings Temple Festival is a symbol of solidarity, national pride, and the tradition of remembering the source when drinking water of Vietnamese people.
5. Nghinh Ong Festival
Procession of boats solemnly carrying Ong (whale) at sea during the Nghinh Ong Festival, a unique cultural feature of fishermen in the Southern coastal region.
Nghinh Ong Festival is a unique traditional festival of fishermen in the Southern coastal region, especially in coastal provinces such as Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Can Gio, Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu… The festival is held to express gratitude to Ca Ong (whale), a sacred animal considered by fishermen as a protective deity, bringing luck and peace to offshore trips. Nghinh Ong Festival usually takes place with solemn rituals such as the Ong procession at sea, the Ong worshiping ceremony at Ong’s mausoleum, along with lively folk cultural activities such as boi singing, lion dance, boat racing… Nghinh Ong Festival is not only a beautiful cultural belief but also an opportunity for the fishing community to bond, show solidarity, and pray for a bumper fishing season.
6. Kate Festival
Graceful Cham girls in traditional costumes performing dances during the Kate Festival, one of the most important festivals of the Cham people.
Kate Festival is the most important festival of the Cham people who follow Brahmanism, held annually around October of the Lunar calendar. Kate Festival is an opportunity for the Cham people to commemorate gods, ancestors, and pray for good harvests, a prosperous and happy life. Kate Festival takes place in a solemn and sacred atmosphere with traditional rituals at ancient Cham temples and towers. Besides the ceremony part, the festival part is also very lively with unique cultural and artistic activities such as Kate dance, Apsara singing, Saranai trumpet blowing… Kate Festival is an opportunity for you to explore the unique Cham culture, admire the ancient temple and tower architecture, and enjoy the dances and songs imbued with national identity.
7. Ok Om Bok Festival
Exciting Ngo boat race on the water during the Ok Om Bok festival of the Southern Khmer people.
Ok Om Bok Festival, also known as Moon Worshiping Festival, is one of the largest and most important festivals of the Southern Khmer people, usually held on the full moon of the 10th lunar month. Ok Om Bok Festival is an opportunity for the Khmer people to express their gratitude to the Moon, the god who protects crops, and pray for a year of good weather, good harvests. The highlight of the festival is the moon worshiping ritual and the exciting Ngo boat race on the water. In addition, the festival also has many unique cultural, artistic activities and folk games, attracting a large number of people and tourists to participate. Ok Om Bok Festival is a unique traditional cultural beauty of the Khmer people, showing the close connection between people and nature and a rich spiritual life.
8. Cau Ngu Festival
Palanquin procession ritual in Cau Ngu festival, a traditional festival of fishermen in the Central coastal region.
Cau Ngu Festival is a popular traditional festival in coastal fishing villages in Central Vietnam, held to pray for a bountiful seafood harvest, calm seas, and fishermen’s safety. Cau Ngu Festival usually takes place with solemn rituals such as the Nghinh Ong ceremony, the sea god worshiping ceremony, and the Cau Ngu ceremony… The festival part is bustling with folk cultural activities such as Ba Trao singing, boat racing, and Tuong performances… Cau Ngu Festival is a unique cultural beauty of the Central coastal region, expressing the rich spiritual life and the desire to reach out to sea and get rich from the sea of fishermen.
9. Da Nang International Fireworks Festival
Brilliant fireworks display over Da Nang sky during the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, an attractive cultural and tourist event.
Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) is a famous cultural and tourist event, held annually in Da Nang city every summer. The festival attracts the participation of fireworks teams from many countries around the world, bringing spectacular artistic fireworks performances in the Han River sky. DIFF is not only an attractive entertainment event but also an opportunity to promote the tourism image of Da Nang and Vietnam to international friends. Coming to DIFF, you will admire top fireworks displays, immerse yourself in the bustling festival atmosphere, and explore the beauty of Da Nang coastal city.
10. Da Lat Flower Festival
Colorful flower garden at Da Lat Flower Festival, an attractive destination for flower and nature lovers.
Da Lat Flower Festival is a special cultural and tourist event, held periodically every two years in Da Lat city, Lam Dong province. The festival is a gathering place for thousands of flowers showing off their colors, creating a splendid, romantic, and colorful space. Coming to Da Lat Flower Festival, you will admire unique floristic artworks, participate in unique cultural and artistic activities, and explore the poetic beauty of the city of thousands of flowers. Da Lat Flower Festival is not only an attractive tourist event but also an opportunity to honor the cultural, spiritual, and natural beauty values of Da Lat.
Conclusion
Vietnam is a cultural treasure with countless unique festivals, each festival carrying its own meaning and beauty. The festivals introduced above are just a small part of the diverse festival cultural picture of Vietnam. Hopefully, through this article, you will have more interesting suggestions for your journey to explore Vietnamese culture and have memorable experiences at traditional festivals. Plan today to discover and experience the most unique festivals in Vietnam!