Vietnam, a country rich in history and culture, boasts a treasure trove of unique and diverse traditional festivals. These festivals are not merely occasions for entertainment and leisure; they are also opportunities to commemorate deities and national heroes, while preserving and promoting the beautiful cultural values of the nation. Let’s explore these unique traditional festivals, imbued with Vietnamese identity, where the past and present intertwine, creating unforgettable cultural experiences.
Hung Kings Temple Festival: Remembering Ancestors, Honoring Roots
The Hung Kings Temple Festival, also known as Hung Kings Commemoration Day, is one of Vietnam’s most important festivals, taking place annually on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month at Hung Temple in Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province. The festival is an occasion to remember and express deep gratitude for the nation-building merits of the Hung Kings, who laid the foundation for the formation and development of the Vietnamese people.
The Hung Kings worship belief is not only a traditional custom but also a symbol of solidarity, national pride, and the Vietnamese tradition of “drinking water, remembering the source.” The Hung Kings Temple Festival has been recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, affirming the great cultural value of this festival for Vietnam and the world.
Before the main festival day, many unique folk cultural activities take place at Hung Temple, such as xoan singing, wrestling, and human chess, attracting a large number of locals and tourists. On the main festival day, the palanquin procession and incense offering ceremony at the Upper Temple are solemnly organized, expressing the filial piety of descendants towards their ancestors.
Hung Kings Temple Festival procession
Lim Festival: Where Quan Ho Folk Songs Meet
Lim Festival is one of the largest festivals in Bac Ninh, taking place from the 12th to the 14th day of the first lunar month annually, in Lim town and neighboring communes. Lim Festival is not only an occasion for fun and entertainment but also a place to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of the Kinh Bac region, especially the sweet and melodious Quan Ho folk songs.
Coming to Lim Festival, visitors will be immersed in the cultural space imbued with Kinh Bac identity, with Quan Ho songs performed on boats, on Lim hill, or at communal houses. “Lien anh” (male singers) and “Lien chi” (female singers) in traditional costumes sing alternating verses of love and courtship, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.
In addition, Lim Festival also features many unique folk games such as swing riding, wrestling, and blindfolded goat catching, creating a vibrant and exciting atmosphere. Lim Festival is an ideal destination for those who want to explore the beauty of traditional culture in the Kinh Bac region.
Lim Festival in Bac Ninh with Quan Ho singers
Tran Temple Festival Nam Dinh: Remembering the Merits of the Tran Kings
Tran Temple Festival Nam Dinh is held from the 15th to the 20th day of the eighth lunar month annually at the Tran Temple historical site, Loc Vuong ward, Nam Dinh city. The festival is an occasion to commemorate the merits of the 14 Tran kings, who made great contributions to building and protecting the country.
The highlight of the festival is the seal opening ceremony taking place on the night of the 14th and the early morning of the 15th day of the first lunar month. Legend has it that the seal had the effect of helping Tran Dynasty officials gather military power and maintain the country’s stability. Today, people ask for seals with the desire to be promoted in their careers and have good luck in their work.
In addition, within the festival framework, many traditional cultural and sports activities are also held, such as lion dances, wrestling, and tug-of-war, creating a joyful and bustling atmosphere. Tran Temple Festival is an attractive destination for those who want to learn about the nation’s heroic history and pray for luck and fortune.
Tran Temple Festival in Nam Dinh with seal opening ceremony
Giong Festival: Reenacting the Legend of Hero Saint Giong
Giong Festival is one of the largest and most unique festivals in Vietnam, held to commemorate Saint Giong, one of the “immortal” saints of Vietnamese folk religion. The festival reenacts the legend of the hero Saint Giong, from his birth to his defeat of the An invaders and ascension to heaven.
Giong Festival is held in many localities in the Red River Delta, but the largest are in Phu Dong village (Gia Lam, Hanoi), where Saint Giong was born, and Phu Linh (Soc Son, Hanoi), where Saint Giong ascended. The festival is a harmonious combination of historical and folk cultural elements, expressing the patriotism and indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people.
Giong Festival has been recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, affirming the great cultural value of this festival for Vietnam and the world.
Giong Festival with reenactment of Saint Giong's battle
Long Tong Festival: Praying for a Bountiful Harvest of the Tay People
Long Tong Festival, also known as the field going festival, is a traditional festival of the Tay, Nung, Dao, and San Chi people. The festival is held to pray for a year of favorable weather, bumper crops, and a prosperous life.
Long Tong Festival is usually held at the beginning of the new year, after the previous crop is harvested. The festival venue is often spacious, flat land near a water source. During the festival, people perform rituals to worship gods and ancestors, and organize cultural and artistic activities and folk games such as then singing, lion dances, and “ném còn” (throwing fabric balls).
Long Tong Festival is an important part of the spiritual and cultural life of the Tay, Nung, Dao, and San Chi people, expressing their aspirations for a prosperous and happy life.
Long Tong Festival of the Tay people with traditional rituals
Thap Ba Ponagar Festival Nha Trang: Remembering the Mother Goddess of the Land
Thap Ba Ponagar Festival Nha Trang takes place from the 20th to the 23rd day of the third lunar month annually at the Thap Ba Ponagar relic, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province. The festival is an occasion to commemorate the Goddess Ponagar, the Mother Goddess of the Cham people, who made great contributions to reclaiming land and bringing prosperity to the people.
Thap Ba Ponagar Festival is an important cultural event, attracting a large number of locals and tourists. During the festival, people perform rituals to worship the Goddess Ponagar, and organize traditional cultural and artistic activities such as bóng dance and hát bội (classical drama).
Thap Ba Ponagar Festival is a symbol of the solidarity of ethnic groups, contributing to the cultural diversity of Vietnam.
Thap Ba Ponagar Festival in Nha Trang with Cham dances
Nghinh Ong Festival Can Gio: Honoring “Whale God”
Nghinh Ong Festival Can Gio takes place on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month annually in Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City. The festival is held to honor “Whale God,” also known as Nam Hai General, the patron deity of fishermen.
Nghinh Ong Festival is a long-standing folk custom of Can Gio fishermen, expressing their gratitude to the sea and praying for a year of favorable weather and abundant seafood catches. During the festival, people organize a procession to bring the Whale God’s palanquin from the sea to the mainland, and organize traditional cultural and artistic activities such as hát bội and lion dances.
Nghinh Ong Festival Can Gio is a unique cultural feature of Can Gio, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.
Nghinh Ong Festival in Can Gio with whale procession
Ba Chua Xu Temple Festival Nui Sam: Top Spiritual Destination in An Giang
Ba Chua Xu Temple Festival Nui Sam is held from the night of the 23rd to the end of the 27th day of the fourth lunar month annually at Ba Chua Xu Temple, at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc, An Giang. The festival is an occasion to commemorate Ba Chua Xu, a deity revered by the people and to pray for good things.
Ba Chua Xu Temple Festival is one of the largest festivals in the Mekong Delta, attracting millions of visitors each year. During the festival, people perform rituals to worship Ba Chua Xu, and organize traditional cultural and artistic activities such as hát bội and lion dances.
Ba Chua Xu Temple Festival is an important spiritual destination, where people come to pray for health, fortune, and peace.
Ba Chua Xu Temple Festival at Nui Sam with crowds of pilgrims
Hoa Lu Festival Ninh Binh: Remembering the Emperors
Hoa Lu Festival, also known as Truong Yen Festival or Co Lau Festival, is the largest festival in Ninh Binh province, held at the beginning of the third lunar month annually. The festival is an occasion to commemorate two emperors: Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh, who made great contributions to building and protecting the country.
Hoa Lu Festival is imbued with historical value, having been organized since the time of King Ly Cong Uan moving the capital to Thang Long. During the festival, people perform rituals to worship the emperors, and organize traditional cultural and artistic activities such as palanquin processions, cheo singing, and wrestling.
Hoa Lu Festival is an attractive destination for those who want to learn about the nation’s heroic history and admire the beauty of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.
Hoa Lu Festival in Ninh Binh with traditional procession
Perfume Pagoda Festival: Pilgrimage to the Buddhist Land
Perfume Pagoda Festival is one of the largest festivals in Northern Vietnam, taking place from the first to the third lunar month annually at Perfume Pagoda, Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi. The festival is an occasion for people to make a pilgrimage to the Buddhist land, praying for peace and luck for their families and loved ones.
Perfume Pagoda Festival attracts millions of visitors each year. During the festival, people take boats on Yen stream, climb mountains, offer incense at pagodas, temples, and shrines in the Perfume Pagoda complex, and participate in traditional cultural and artistic activities such as cheo singing and hat van.
Perfume Pagoda Festival is an important spiritual destination, where people come to seek inner peace and pray for good things.
Perfume Pagoda Festival with pilgrims on boats
Unique traditional festivals of Vietnam are not only unique cultural events but also precious gems, contributing to the distinctive cultural identity of the nation. Take the time to explore and experience these festivals to better understand the history, culture, and people of Vietnam.