12 Popular Festivals In Vietnam

1. Perfume Pagoda Festival

If you are visiting Hanoi between January and February, then you do not want to miss this annual celebration called Perfume Pagoda Festival. Taking place in one of the most beautiful pilgrimage sites in Hanoi, this Vietnamese festival aims at paying respect to Buddha. Buddhists come to the pagoda to say prayers and wish for a prosperous year as well. During the event, you can admire a spectacular dancing dragon and light incense. On the way to the pagoda, you will be presented with gorgeous views of rice paddies and limestone caves, so be sure to look around.

Perfume Pagoda Festival

Address: Thien Tru Pagoda, Hanoi

Takes place: Usually held between January and February

Price: Free

2. Buddha’s Birthday

In case you did not know, the majority of Vietnamese people are Buddhist; thus, Buddhist pagodas are scattered throughout the country. Buddha’s Birthday then is one of the most important festivals in Vietnam. You can witness the festive celebration everywhere, but the biggest one can be seen in Mekong Delta. Witness a significant number of monks and Buddhist people gather around the selected pagoda, and watch them do various Buddhist activities—starting from the opening ceremony. Flowers offering, incense lighting, and saying prayers are among the required activities during this Vietnam celebration. You can also enjoy the bright lanterns and colorful flowers, especially the pink lotus, as decorations.

Buddha’s Birthday

Address: Mekong Delta

Takes place: May

Price: Free

3. Tet Nguyen Dan

Tet Nguyen Dan is among the most important annual celebrations in Vietnam—because, in English, it translates into Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The festival is not only important but also immense and popular. Various venues in the country celebrate Tet Nguyen Dan. So no matter where you are, you can join in the revelry. Witness incredible parades, carnivals, dragon dances, and fireworks. Prior to the festivity, just like the Chinese people, the Vietnamese are also known to clean their houses to get rid of bad luck for the rest of the year.

Tet Nguyen Dan

Address: Various places

Takes place: January or February

Price: Free

4. Mid-Autumn Festival

Take part in one of the merriest festivals in Vietnam—Mid-Autumn Festival, which takes place during the full moon. In 2020, the festival falls on October 1, so be sure to mark your calendar and visit the country during this time. You can visit whichever city you like because the celebration can be seen everywhere. You will want to buy yourself a variety of moon cakes that come in both savory and sweet flavors, which you can enjoy while watching a dragon dance and marveling at the colorful lanterns.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Address: Various places

Takes place: Usually held September or October

Price: Free

5. Hue Festival

Unlike many other festivals that are held annually, Hue Festival takes place every two years. The event aims at celebrating and appreciating both the historical and cultural values of Hue. Many are not aware that Hue used to be the capital city of Vietnam a long time ago. Art and musical performances along with sports activities and poetry reading make this Vietnamese event feel even more festive.

Hue Festival

Address: Hue City

Takes place: April, May, or June

Price: Free

6. Hoi An Lantern Festival

Whether you’re traveling to Vietnam all by yourself or with your loved ones, Hoi An Lantern Festival is ready to entertain just about everyone. Seeing from the name of the festival alone, you can expect to see thousands of lanterns being lit—and if you observe thoroughly, you can see candles at the bottom of the lanterns that are meant to send prayers for prosperity, well-being, and peace. You can also enjoy a collection of art pieces produced by local artists.

Hoi An Lantern Festival

Address: Hoi An

Takes place: Every month

Price: Free

7. Danang International Fireworks Festival [Last event in 2019]

If you are fond of fireworks, you surely do not want to miss this magical festival called Danang International Fireworks Festival. It is more like a competition because the participants are international and local groups that are supposed to showcase their best fireworks creation. As a spectator, get ready to be amazed at the beautiful pyrotechnics decorating the clear skies of Danang at night. With the dramatic views of Han River as the backdrop, this major holiday in Vietnam is going to bring magic into your day.

Danang International Fireworks Festival

Address: Han River, Danang

Takes place: June to July

Price: From 300,000 VND (13 USD)

8. Hung King Temple Festival

King Hung was the first king of Vietnam, and there is no better way to honor a king than organizing an event as spectacular as possible. There will be plenty of fun activities taking place during the festival, such as cooking competitions, a water-puppet performance, folk games, and even wrestling. Breathe in the vibrant atmosphere of the surroundings while here.

Hung King Temple Festival

Address: King Hung Temple, Phu Tho Province

Takes place: April

Price: Free

9. Reunification Day

Reunification Day is one of the most important celebrations in Vietnam because it commemorates the reunification of the southern and the northern parts of the country. Looking back into history, April 30, 1975, is when Reunification Day was started, and it has been celebrated since to remember the end of Vietnam War and the regime of the Saigon government.

Reunification Day

Address: Ho Chi Minh City

Takes place: April 30

Price: Free

10. Tet Han Thuc

This festival is about family gatherings and food. You can feel the sudden warmth when you take part in the event. Banh troi and banh chay are the two dishes that will be consumed during the festival, with the whole family being together on a table. Banh troi are actually spheres with sugar inside, and banh chay are also spheres with a different filling—that is, sweet green bean. Both are made from glutinous rice flour. Both dishes are also offered to ancestors.

Tet Han Thuc

Address: Various places

Takes place: April

Price: Free

11. National Day

National Day is also known as Independence Day of Vietnam and is celebrated every September. Expect to see the Vietnam flag everywhere in various places across the country, along with festive and friendly competitions and races. At night, the local people usually light fireworks.

National Day

Address: Various places

Takes place: September

Price: Free

12. Dalat Flower Festival

Last but not least is Dalat Flower Festival. Dalat is famous not only for its buildings that display a blend of classic French and European architecture from the 20th century but also for its flowers. That is why there is a flower festival organized biennially in the city. Feel like paradise as you will be surrounded by beds of flowers everywhere—from thousands of species. There will also be fashion shows during the event.

Dalat Flower Festival

Address: Da Lat city, Lam Dong

Takes place: December

Which festivals appeal to you?

As you can see, there are so many festivals in Vietnam that it would be difficult for you to decide which ones you should attend. A solution if you want to take part in all of them is to visit the country as many times as you want—and for sure, you will not miss a single festival. But in case that is not possible, choose your favorites and be sure to participate to bring more colors to your vacation.