1. Vietnam Festivals in Spring (January - March)

As the country ushers in the new year, spring blossoms with vibrant celebrations deeply rooted in spirituality and community. Here are the key festivals you can experience during this lively season:

1.1. Tet Holiday (Lunar New Year)

Tet Nguyen Dan, or Lunar New Year, is the nation's most celebrated and anticipated festival. Its main purpose is to welcome the new year, pray for good luck, health, and prosperity, and serve as an occasion for family reunions and honoring ancestors.

The ceremonial part includes rituals of ancestor worship, “xong dat” (first-footing), “hai loc dau nam” (picking lucky sprouts). The festive part involves vibrant street decorations, fireworks, visiting relatives and friends to extend New Year greetings, and participating in folk games. People often wear new clothes, exchange “li xi” (lucky money), and enjoy traditional dishes like "banh chung" (sticky rice cake).

Streets and homes are adorned with vibrant flowers and decorations, symbolizing good fortune for Tet (Source: Pexels)

During Tet, it's customary to give and receive "Li Xi" – red envelopes filled with lucky money, especially for children (Source: Pexels)

1.2. Perfume Pagoda Festival

The Perfume Pagoda Festival is one of Vietnam's largest and longest Buddhist pilgrimage festivals. This festival uniquely combines spiritual pilgrimage with scenic sightseeing. The ceremonial part includes worship rituals at temples and pagodas, especially Thien Tru Pagoda and Huong Tich Cave. The festive part involves traveling by boat on the Yen Stream, hiking up the mountain, exploring magnificent caves, and participating in folk cultural activities.

The festival is a unique blend of natural beauty, spiritual devotion, and cultural exploration, a must-see for those interested in Vietnamese heritage

1.3. Lim Festival

The Lim Festival is a unique folk cultural festival, famous for its "Quan Ho" folk songs, which are recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The highlight of this festival is the Quan Ho courtship singing performances on dragon boats or in small huts on the hills, along with folk games such as wrestling, pot smashing, and blindfolded goat catching.

A vibrant spring celebration in Bac Ninh, Vietnam, renowned for its captivating "Quan Họ" folk singing, a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage (Source: Canva)

2. Vietnam Festivals in Summer (April - August)

As the warmth of spring fades, Vietnam ushers in a lively summer, brimming with a different set of exciting festivals. Get ready for coastal celebrations, dazzling firework displays, and historical commemorations below:

2.1. Hue Festival (Annually)

Hue Festival is a large-scale cultural and artistic event, with national and international significance, held biennially. Its main purpose is to honor the cultural heritage values of the ancient capital of Hue, introduce traditional Vietnamese art, and foster international cultural exchange. The festive part features traditional art performances Nha Nhac Cung Dinh Hue (Hue royal court music), dazzling street parades, art exhibitions, and international performance programs. Domestic and international tourists come here and attend performances, explore historical sites, and enjoy Hue cuisine.

A grand international cultural event celebrating the rich imperial heritage and unique traditions of Hue, Vietnam's ancient capital

This biennial event is crucial for promoting Hue's historical and cultural values, offering a deep dive into Vietnam's past

2.2. Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF)

The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) is a major international fireworks art event, attracting competitive teams from various countries worldwide. The highlight of the festival is the "fireworks battles" between competing teams over the Han River, each presenting a unique story and style synchronized with music, along with auxiliary activities such as food festivals and street art performances.

Witness dazzling fireworks choreographed to music, transforming Da Nang's skyline into a vibrant canvas of light and color (Source: Pexels)

2.3. Nha Trang Sea Festival

The Nha Trang Sea Festival is a large cultural and tourism event aimed at honoring the beauty of the sea and islands, and the culture of the people of Khanh Hoa. This festival transforms the coastal city into a colorful cultural carnival with marine art programs, fashion shows, photo exhibitions, folk games on the beach, marine sports competitions, and seafood culinary festivals.

A vibrant biennial event celebrating Nha Trang's rich marine culture, coastal heritage, and strong connection to the ocean

2.4. Hung Kings Festival

The Hung Kings Festival is a national holiday commemorating and expressing gratitude for the merits of the Hung Kings – the nation's founders. The ceremonial part includes palanquin processions, incense offerings, and ceremonial rites at the temples on Nghia Linh Mountain, expressing the reverence of the entire nation. The festive part consists of traditional folk games such as making "banh chung" (sticky rice cake), pounding "banh day" (round sticky rice cake), wrestling competitions, "Xoan" singing, and cultural activities rich in the identity of the ancestral land.

This significant event symbolizes the strong sense of national origin and unity shared by Vietnamese people worldwide

3. Vietnam Festivals in Autumn (September - October)

As the summer heat mellows, autumn in Vietnam unveils a captivating array of festivals rich in local traditions and spiritual significance. This season invites visitors to experience unique cultural celebrations, from lantern-lit streets to vibrant ethnic gatherings.

3.1. Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a traditional celebration observed in many East and Southeast Asian countries, particularly Vietnam and China. Held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, it marks the time when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This festival is deeply rooted in the cultural values of family reunion, gratitude, and harmony. People celebrate by gathering for moon-viewing, enjoying mooncakes, and lighting colorful lanterns.

In Vietnam, children parade with star-shaped lanterns and participate in lion dances, creating a joyful and vibrant atmosphere. The Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a time to appreciate the beauty of the moon but also to cherish loved ones and preserve cultural traditions passed down through generations.

Also known as the Moon Festival, this celebration marks the brightest full moon of the year, a time for family gatherings and gratitude (Source: Pexels)

Look out for energetic lion dances and traditional folk games that add to the vibrant spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival (Source: Pexels)

3.2. Kate Festival

The Kate Festival is the most important annual festival of the Cham community following Brahmanism in Vietnam. Its purpose is to commemorate deities, national heroes, and the deceased, praying for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and a prosperous life.

The ceremonial part includes the procession of costumes to the towers, the opening of the temple doors, the bathing of deity statues, and traditional sacrificial rituals with distinctive offerings. Tourists can participate in traditional dances such as fan dance, water-pot dance, Siva dance, and Cham folk games like tug-of-war and "saranai" horn-blowing competitions.

A deeply significant annual celebration of the Cham ethnic group in Vietnam, honoring their ancestors and deities (Source: Pexels)

3.3. Hanoi International Film Festival

The Ha Noi International Film Festival is a major cinematic event, aiming to honor outstanding films and foster cultural exchange between film industries worldwide. This festival stands out for its diverse film screenings from numerous countries, insightful talks, engaging workshops, and prestigious award ceremonies. Throughout the festival, attendees can enjoy premiere screenings, participate in interactive Q&A sessions with directors and actors, and explore fascinating side activities like film exhibitions.

A premier cinematic event showcasing diverse films from Vietnam and around the world

3.4. Hoi An Lantern Festival (Monthly)

The Hoi An Lantern Festival is a monthly cultural event that brings a magical and shimmering beauty to the Ancient Town and preserves the traditional beauty of Hoi An, while also creating a highlight to attract tourists. Notably, the festival is at its most bustling and spectacular during the full moon of August, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Tourists and locals strolling through the streets, admiring lanterns, releasing flower lanterns on the Hoai River, enjoying traditional folk music performances, and participating in traditional games.

On full moon nights, Hoi An glows with shimmering beauty, inviting visitors to stroll and admire intricate lantern designs (Source: Pexels)

4. Vietnam Festivals in Winter (November - New Year)

As the year draws to a close, Vietnam embraces a festive winter season, culminating in joyful year-end celebrations and unique cultural events. Prepare to experience the shimmering lights and vibrant atmosphere that define this special time of year.

4.1. Thai Nguyen Tea Festival

The Thai Nguyen Tea Festival is a vibrant cultural and economic event that celebrates the region's rich tea-growing tradition and the artistry of tea making. The festival offers unique opportunities for cultural exchange and hands-on experiences at the scenic tea hills. Attendees can immerse themselves in a variety of activities, including captivating tea brewing and roasting competitions, extensive exhibitions of tea products, and engaging artistic performances.

Experience traditional tea ceremonies, witness tea-making competitions, and explore exhibitions of premium tea products (Source: Pexels)

4.1. Christmas Festival

Christmas brings a festive atmosphere to the end of the year, though they are not a traditional Vietnamese festival. Major cities are splendidly decorated with dazzling Christmas lights and giant Christmas trees. People often go to major cathedrals like Notre Dame Cathedral (Ho Chi Minh City) or St. Joseph's Cathedral (Hanoi) and make decorations, go shopping, attend small music performances.

Witness cities light up with festive decorations and glittering trees, marking the joyful holiday season (Source: Pexels)

4.2. New Year’s Eve Countdown Parties

New Year's Eve countdown parties are vibrant events marking the transition from the old year to the new year according to the Gregorian calendar, along with spectacular fireworks displays. They typically gather at squares and walk the streets to count down together and watch the fireworks. These celebrations often feature a dazzling array of activities, including lively street music festivals with famous artists, captivating laser light shows, and, most notably, magnificent fireworks displays at the stroke of midnight.

Experience vibrant city celebrations as locals and visitors gather to welcome the new year (Source: Pexels)

4.3. Da Lat Flower Festival

The Da Lat Flower Festival is a unique cultural and tourism event that honors the beauty of flowers and the traditional flower-growing craft of the “City of a Thousand Flowers”. Tourists take part in exhibitions of fresh flowers and ornamental plants, flower arrangements, flower parade floats, art nights, flower arranging competitions, and a night flower market.

The festival combines exquisite floral art with cultural performances and fashion shows

Vietnam festivals offer an extraordinary range of experiences, from spiritual traditions to spectacular coastal fireworks and captivating cultural shows. Each celebration provides unique insights into Vietnamese culture, values, and community spirit. For detailed travel planning and seasonal festival insights, explore our travel guides to discover expert tips for creating your perfect cultural journey through Vietnam's festive traditions.