Vietnam is more than breathtaking landscapes and delicious food — it’s a country where the year beats to the rhythm of festivals, traditions, and spiritual celebrations. Across its diverse ethnic groups, these events range from intimate family gatherings to nationwide celebrations that light up the streets.
Tet – Vietnamese New Year 🧧✨
If you could combine Christmas, Thanksgiving, and your birthday into one magical week, you’d get Tet — Vietnam’s most important holiday.
Tet marks a fresh start, with clean homes, new clothes, and hearts full of good intentions. The days leading up to it are filled with excitement — markets bustle with shoppers, families prepare special dishes like:
- Pickled vegetables 🥒
- Candied lotus seeds 🌸
- Sugared fruits 🍬
These are first offered to ancestors at the family altar. Even the first visitor of the year is carefully chosen — ideally someone respected, lucky, and happily married to bring good fortune.
Weddings & Funerals – Life’s Milestones 💍🕯️
In Vietnam, even personal ceremonies spill out into the streets. The tenth lunar month is the most auspicious time for weddings, celebrated under colorful marquees with music, food, and laughter. Funerals, too, are deeply communal, with neighbors joining to honor and support the family.
The Perfume Pagoda Festival 🏯⛰️
A blend of pilgrimage and adventure, this spring festival takes visitors on a scenic journey through temples, caves, and mountains. To reach Saint Linh Son Temple on Lady Den Mountain, pilgrims climb halfway up the slopes. Here, vegetarian meals are served by kind monks in exchange for donations — and visitors are welcome to stay a few days, soaking in the peaceful spiritual atmosphere.
Mid-Autumn Festival – A Celebration for Families & Children 🌕🏮
The second biggest festival in Vietnam, Tet Trung Thu honors the harvest and the joy of family. Streets fill with lanterns, lion dances, and mooncakes, while children parade in costumes under the full moon. It’s a time of storytelling, games, and pure joy.
Other Festivities 🎭🎶
Throughout the year, you might stumble upon:
- Lion dances in vibrant streets 🦁
- Folk singing & traditional opera 🎤
- Chess games in public squares ♟️
- Lamp offerings on rivers 🏮
- Village fairs full of music & crafts 🎨
Why Festivals Matter in Vietnam
These celebrations aren’t just about having fun — they are living traditions that connect the Vietnamese people to their history, ancestors, and communities.
Whether you’re watching a dragon dance in the heart of Hanoi, tasting mooncakes in Hoi An, or joining pilgrims at the Perfume Pagoda, you’ll see a side of Vietnam that’s as rich in spirit as it is in beauty.
