7 Most Important Festivals in Vietnam Tourists Shouldn’t Miss in 2025/2026

Vietnam’s rich cultural traditions are on full display during the many festivals that take place during the year. There’s no better way to experience the authentic flavor of life in Southeast Asia than by joining locals in celebrations with ancient roots. Each festival offers a unique blend of traditions, food, and communal spirit. Here are the top seven no tourist should miss.

Lunar New Year: One of the Biggest Festivals in Vietnam (Late Jan or Early Feb)

Tet is probably the most important festival of the year for Vietnamese people.

The Lunar New Year takes place on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar. In the lead-up to Tet, local markets are packed with people shopping for food, decorations, and flowers. Big cities empty out as people travel back to their hometowns to see family, and streets and homes are decorated with peach and apricot blossoms.

In Hanoi, the Hanoi Opera House hosts big parties with fireworks displays at night. In the morning, you can see locals lighting incense and praying to ancestors at Ngoc Son Temple or Quan Su Pagoda. All over the country, you can try traditional foods like sticky rice cakes.

The next Tet is on January 29, 2025. 

Vietnam Lunar New Year

Mid-Autumn Festival: Biggest Lantern Festival in Vietnam (Late Sept or Early Oct)

There are several lantern festivals during the year, but the Mid-Autumn Festival is by far the biggest.

Known locally as Tet Trung Thu, it is held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, coinciding with a full moon. It’s a joyous and colorful festival with exciting street processions and lion dances.

The most important food during the festival is mooncakes, which are small, round cakes baked with sweet or savory fillings. It is a popular festival for children, and other common foods are sweet jellies and biscuits.

The next Mid-Autumn Festival is September 17, 2024.

Vietnam mooncakes

Perfume Festival: One of the Largest Religious Festivals in Vietnam (Celebrate Every Month in the Spring)

The Perfume Pagoda is a group of pagodas, temples, and caves in My Duc district, a two-hour drive from Hanoi. It is a place of great importance to Buddhists and home to the largest religious festival in Vietnam.

The Perfume Pagoda Festival lasts from the 6th day of the first lunar month to the end of the third lunar month. Pilgrims travel to the Perfume Pagoda to pray for health, prosperity, and good fortune.

Buddhist pilgrims travel by boat across the Yen Vi River and hike through the picturesque landscape to the caves of the Huong Tich Mountain. Local monks light incense, filling the air with pleasant scents, and tourists are welcome to observe the ancient rituals.

The next Perfume Festival is from January 6 to March 31, 2025.

8 Days Best of Vietnam Tour Package

Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hoi An - Saigon - Mekong Delta – Saigon

Buddha’s Birthday: Celebrated for One of the Founders of Buddhism in the World (Late May or Early June)

A festival to honor the birth, death, and enlightenment of Buddha is held in Vietnam on the 9th day of the fourth lunar month. It is a deeply important festival in local culture and is celebrated at temples all over the country. Buddhists bring offerings of food, flowers, and fruit and partake in prayer and rituals.

One of the best places to see the celebrations is the Phap Bao Pagoda in Hoi An. Beginning with processions of monks along the streets of Hoi An Ancient Town, devotees then make their way to temples to listen to Buddhist scriptures and take part in rituals.

The next Buddha’s Birthday is on May 5, 2025.

Vietnam Buddha’s Birthday

Ghost Festival or Wandering Souls Day: Memorizing the Ancestors (Late Aug or Early Sept)

The Ghost Festival, known as Vu Lan, is a solemn festival observed on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. It is believed that the spirit realm opens for one day, and the souls of the dead are able to roam the land.

On the night before the festival, families pay respect to their ancestors with prayer and offerings of flowers and fruit at their graves. Paper money is burned for use in the afterlife, and candles and lanterns are sent floating down rivers to guide the wandering souls to nirvana.

The next Ghost Festival is on August 18, 2024.

Vietnam Ghost Festival

Giong Festival: One of the Most Famous Events in Hanoi (Late Jan or Early Feb)

The Giong Festival is celebrated in Hanoi to honor the mythical hero Thanh Giong. His legend tells of his defending Vietnam against foreign invaders, and he is the country’s first anti-invasion hero. The largest celebrations are held at Soc Temple in Soc Son District and Phu Dong Temple in Gia Lam District. Festivalgoers offer incense and can see reenactments of Thanh Giong’s heroic feats.

In 2010, it was added to UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The reenactments include elaborate flag dances symbolizing the battle and a white horse procession.

The next Giong Festival will be on February 4-5, 2025.

The Giong Festival of Vietnam

Hoi An Lantern Festival: Very Attractive to the International Tourists (Celebrates Every Month)

The Hoi An Lantern Festival is one of the most famous festivals in Vietnam. Held every month on the night of the full moon, the streets of Hoi An Ancient Town are illuminated with thousands of colorful lanterns. The streets are closed to traffic, and all-electric lights are shut off so people can fully enjoy the beautiful scenes.

Visitors can enjoy the fairy-tale sight and see performances of folk music and traditional games. It is a charming festival with lots of delicious food to accompany the festivities.

The Hoi An Lantern Festival is held on the 14th day of each lunar month.

14 Days Highlights of Vietnam from North to South

Hanoi – Sapa - Halong Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Saigon – Can Tho – Phu Quoc

More Festivals in Vietnam

Many other festivals take place throughout the country each year. 

Independence Day is celebrated on September 2 to commemorate the country’s independence. Parades and fireworks displays are held in major cities.

Reunification Day is held annually to celebrate the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1975. It is a lively festival with musical performances and historic songs. It takes place on April 30.

Lim Festival is a unique festival held in Lim Village in Bac Ninh Province on the 12th and 13th day of the first lunar month. The highlight of the festival is traditional Quan So singing by costumed singers.

Hue Festival is held in the former imperial capital of Hue, the Hue Festival is a vibrant summer celebration held every two years from April to June. It includes art performances, parades, dances, and traditional costume fashion shows. 

Conclusion

There’s something to enjoy every month of the year, so you can always find a festival to join and learn more about local Vietnamese Culture.

From unique regional festivals like the Hoi An Lantern Festival to grand celebrations like the Lunar New Year that take place across the whole country, the rich tapestry of Vietnam’s history lives on to this day.

Find out more about our tours that include festivals in Vietnam, or contact us for more information on how you can participate in local celebrations.