Vietnam is a country rich in cultural identity, where traditional festivals are not only an occasion to commemorate and honor spiritual values, but also an opportunity for descendants to learn and understand more about the history and culture of the nation. Each festival has its own stories, unique and attractive beauty. Let's explore the most famous traditional festivals in Vietnam to better understand these unique cultural values.

1. Lunar New Year

When it comes to traditional festivals in Vietnam, Tet Nguyen Dan is certainly the first name that comes to mind. This is the biggest and most important festival of the year, held at the beginning of the lunar year. Tet Nguyen Dan is not only the time of transition between the old year and the new year, but also an occasion for people to express their respect to their ancestors and pray for a peaceful and happy new year.

Tet Nguyen Dan in Vietnam takes place in a solemn but no less joyful atmosphere. Families often organize house cleaning, buy candy, fruits, fresh flowers and prepare trays of offerings to worship their ancestors. One of the important customs of Tet Nguyen Dan is wrapping Chung cake – a symbol of heaven and earth, of deep gratitude to ancestors.

During Tet, people often go to pagodas to pray for good luck, visit relatives and friends, and especially the custom of giving lucky money – giving each other lucky red envelopes with good wishes. For Vietnamese people, Tet is not only a time for reunion, but also an opportunity for everyone to look back on the past and look forward to a better future.

2. Perfume Pagoda Festival

The Perfume Pagoda Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Northern Vietnam, taking place from January to March of the lunar calendar every year. Perfume Pagoda, located in My Duc District, Hanoi, is not only a spiritual destination but also one of the famous scenic spots in Vietnam.

The Perfume Pagoda Festival attracts millions of pilgrims and worshippers every year. It is believed that visiting Perfume Pagoda at the beginning of the year will bring luck and peace for the whole year. In addition to praying, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy the majestic natural beauty of this land with its beautiful rivers, mountains and caves.

The journey to Huong Pagoda starts from Duc wharf, visitors will take a boat on Yen stream about 4km long to reach Huong Tich cave – considered the center of the festival. During the journey, visitors will admire the wild, quiet natural scenery, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Huong Pagoda Festival not only has deep spiritual meaning but is also an opportunity for people to get closer to nature, find peace of mind.

3. Giong Festival

The Gióng Festival is one of the most unique traditional festivals in Vietnam, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The festival takes place on the 9th day of the 4th lunar month every year in Phù Đổng village, Gia Lâm district, Hà Nội, to commemorate Saint Gióng – the hero who defeated the Ân invaders and protected the country.

According to legend, Saint Giong was a strange boy who, after hearing the king's call for talented people to fight the enemy, grew up very quickly and became a hero riding an iron horse and holding an iron whip to charge into battle. To commemorate his achievements, the villagers held a Giong festival with solemn rituals and many folk games.

The highlight of the Gióng Festival is the reenactment of the battle between the army of Thánh Gióng and the Ân invaders with spectacular martial arts performances. The festival is not only an occasion to commemorate the national hero but also an opportunity for the younger generation to learn more about the history and precious traditional values ​​of the nation.

4. Hung Temple Festival

Hung Temple Festival, also known as Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, is one of the largest and most important festivals in Vietnam. Held on the 10th day of the third lunar month every year in Phu Tho, the festival commemorates and honors the Hung Kings – the kings who built and defended the country.

The Hung Temple Festival attracts millions of people from all over the country. This is an opportunity for people to express their gratitude to their ancestors, pray for national peace and prosperity, and favorable weather. During the festival, worship rituals are solemnly held, imbued with the spiritual culture of the Vietnamese people.

The special feature of the festival is the palanquin procession from the foot of the mountain to the Upper Temple – where the Hung Kings are worshiped. This ritual is performed by palanquin procession teams wearing traditional costumes, creating a solemn and mysterious atmosphere. In addition, the festival also has many cultural and sports activities such as xoan singing, wrestling, and tug of war, creating a vibrant and colorful festival atmosphere.

5. Oc Om Boc Festival – Ngo Boat Racing

The Oc Om Boc Festival, also known as the Ngo Boat Racing Festival, is one of the most important festivals of the Khmer people in the South, taking place on the full moon day of the 10th lunar month. This is an occasion for the Khmer people to thank the gods, especially the Moon God, for giving them a bountiful harvest and a prosperous life.

The highlight of the festival is the Ngo boat race – a traditional sport of the Khmer people. Ngo boat is a long boat, brightly decorated and rowed by dozens of people. Ngo boat race not only shows the solidarity and strength of the community but is also a unique cultural performance, attracting the attention of many people and tourists.

The Oc Om Boc Festival also has many other cultural activities such as releasing water lanterns, Chhay-dam drum dance, traditional music and dance, creating a cultural space imbued with Khmer national identity. This is an opportunity for Khmer people to review traditional values, strengthen community spirit and also an opportunity for tourists to learn more about the unique culture of ethnic minorities in the South.

6. Boat Racing Festival Boat Racing Festival

Boat racing festival is one of the popular traditional festivals in coastal provinces and river areas in Vietnam, usually taking place in early spring of the new year. This festival is not only a sport activity but also has the meaning of praying for luck and peace for people in the new year.

In the central provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Hue, boat racing festivals often take place with the participation of many boat teams from different fishing villages. The teams compete on beautifully decorated boats, competing with each other to the cheers of people on both sides of the river. Each boat team tries their best, not only to win but also to pray for a new year of smooth sailing and bountiful harvests.

The boat racing festival not only demonstrates the strength and skill of the participants but is also an opportunity for people to connect, creating a joyful and exciting festival atmosphere for the whole community. This is one of the unique cultural beauties of the people of the Vietnamese river region, contributing to enriching the national cultural identity.

Traditional Festival

Traditional festivals in Vietnam are not only an occasion to commemorate and honor historical and cultural values, but also an opportunity for the community to unite, maintain and develop precious spiritual values. Each festival has its own beauty, reflecting the rich cultural identity of the Vietnamese people.

Participating in traditional festivals not only helps us understand more about the history and culture of our nation, but also provides an opportunity to find peaceful and quiet moments in the hustle and bustle of modern life. These spiritual values ​​have created the strong vitality of traditional festivals, helping them to survive and develop over time. Let's preserve and promote these cultural values ​​so that future generations can continue to be proud and understand more about their origins.