Vietnam’s Festival Calendar: Month-by-Month Celebrations

Vietnam is a country that never really sleeps. The country’s festivals tumble one after another—some steeped in centuries of tradition, others so spontaneous you can only stumble upon them. Dates often follow the lunar calendar, so they shift from year to year, but the spirit stays the same: joy, food, music, and a sense that everyone is invited.

Photo Credit: Hong Ngoc Ha Travel

January – Tết (Lunar New Year)

The year begins with the big bang of Tết, usually in late January or early February. Think Christmas, New Year, and Thanksgiving rolled into one. Families scrub every corner of their homes, buy kumquat trees heavy with fruit, and hang red banners for luck. Markets overflow with bánh chưng (sticky rice cakes), candied ginger, and blossoms.

On New Year’s Eve, the streets fall silent for a heartbeat—then fireworks erupt, motorbikes stream past, and neighbors trade cheerful “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!” Plan ahead: many restaurants close, but the joy of wandering quiet streets under drifting smoke is unforgettable.

February – Perfume Pagoda Pilgrimage

Photo Credit: Văn Hóa Việt Nam

A slower, more spiritual pace. From Hanoi, boats glide through misty limestone karsts to the Perfume Pagoda. Pilgrims light incense in cave shrines, their chants echoing off stone walls. Even if you’re not religious, it’s a meditative counterpoint to Tết’s bustle.

Late March / Early April – Hùng Kings’ Festival

Vietnamese trace their roots to the legendary Hùng Kings, and on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month (solar late March or early April), crowds gather in Phú Thọ Province.

Drums, processions, and offerings honor the nation’s founders. Smaller temples across the country hold their own rites, so even in Hanoi you’ll catch the scent of sandalwood in the air.

April – Reunification Day (April 30)

Fireworks, parades, and a sea of red flags mark the day Saigon became Ho Chi Minh City in 1975. Expect heavy travel, book buses or flights early – but the festive energy makes it worth the hassle.

May – Buddha’s Birthday

Photo Credit: Vietnam Travel Group

On the 15th day of the 4th lunar month, pagodas bloom with lanterns and lotus flowers. In Hue, monks float candlelit boats down the Perfume River, a sight that seems to pause time.

June – Whale Worship

Along the coast, fishermen believe whales protect sailors. Villages from Binh Thuan to Vung Tau hold boat races and offer lavish feasts to giant whale skeletons kept in seaside temples. It’s part spiritual, part street carnival, and wholly local.

July & August – Vu Lan (Ghost Month)

The 7th lunar month belongs to wandering spirits. Families burn paper money, clothes, even tiny paper iPhones so ancestors won’t lack for anything in the afterlife. You might see floating lanterns drifting down rivers – beautiful, a little eerie, and uniquely Vietnamese.

September – National Day & Mid-Autumn Festival

Vietnam National Day – 2 September

The whole country marks the day President Hồ Chí Minh declared independence in 1945. Expect red flags everywhere, big parades in Hà Nội, and evening fireworks in major cities. In Saigon, the riverside and pedestrian streets fill with families, street food, and music long before the first rocket lights the sky.

Mid-Autumn Festival – 15th day of the 8th lunar month (often late September or early October)

Photo Credit: VietNamNet

Pure childhood joy: lion dances, mooncakes filled with lotus seed paste, and kids parading with star-shaped lanterns. Hội An turns into a glowing dream of candlelight and laughter, while Saigon’s Chợ Lớn district becomes a lantern wonderland.

October – Highland Harvests

Up north, terraced rice fields shine like molten gold. Ethnic minority groups celebrate the harvest with dance, music, and rice wine potent enough to warm the cold mountain nights. Trekking in Sapa during this time feels like walking into a living postcard.

November – Ok Om Bok (Moon Worship)

Photo Credit: Bazan Travel

In the Mekong Delta, the Khmer community thanks the moon for a good harvest. Dragon boats slice through rivers under a full moon, lanterns bob on the water, and night markets spill over with sweets. Trà Vinh and Sóc Trăng are the places to be.

December – Christmas & New Year

Vietnam’s Catholic heritage shines in Da Nang and Saigon, where churches glow and children in Santa hats weave through motorbike traffic. Outdoor concerts keep the energy high until the final countdown.

The Surprise Festival: Đi Bão

Photo Credit: VnExpress

Some of Vietnam’s best parties aren’t on the calendar. When the national football team wins a big match, think AFF Cup or SEA Games – the entire country erupts into đi bão (“go storming”).

Motorbikes swarm the streets, horns blare, flags whip through the night air. Foreign visitors often find themselves swept into spontaneous parades, high-fiving strangers until dawn. Check the sports schedule; if Vietnam makes a final, clear your evening.

Festival Travel Tips Locals Swear By

Frequently Asked Questions

Home Base for Your Festival Chase

From the hush of lanterns on a quiet river to the roar of football fans flooding a boulevard, Vietnam’s festivals show a country that celebrates everything—ancestors, harvests, heroes, even last-minute goals. Plan your trip around a few of these events and you’ll collect stories that no itinerary can promise.

In bustling Ho Chi Minh City, Kin Hotel makes a perfect anchor. After a day of incense smoke and fireworks, you can sink into cool sheets, swap stories with friendly staff, and pick up insider tips for the next celebration.

And when the drums quiet down, Kin Hotel is waiting with a cool lobby, a soft bed, and staff who can tell you which celebration starts tomorrow.

🛎️ Book your stay with Kin Hotel

Love diving into Vietnam’s rich culture and timeless heritage? Follow @kinhotel on Instagram and TikTok for hidden traditions, inspiring stories, and deeper ways to connect with the soul of Vietnam.