Vietnam Festivals: A Seasonal Calendar for Travelers
Vietnam festivals by season: Tet, the Perfume Pagoda and Lim festivals, Hung Kings, Mid-Autumn, Hoi An lantern nights and how holidays affect your travel.
Most Vietnam festivals follow the lunar calendar, so they move each year, and the busiest season is spring, in the weeks after Tet. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog explains how the calendar works, then lists festivals by season, the monthly full-moon nights, and how festivals affect travel and visas.
Traditional festivals in Vietnam range from huge national holidays to village celebrations of local spirits. Some are public holidays that close offices, including visa processing; if your trip falls near one, apply for a Vietnam e-visa online early.
Festivals at a glance:
| Festival | Lunar timing | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tet (Lunar New Year) | 1st day of the 1st month | Nationwide |
| Lim festival | 13th day of the 1st month | Bac Ninh, near Hanoi |
| Perfume Pagoda festival | From the 6th day of the 1st month into the 3rd month | Southwest of Hanoi |
| Hung Kings Commemoration | 10th day of the 3rd month | Phu Tho and nationwide |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | 15th day of the 8th month | Nationwide |
| Full-moon lantern nights | 14th to 15th day of each month | Hoi An |
How Vietnam's festival calendar works
Vietnam uses the solar calendar for daily life, but most traditional festivals follow the lunar calendar, which starts with Tet in late January or February. A festival on "the 15th day of the 8th month" falls on a different solar date each year.
Check a lunar calendar converter or local listings for the dates in your travel year. A few holidays, such as 30 April, 2 September and the new Vietnam Culture Day on 24 November, follow fixed solar dates.
Spring festivals
Spring, the first three lunar months, is Vietnam's festival season. Tet comes first; our guide to traveling during Tet explains what to expect.
The Perfume Pagoda festival is one of the largest Buddhist pilgrimages, with boat trips along a stream to cave temples southwest of Hanoi; weekends are extremely crowded. The Lim festival in Bac Ninh features Quan Ho folk singing. The Hung Kings Commemoration honors the legendary founders of the nation and is a public holiday.
Summer festivals
Summer is quieter for traditional festivals, but cities hold large modern events. Buddha's birthday, in the 4th lunar month, brings lanterns and processions to pagodas.
Da Nang hosts an international fireworks festival in early summer, drawing teams from abroad and big crowds along the Han River. Hue holds arts and heritage festivals with royal ceremonies; check the current year's program before planning around them.
Autumn festivals
The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in September or early October. It is a children's festival, with lanterns, lion dances and mooncakes.
Hanoi's Hang Ma street fills with lanterns and toys in the week before. In the south-central coast, the Cham people celebrate the Kate festival at their temple towers in autumn.
Monthly full-moon nights
The Hoi An lantern festival is held every month around the full moon, on the 14th and 15th days of the lunar month. Shops dim their electric lights, lanterns glow and people float paper lanterns on the river.
It is one of the easiest festivals to plan for, because it happens every month; our Hoi An travel guide covers the town. Two practical points follow: how public holidays affect travel, and how to behave at festivals.
Planning a trip around Vietnam festivals
Festivals add color to a trip, but some also close offices and fill transport. These two points help you plan.
Holidays and visa processing
Tet, Hung Kings Day, 30 April, 1 May, 2 September and Vietnam Culture Day are public holidays when visa processing pauses. Our guide to visa processing during public holidays shows how to count working days around them.
Festival etiquette
Dress modestly at temples and pagodas, remove shoes where others do, and ask before photographing people praying. Crowds can be intense at the biggest festivals, so keep valuables close. Our guide to Vietnamese customs covers wider etiquette.
VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service operated by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012, not a government website, and you can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you would like your dates checked against holidays, start your application with us.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest festival in Vietnam?
Tet, the Lunar New Year, is Vietnam's biggest festival and most important holiday, celebrated for about a week in late January or February. Families gather, visit temples and exchange lucky money. Many businesses close, and transport is busiest in the days before and after.
When is the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam?
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in September or early October. Check a lunar calendar for the exact date in your travel year. Celebrations, lantern sales and lion dances start in the week before.
What should I wear to a Vietnamese festival?
Wear modest clothes that cover shoulders and knees, especially at temples, pagodas and religious processions. Comfortable shoes help at crowded events. For Tet visits to homes, neat, bright clothes are appreciated; avoid all-black or all-white outfits, which are linked to mourning.
Do I need a visa to attend festivals in Vietnam?
You need a Vietnam visa or a visa exemption to enter the country; festivals need no extra permit. Read Do I need a visa for Vietnam? for your passport, and apply well before public holidays such as Tet.
