7 Most Important Festivals in Vietnam Tourists Shouldn’t Miss in 2026/2027
Ivy
I’m Ivy. Over the past 10 years, I’ve planned private trips for more than 500 travelers, and those journeys have received 100% positive feedback.
In 2018, I traveled solo across Indochina. Since then, I’ve looked at routes differently. Some need another night. Some transfers take too much time for too little reward. And sometimes, an itinerary simply has too much packed into it.
That is the kind of detail I focus on when I write—how long to stay, which route makes sense, and what is actually worth including.
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Festivals are a big part of life in Vietnam and a wonderful way for travelers to feel the country’s real culture. Almost every month, there is a celebration somewhere, with music, food, and smiling faces everywhere. From the bright fireworks of Lunar New Year to the colorful lanterns in Hoi An, these festivals show how much Vietnamese people love joy and togetherness.
If you plan to visit Vietnam in 2026/2027, joining a local festival will make your trip even more special. You’ll see traditions that have been passed down for centuries and meet locals who are happy to share their customs. Each festival has its own meaning. Some are about family, others are about nature or religion, but all are full of warmth and fun.
In this article, you’ll discover the 7 most important festivals in Vietnam that travelers should not miss. You’ll also find a few extra celebrations held around the country each year. Whether you want to join big national events or small local ones, Vietnam always has something exciting to celebrate.
Lunar New Year: One of the Biggest Festivals in Vietnam (Late Jan or Early Feb)
Mid-Autumn Festival: The Biggest Lantern Festival in Vietnam (Late Sept or Early Oct)
Perfume Festival: One of the Largest Religious Festivals in Vietnam (Spring)
Buddha’s Birthday: A Peaceful Buddhist Festival in Vietnam (Late May or Early June)
Ghost Festival or Wandering Souls Day: Remembering Ancestors (Late Aug or Early Sept)
Giong Festival: One of the Most Famous Events in Hanoi
Hoi An Lantern Festival: A Favorite Festival for International Travelers (Celebrates Every Month)
Lunar New Year: One of the Biggest Festivals in Vietnam (Late Jan or Early Feb)
Tet is 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 days leading 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 February 17, 2026.
Vietnam Lunar New YearMid-Autumn Festival: The 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 25, 2026.
Vietnam mooncakesPerfume Festival: One of the Largest Religious Festivals in Vietnam (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 usually 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, 2026.
Buddha’s Birthday: A Peaceful Buddhist Festival in Vietnam (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 take part in prayers 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 24, 2026.
Vietnam Buddha’s BirthdayGhost Festival or Wandering Souls Day: Remembering 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 respects 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 27, 2026.
Vietnam Ghost FestivalGiong Festival: One of the Most Famous Events in Hanoi
The Giong Festival is celebrated in Hanoi to honor the mythical hero Thanh Giong. His legend tells the story of how he defended 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 watch 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 May 3-5, 2026.
The Giong Festival of VietnamHoi An Lantern Festival: A Favorite Festival for International Travelers (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 electric lights are shut off so people can fully enjoy the beautiful scenes.
Visitors can enjoy the fairy-tale scenery 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.
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 Ho singing by costumed singers.
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.
Ivy
I’m Ivy. Over the past 10 years, I’ve planned private trips for more than 500 travelers, and those journeys have received 100% positive feedback.
In 2018, I traveled solo across Indochina. Since then, I’ve looked at routes differently. Some need another night. Some transfers take too much time for too little reward. And sometimes, an itinerary simply has too much packed into it.
That is the kind of detail I focus on when I write—how long to stay, which route makes sense, and what is actually worth including.
Email me about your travel idea
