Vietnam Festivals Calendar 2026: Complete Monthly Guide to Celebrations

Vietnam celebrates a rich variety of cultural, traditional, and national festivals throughout the year. Each festival tells a story about the country’s history, religious beliefs, and community spirit. From the nationwide celebration of Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) to the magical lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, Vietnam’s festival calendar offers travelers countless opportunities to experience authentic Vietnamese culture.

Vietnam traditional festivals celebration

Many of Vietnam’s most important festivals follow the lunar calendar, meaning their dates shift from year to year. Others are fixed. Some last for a single day, while others stretch across weeks or months. If you do not plan ahead, it is easy to miss these incredible celebrations — or to arrive when the country is in full festival mode, completely unprepared.

This guide is designed to solve that problem. Below you will find every major Vietnamese festival and public holiday, organized month by month from January through December, with exact dates for 2026 wherever possible. Consider it your master planning document. Bookmark it. Build your itinerary around it. And when you decide which celebration to experience firsthand, we have linked every festival to its own in-depth guide so you can dive deeper into the details.

2026 Vietnam Festival Calendar at a Glance

Use this table as your quick-reference planning tool. For festivals that follow the lunar calendar, dates marked with an asterisk (*) are approximate and should be confirmed closer to your travel dates.

Month	Festival / Holiday	Date (2026)	Location
January	Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year)	Jan 29–31*	Nationwide
January-February	Perfume Pagoda Festival	Feb-Mar*	Hanoi
February	Lim Festival	Feb 12–13*	Bac Ninh
March-April	Hung Kings Temple Festival	Apr 10*	Phu Tho
April-May	Hue Festival	May 1-5*	Hue
May	Vesak (Buddha’s Birthday)	May 12*	Nationwide
May-June	Dragon Boat Festival	Jun 22*	Nationwide
June-July	Hue Craft Festival	May-Jun	Hue
August-September	Mid-Autumn Festival	Sep 6*	Nationwide
August-September	Wandering Souls Day	Aug 28*	Nationwide
Monthly	Hoi An Lantern Festival	14th lunar day	Hoi An
September	National Day	Sep 2	Nationwide
December	Christmas	Dec 25	Nationwide
December	New Year’s Eve	Dec 31	Nationwide

Vietnam Lim Festival traditional quan ho folk singing

January-February: The New Year Season

Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) — January 29–31, 2026*

Tet Nguyen Dan, or simply Tet, is Vietnam’s most important festival. This three-day celebration marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is observed nationwide with family reunions, temple visits, and vibrant festivities. Streets are decorated with peach blossoms (in the north) and yellow apricot blossoms (in the south), and families clean their homes to sweep away bad luck from the previous year.

Key traditions include giving lucky money in red envelopes to children, preparing special holiday dishes like banh chung (square sticky rice cakes) and visiting ancestors’ graves. Most businesses close during Tet, making it both a magical and challenging time for travelers.

Vietnam Tet Lunar New Year celebration

Learn more: Tet Nguyen Dan 2026: Ultimate Guide to Vietnam Lunar New Year Celebrations

Perfume Pagoda Festival — February–March 2026*

The Perfume Pagoda Festival is Vietnam’s longest Buddhist pilgrimage, attracting thousands of devotees who journey to the Huong Tich mountains southwest of Hanoi. The festival begins in early spring and lasts for three months, with the main pilgrimage period occurring in the second lunar month.

Pilgrims travel by boat along the Yen River, hike through mountain passes, and visit a complex of Buddhist temples and pagodas carved into limestone cliffs. The spiritual journey culminates at the Perfume Pagoda itself, believed to be one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Vietnam.

Learn more: Perfume Pagoda Festival 2026: Vietnam’s Sacred Buddhist Pilgrimage

Lim Festival — February 12–13, 2026*

Held in Bac Ninh province, the Lim Festival celebrates quan họ, Vietnam’s traditional folk singing style recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. The festival takes place in the first lunar month, typically around the 13th day, and features performances by village singers dressed in traditional clothing.

The festival is famous for its “liền anh” (male) and “liền chị” (female) singers who perform call-and-response songs while wearing colorful silk costumes. Visitors can also enjoy traditional games, processions, and the unique “tinh” ceremony where local girls sing to welcome guests.

Learn more: Lim Festival 2026: Experience Vietnam’s Quan Họ Folk Singing Heritage

March-April: Spring Celebrations

Hung Kings Temple Festival — April 10, 2026*

The Hung Kings Temple Festival honors Vietnam’s legendary founders, the Hung Kings, who are said to have ruled the country over 2,800 years ago. Held annually at the Hung Temple Complex in Phu Tho province, this festival typically occurs on the 10th day of the third lunar month.

The festival includes traditional ceremonies at the Lower Temple, incense offerings at the Upper Temple, and colorful processions featuring palanquins and traditional music. In 2012, UNESCO recognized the worship of the Hung Kings as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting its significance to Vietnamese national identity.

Learn more: Hung Kings Temple Festival 2026: Honoring Vietnam’s Legendary Founders

Hue Festival — May 1–5, 2026*

The Hue Festival is a biennial celebration of Vietnam’s imperial heritage, hosted in the former capital of Hue. This week-long festival showcases the city’s UNESCO-listed monuments, traditional court music, and cultural performances. The next edition takes place in 2026, attracting performers from dozens of countries.

Festival highlights include the spectacular Ao Dai Fashion Show along the Perfume River, traditional court music performances at the Imperial City, and boat races on the river. The festival transforms Hue into an open-air museum where past and present merge in colorful displays of art, culture, and history.

Learn more: Hue Festival 2026: Vietnam’s Grand Cultural Celebration in Imperial City

May-June: Buddhist and Summer Festivals

Vesak (Buddha’s Birthday) — May 12, 2026*

Vesak, also known as Phật Đản in Vietnamese, commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Gautama Buddha. This sacred Buddhist holiday falls on the 15th day of the fourth lunar month and is celebrated nationwide with temple ceremonies, prayer flags, and acts of charity.

In major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, temples are decorated with lotus lanterns and monks lead special chants and prayers. The day is also marked by acts of compassion, including releasing birds and fish into the wild and making offerings to the poor. Many Buddhist families observe vegetarian diets during this time.

Learn more: Vesak Vietnam 2026: Buddha’s Birthday Celebrations and Temple Traditions

Dragon Boat Festival — June 22, 2026*

The Dragon Boat Festival, known in Vietnam as Tết Đoan Ngọ, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. This traditional festival includes dragon boat races on rivers and lakes across the country, particularly in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake and in the Mekong Delta region.

Beyond the exciting boat races, the festival features traditional food like “tro” and “u” (sticky rice dumplings) and includes rituals to ward off evil spirits. Families also visit pagodas and temples to pray for health and prosperity during the summer months ahead.

Learn more: Dragon Boat Festival Vietnam 2026: Traditional Racing and Customs

Hue Craft Festival — May–June 2026

The Hue Craft Festival celebrates Vietnam’s traditional crafts and artisanal heritage, particularly those from the central region. Held in Hue’s imperial city, this biennial festival showcases traditional crafts including wood carving, embroidery, pottery, and silk weaving.

Artisans from across Vietnam and neighboring countries demonstrate their techniques and sell handmade products. The festival also includes cultural performances, traditional games, and food stalls offering Hue’s famous imperial cuisine.

Learn more: Hue Craft Festival 2026: Showcasing Vietnam’s Traditional Arts and Heritage

August-September: Autumn Festivals

Mid-Autumn Festival — September 6, 2026*

Tết Trung Thu, the Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of Vietnam’s most joyous celebrations, particularly for children. Taking place on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the festival features colorful lanterns, lion dances, and mooncakes.

In cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, streets come alive with children carrying lanterns in night-time processions. Lion dance troupes perform in neighborhoods, and families gather to eat mooncakes while watching the full moon. The festival also commemorates the legend of Cuoi, whose wife accidentally flew to the moon with their magical banyan tree.

Learn more: Vietnam Mid-Autumn Festival 2026: Tet Trung Thu Lanterns and Mooncakes

Wandering Souls Day — August 28, 2026*

Wandering Souls Day, known in Vietnam as Vu Lan, is a Buddhist and Taoist festival honoring deceased ancestors and wandering spirits. Occurring on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month (sometimes called Ghost Month), this solemn festival involves visits to pagodas, offerings of food and incense, and the burning of paper money and clothing for the deceased.

A central tradition involves the wearing of roses: red roses for those whose parents are living, white roses for those whose parents have passed away. Temples are crowded with worshipers making offerings and praying for their ancestors’ spirits to find peace.

Learn more: Wandering Souls Day Vietnam 2026: Vu Lan Ghost Festival Traditions

October-December: Year-End Celebrations

Hoi An Lantern Festival — Monthly (14th lunar day)

One of Vietnam’s most magical experiences, the Hoi An Lantern Festival takes place every month on the 14th day of the lunar calendar. On this evening, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An turns off all electric lights and illuminates its streets and river with thousands of colorful lanterns.

Residents and visitors release paper lanterns onto the Thu Bon River, creating a spectacular display of floating lights. The festival includes traditional music performances, folk games, and street food stalls. Old Town traffic is restricted, creating a pedestrian-only atmosphere perfect for wandering the lantern-lit streets.

Hoi An Lantern Festival night view

Learn more: Hoi An Lantern Festival 2026: Monthly Full Moon Celebrations Guide

National Day — September 2

Vietnam’s National Day commemorates the country’s declaration of independence from France in 1945. Celebrated on September 2, this public holiday features patriotic ceremonies, flag displays, and fireworks in major cities.

In Hanoi, crowds gather at Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh declared independence. While the official ceremonies are solemn, the day also includes concerts, parades, and community events. Many businesses and government offices close, so travelers should plan accordingly.

Learn more: Vietnam National Day 2026: September 2 Independence Celebrations

Christmas and New Year — December 25–31

Although Vietnam is not a Christian-majority country, Christmas is widely celebrated, especially in cities with large Catholic communities like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and parts of Hanoi. Streets are decorated with lights and Christmas trees, and churches hold midnight Mass services.

New Year’s Eve is celebrated with countdown events, fireworks displays, and parties in major cities. Ho Chi Minh City’s Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street and Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake area host large celebrations with live music performances.

Learn more: Christmas and New Year in Vietnam 2026: Festive Celebrations Guide

Planning Your Vietnam Festival Trip

Best Times to Visit

December–March: Cool, dry weather ideal for festivals like Tet and the Perfume Pagoda pilgrimage
May–June: Good for Hue Festival and Vesak celebrations, though temperatures are higher
September–October: Cooler weather perfect for the Mid-Autumn Festival and Hoi An Lantern Festival

Practical Tips

Book Early: Festivals, especially Tet, cause travel surges. Book accommodation and transport months in advance
Check Lunar Dates: Many festival dates vary yearly. Confirm dates closer to your trip
Respect Customs: Many festivals have religious significance. Dress modestly and follow temple etiquette
Plan for Closures: Businesses often close during major festivals like Tet and National Day

Regional Highlights

Northern Vietnam: Tet celebrations, Perfume Pagoda, Lim Festival
Central Vietnam: Hue Festival, Hoi An Lantern Festival
Southern Vietnam: Tet traditions in Mekong Delta, Christmas celebrations

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which is the best Vietnam festival for first-time visitors?

A: Tet Nguyen Dan offers the most comprehensive cultural experience, with nationwide celebrations, traditional foods, and family-oriented activities. However, it’s also the busiest travel period. For a more relaxed introduction, the Hoi An Lantern Festival provides a magical atmosphere without the crowds of Tet.

Q: Do I need tickets for Vietnam festivals?

A: Most traditional festivals are free public events, though some attractions within festival areas may charge entrance fees. The Hue Festival typically requires tickets for certain performances, while temple ceremonies are generally free. Always check official sources for current ticketing information.

Q: Are Vietnam festivals family-friendly?

A: Absolutely. Many festivals, especially Tet and the Mid-Autumn Festival, are specifically designed around family and children. The Hoi An Lantern Festival is particularly magical for families with its gentle boat rides and lantern releases.

Q: What should I wear to Vietnamese festivals?

A: Dress modestly for temple ceremonies and religious festivals — cover shoulders and knees. For secular celebrations like the Hue Festival or Hoi An Lantern Festival, casual comfortable clothing is appropriate. Consider bringing an umbrella or rain jacket as many festivals occur during rainy season.

Ready to plan your Vietnam festival adventure? Start by choosing which celebration aligns with your travel dates, then dive into our detailed guides for each festival to learn more about traditions, logistics, and insider tips.