Vietnam is now a firm favourite for tourists travelling across Asia. From the frantic and dynamic cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the stunning paradise island of Halong Bay and lush green mountains perfect for trekking, Vietnam is a country of diversity and energy. Vietnam holidays promise plenty of adventure, incredible scenery and mouth-watering cuisine and one of the best times to visit is during one of Vietnam’s many festivals.
There is an exciting calendar of colourful festivals and events for travellers to enjoy on their Vietnam holidays throughout the year. Many are Chinese in origin, but across the country they represent the diverse ethnicity and religious beliefs of the population, ranging from holy gatherings to localised festivities and large national celebrations, such as the New Year revelries. The festivals offer an exciting glimpse into this rapidly changing country and a chance to learn a little more about the culture and tradition on your Vietnam tours.
Many organised Vietnam tours can be arranged specifically around these events to ensure you get the very best experience. In fact, because there is so much to see on your Vietnam holidays, often one of the best ways is to create bespoke Vietnam tours with experienced guides, who can really help you get to the heart of the people and festivities.
This list of popular events should help to inspire you and help you plan when to take your Vietnam holidays:
- The most important festival in the Vietnamese calendar is Tet, the seven day New Year celebration. The exact date of the festival changes, but is usually around the beginning of February. As anyone who has already been on Vietnam holidays during this time will tell you, there is a real sense of excitement and optimism in the air. Tet is a public holiday and is marked with firework displays, giving presents and feasting. The most famous dish prepared for Tet is called banh chung, a delicious parcel of sweet sticky rice and pork wrapped in banana leaves.
- If you are travelling in the Summer, try to catch the Trang Nguyen festival. It’s the second most important event after Tet and also known as the Day of Wandering Souls. Trang Nguyen is a time of forgiveness and charity, with offerings of food and clothing.
- If travelling in late May to early June, your Vietnam tours could be organised around the famous and exciting Dragon Boat races held for Tet Doan Ngo (the Summer Solstice).
- Trung Thu, also known as Children’s Day or The Mid-Autumn Festival, is a beautiful event marked by dragon dances, lanterns and eating special cakes called banh trung thu.
- There are also many localised festivals that would make fascinating additions to your Vietnam tours. How about the flower festival in the picturesque city of Da Lat, the Lim Singing Festival in the Red River Delta or the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Chua Huong, where thousands flock to the Perfume Pagoda in Spring?
