YEN TU FESTIVAL
21 Feb 2021 - 11 May 2021 | Ha Long
The Yen Tu Festival sees Vietnam’s Zen Buddhist community converge in a spectacular pilgrimage to the Dong Pagoda in the Yen Tu mountains of Quang Ninh Province. In the 13th century, Vietnam’s King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong invested heavily in the complex and founded the first Vietnamese school of Zen Buddhism, which now contains 11 pagodas and countless shrines. Solemn processions, prayers, and rites are part of the yearly festival at Yen Tu, which lasts for three months in total, from the first day of the lunar calendar until the end of the third month.
LIM FESTIVAL
24 Feb 2021 - 24 Feb 2021 | Ha Noi
Held in Lim Village 18km from Hanoi, this festival originally celebrated Ba Mu, who led her life as a Buddhist nun at Lim pagoda. The festival is held on Ba Mu’s day of enlightenment and is famous for showcasing the locals’ unique vocal stylings through Quan Ho folk songs. The best singers from two villages are chosen to compete in singing dialogues, which take place in beautiful natural settings. Thousands of visitors’ journey to Lim Village in Bac Ninh province to listen to renowned “lien anh” and “lien chi” (male and female Quan Ho singers) performances. The festival also features competitions of weaving and wrestling, as well as processions and worship ceremonies.
PERFUME PAGODA FESTIVAL
26 Feb 2021 - 26 Feb 2021 | Ha Noi
Located about 70km from Hanoi, the Perfume (Hương) Pagoda is Vietnam’s most revered Buddhist pilgrimage site. Every year thousands of pilgrims make the journey to the site, which passes beautiful limestone karsts, rivers, and rice paddies along the way. Part of the pilgrimage is a walk up stone steps to Thien Tru Pagoda. Central to the festival is the prayer said in Huong Tich, an ancient sacred cave. Devotees make a wish for the year ahead. Travellers can visit Perfume Pagoda at any time of year, but the festival is a unique spectacle to witness.
TAY PHUONG PAGODA FESTIVAL
17 Apr 2021 - 17 Apr 2021 | Ha Noi
Just 20 kilometres outside Hanoi, Tay Phuong Pagoda has sheltered ancient Buddha statues for centuries. During this annual festival, locals celebrate by washing the statues, offering incense, and playing games together. Visitors can join tug-of-war and human chess, enjoy puppet performances and observe traditional ceremonies. Transport to Tay Phuong is available from tour operators in Hanoi.
HUNG KING TEMPLE FESTIVAL
21 Apr 2021 - 21 Apr 2021 | Ha Noi
This countrywide holiday celebrates the lives of the ancient Vietnamese rulers during the Hong Bang period. Known as the Hùng Vương (brave kings) these fearless leaders are the subjects of Vietnamese folktales. Every year, the Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival (Giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương) is a display of Vietnamese culture and national pride. A huge crowd of several million people make the pilgrimage to the temple during the festival, with offerings of prayers and incense for their ancestors. Lavish feasts, processions, an elephant march, and performances of Vietnamese music and songs are all part of the festivities.
GIONG FESTIVAL
19 May 2021 - 20 May 2021
This festival is held yearly to celebrate Saint Gióng, a great hero and one of the fiercest warriors in Vietnam. There are two celebrations held per year, the first in Soc Son district in Northern Vietnam on the very site that Saint Gióng was said to have ascended to heaven. The second, and more exciting celebration, takes place in May with a large enactment at Phu Dong temple in Hanoi. Here, hundreds of participants perform the legendary battles of Saint Gióng.
HAU AI VILLAGE FESTIVAL
07 Jul 2021 - 07 Jul 2021 | Ha Noi
Take part in the celebrations of Vietnam’s dynastic past at the Hau Ai Festival, a half-hour drive west of Hanoi. The village honours its guardian god, Do Kinh Tu, a scholar of the Ly Dynasty. Immerse yourself in colourful processions, fun folk activities and music! Villagers will also prepare an array of treats, so be sure to sink your teeth into bánh tro (sweet sticky rice pyramids), bánh dầy (steamed rice bun with pork sausage) or bánh chay (soft rice balls floating in ginger syrup).
TRA CO FESTIVAL
09 Jul 2021 - 15 Jul 2021 | Ha Long
A few hours east of Ha Long Bay, the seaside city of Móng Cái celebrates the Trà Cổ Festival every summer. The festival commemorates the spiritual guardian of the community, whose shrine was built in 1511 during the Le Dynasty. This relic of Vietnam’s feudal era is honoured with a colourful procession ending on the beach, followed by traditional games and activities. The local highlight is the pig competition, when the victor Ông Voi (Sir Elephant) is offered up to the ancestors. Other activities include cooking and chess competitions.
QUAN LAN FESTIVAL
19 Jul 2021 - 27 Jul 2021 | Ha Long
Celebrate the tenacity of Vietnam in the Quan Lan Festival, on an island just outside of Halong Bay. This is a dynamic celebration of the historic victory against Mongol invaders during the 13th century. The festivities abound but you’ll find the highlight is a boat race, where the village is split into two teams symbolically dressed as soldiers that face off in battle. Enjoy the thrill and revelry of the race along with local festival-goers and families.
KEO PAGODA FESTIVAL
18 Oct 2021 - 20 Oct 2021
Keo Pagoda in Thái Bình province was built in the early 17th century to honour Duong Khong Lo, a Vietnamese monk who local stories say had reached nirvana. The event runs for three days and begins with a procession honouring the monk's life. Boat races and trumpet and drum competitions are always part of the action. On the last day of the festival, the province throws a cheerful celebration with activities such as duck catching and rice collecting.
VA TEMPLE FESTIVAL
20 Oct 2021 - 20 Oct 2021 | Ha Noi
Và Temple in Son Tay is a historic site dedicated to the god of the mountain, Saint Tan Vien, one of the mythological Four Immortals of Vietnam. Twice a year, people from all over the Red River Delta gather to celebrate Saint Tan Vien during the Và Temple Festival. The festival highlight is a fishing competition during which 99 white fish must be captured and offered to the god, culminating with a procession across the grounds.
Source: vietnam.travel
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