Due to its history and geographical location, the colourful festivals of Vietnam and important celebrations of the lunar calendar tend to follow the rhythm of its Chinese neighbour.
Find out about the main festivals of Vietnam here:
The most important of all festivals of Vietnam is that of "Têt": a Vietnamese term meaning "the feast of the first day of the year”. It falls on the same day as Chinese New Year, and its date each year varies with the lunar calendar. Nevertheless, one thing is certain: it generally takes place between the end of January and mid-February. During the period before Têt, the excitement is palpable on every street corner. The floral decorations blossom in the gardens and the shops, everyone is outside to do some shopping and to make sure not to miss anything during the festivities.
On the other hand, during the week following Têt, the cities are empty (apart from perhaps Ho Chi Minh City where outdoor concerts are organized), the prices are higher than normal and services are disrupted as a number of shops and services come to a halt. The usual daily rhythm reaches a near-standstill as the inhabitants of cities make their way back to their villages to attend family rituals and prayers to welcome the New Year under the best auspices.
Between late August and mid-September, again depending on the moon, another one of the festivals of Vietnam takes place: the Mid-Autumn Festival. It celebrates half of the lunar year when the full moon is at the height of its brilliance and roundness. This festival is also symbolized by the moon cake that is eaten during the 3 to 4 weeks preceding the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Nowadays, this tradition is rather intended for children who dress up, are covered with gifts, play with family and marvel at the lion dances that take place on the streets and in parks.
The public holidays in the Vietnamese calendar also mark some historic days that have deeply shaped the identity of the country, such as Independence Day on September 2, the Liberation Day of Vietnam on April 30 preceding Labor Day on May 1. These days are always celebrated with the installation of floral decorations in public places where the flags are also proudly hoisted.
DIn recent years, local initiatives have been organized with the aim to promote the festivals of Vietnam and attract visitors to see Vietnam’s fantastic celebrations.
Every 2 years, in April, the Hue Festival takes place, which highlights the city’s heritage for two days with exhibitions, cultural events and traditional shows. The last one took place in 2018 with spectacular shows and art exhibits amongst other activities. Another example of the local festivals of Vietnam is the Danang Firework Festival which has taken place every two years since 2013. At the end of April, specialists from all over the world come together to compete and offer their best firework display to the public – a spectacular sight!
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