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Expressing reverence, maintaining ancient traditions, remembering
dead heroes, commemorating important events, demonstrating
sporting abilities, or simply entertaining the community,
Vietnamese culture has a long tradition of colourful festivals.
Beyond the national events, listed below, many local festivals
take place throughout the year around the country. These can
feature puppet shows, folk songs, traditional music, local
dances, wrestling, rowing, rice cooking, rope pulling, rope
climbing, chess playing, cockfights, buffalo fights, and pigeon
races. There are also scores of regional festivals, often
jointly celebrated by collections of villages. Many ethnic
groups also celebrate festivals.
January or February
 Tet
- Vietnamese and Chinese New Year- With a history that dates
back thousands of years, the Tet festival was originally a
celebration held by Vietnamese farmers to thank the gods for
the arrival of spring, sometime between late January or early
February. Although officially a three-day affair, festivities
may continue for a week or more with every effort made to
indulge in eating, drinking, and enjoyable social activities.
It is also a time for family reunions, and for paying respect
to ancestors and the elders. Gifts of food are made to friends,
neighbors and relatives in the days before Tet.
March
Hai
Ba Trung Day - On the 6th day of the 2nd lunar month the
revolt of the Trung Sisters against the Chinese in 40 AD is
celebrated.
Holiday
of the Dead (Thanh Minh) - Homage is paid to deceased
ancestors and relatives by making solemn visits to graves,
with offerings of food, flowers, and incense. The graves are
normally cleaned and tidied a few days prior.
April
Liberation
Day of South Vietnam - The 30th of April marks the fall
of Saigon in 1975, and the final victory of the North Vietnamese
Army.
May
Summer
Solstice Day (Doan Ngu) - Celebrated on the fifth day
of the fifth moon when offerings are made to the spirit world
and to ward off pestilence and disease.
August
Mid-Autumn
or Children's Moon Festival (Tet-Trung-Thu) - The essence
of Tet-Trung-Thu - celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth
lunar month - is to promote education, culture, music, sports,
arts and crafts, and poetry. Beginning at noon and ending
at midnight, the festival includes folklore displays, children's
games, lantern processions, performing shows, dances, martial
arts demonstrations, arts and crafts exhibitions, food and
drink booths, multicultural performances, essays, drawing
and coloring contests. Delicacies include moon cakes, sticky
rice, fruits and various sweets.
 Day
of All Wandering Souls (Trung Nguyen) - The spirits of
the dead are believed to frequent the residence of their offspring
on this day. Food is offered on house altars for the souls
of the deceased, and fake paper money is burnt in their honour.
There are also celebrations in Buddhist temples.
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