Major festivals in Vietnam

Festivals are typical folklore cultural activities organized in all regions of Vietnam. Such festivals bring peace to the heart and mind of the Vietnamese people, wipe out their pressures from daily life, and bring them closer to nature and the motherland.
As an agricultural country, most Vietnamese festivals are held during leisure times, which are spring and autumn. There are also national festivals for all Vietnamese people, including the Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan), July Full-Moon, August Full-Moon or Hung Temple festivals.
The Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan): the Lunar New Year is the biggest festival of the entire Vietnamese nation. This is the time for the whole family to get together and enjoy traditional food, visit relatives, friends and colleagues and wish them a happy new year. As perceived by all people, Tet is the end of the old year, the wrap-up of misfortunes to open up a new year of good opportunities. The New Year Eve is the most sacred moment when all family members worship and pay tribute to genii and ancestors. Apart from the New Year Eve Worshiping, other traditional rites such as "the first visitor of the Year", "buds picking" and "lucky money" are still practiced today.
Hung King National Worshipping Festival: March 10th of the Lunar Calendar is the day of Hung King National Worshipping Festival. This event is celebrated every where in the country and abroad where there are large Vietnamese communities. The major celebration is held in Phu Tho, the first capital of Vietnam under Van Lang Dynasty and the location of the Temple for 18 Hung Kings. During this event, traditional offerings are prepared, including lanterns, incense sticks, wine, betel, areca-nut, water, Chung and Day (Square and Round Sticky Rice) Cakes. In recent years, this event has been considered the National Festival with high formalities, including official music, official costumes and the participation of officials of the Party, State, Government, and Phu Tho province.
The July Full-Moon Festival (Trung Nguyen Festival): According to Buddhism, on this day, spirits of the dead come to the living world to enjoy offerings. Most families hold worshiping rites for ancestors. Upon the end of the rite, votive papers are burnt for spirits of the dead. Other offerings, including soup, parched rice, dry pancake and fruits are also prepared for wandering spirits, who are not worshiped by relatives. After the rite, offerings are given to the children as a wish of luck.
The August Full-Moon Festival: This Festival is held mainly for children. Vietnamese families, especially those with little children, always prepare for this festival. On the night of the Festival, most families have a tray of specialties for members to get around and enjoy the Moon's beauty. The specialties are mainly fruits and confectionery formed like animals. During the festival, adults usually buy toys for children. The atmosphere of the festival night is enjoyable with the laughter of children, the light of the Moon, lanterns, and candles of many kinds and children’s dancing and singing, such as Lantern Carrying Dance or Lion dance, etc.
Copyright: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ref. Quê Hương