Attractive traditional festivals in lunar January in Vietnam

There is a saying “The first month of lunar New Year is the month to play and enjoy the festive time”. In Lunar January across the country is buzzing with traditional cultural festivities. Following are some big festivals nationwide.

Photo by Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên

Huong pagoda festival in Ha Noi

It opens on the sixth day of the first lunar month in Huong Son commune, Hanoi’s outskirt district of My Duc. The festival offers tourists and Buddhist pilgrims a chance to enjoy the atmosphere of Buddhism and participate in various cultural activities and folk games.

Lim festival in Bac Ninh province

It is the biggest cultural festival in the Northern province, held from the 13th day of first lunar month. People come to enjoy the festival and see the performances of “lien anh” and “lien chi” (male and female farmers) who sing “quan ho” (love duets) and other types of songs in pagodas, on hills and in boats, as well as join folk games and competitions.

Yen Tu festival in Quang Ninh province

It is organized on the 10th day of the first lunar month in Thuong Yen Cong commune, Uong Bi district and lasts three months of the spring season, annually attracting millions of tourists. The festival includes colorful ceremonies, worship and prayers for prosperity and peace.

Tich Dien festival in Ha Nam province

Locals and tourists on the seventh day of the first lunar month flock to Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district to celebrate the Tich Dien Festival (field ploughing festival) to commemorate the first ploughing festival since the year of 987 under the reign of King Le Dai Hanh.

The highlight of the event was 15 big buffalos ploughing a field. Besides, the participants join both cultural and sports activities.

Dong Da festival in Ha Noi

The festival takes place on the fifth day of the first lunar month at Dong Da Park in Quang Trung ward, Dong Da district, to commemorate the battle of Emperor Quang Trung-Nguyen Hue against invaders of the Qing dynasty. The highlight of the festival is a Fire Dragon dance. A group of young men wearing close-fitted white clothes, with red stripes and belts, and blue puttees, raises the dragon to their heads and performs the dance of the “hovering dragon.” Additionally, there are traditional martial arts, unicorn dancing, dragon dancing, wrestling and human chess.

Giong festival in Ha Noi

The Giong Festival runs across the capital city. But there are two typical Giong Festivals starts on the third day of the first lunar month at Phu Dong temple in Phu Dong commune, Gia Lam district, and at Soc temple in Phu Linh commune, Soc Son district, with various cultural and sporting activities. The festival aims to worship Saint Giong, one of the four immortals of the Vietnamese.

Co Loa  festival in Ha Noi

The festival from the sixth to the sixteenth day of the first lunar month in Co Loa commune, Dong Anh district commemorates King An Duong Vuong who came to the throne in 257BC.

Local and neighboring people join in an offering ceremony in eight communes and enjoy various entertainment activities like traditional wrestling, human chess, love duets, and water puppetry, among others.

Xoan festival in Phu Tho province

The festival is kicked off on the seventh day of the first lunar month in Huong Nha hamlet, Tam Thanh district, to commemorate Xuan Nuong, talented female generals of Hai Ba Trung.

Tran temple festival in Nam Dinh province

The festival, often called “Tran temple seal openingceremory”, is held on the 12th day of the first lunar month, at the Tran Temple complex in Loc Vuong ward, Nam Dinh city. This is one of the festivals to pay tribute to 14 Tran Kings.

The highlight of the festival is the seal opening ceremony on the 14th night of the first lunar month, drawing thousands of people from nationwide to pray for gook luck and happiness.

Ba Chua Kho festival in Bac Ninh province 

The festival gets underway on the 14th day of the first lunar month to commemorate Ba Chua Kho or The Queen of Stock and to pray for property and good luck at Ba Chua Kho temple located in Co Me village, Vu Ninh ward, Bac Ninh city.

This is a big festival in the Northern region, especially in the business world.

Cau Ngu festival in Hue city

It is held on the 12th day of the first lunar month in Thai Duong Ha village, Hue city, Thua Thien-Hue province, to commemorate the village’s tutelary god Truong Quy Cong, who taught villagers to fish and sell fishing equipment.

During the festival, villagers took part in a net casting ceremony and a rowing contest.

Ba Den temple festival in Tay Ninh province

The festival takes place between 10th and 15th days of the first lunar month on Ba Den (Black Lady) mount, the highest mountain in the Southern region, at 886m above sea level.

The festival attracts hundreds of thousand of devotees and tourists every year. Cable cars take them from the foot of the mountain to the middle, where Ba Den temple is located.

Across the country, the first month of the lunar year is considered the month of festivals. if you do not have any plan in the first month of the new year, the holiday packages in Vietnam is certainly a right choice of you.