There are festivals throughout the year in Vietnam and with Hanoi being one of its biggest cities, the locals celebrate with passion. Many festivals are of religious significance tying in with the Vietnamese Buddhist beliefs while others are of local historical significance and are celebrated only in certain areas of the city.
Tet Festival:
Tet is one of the country’s most
significant festivals, as it marks the beginning of the Vietnamese new
year. Celebrations however are somewhat low-key and most local residents
in Hanoi will use the time to visit relatives or acknowledge the loss
of loved ones. Shops close for a few days and things are generally
quieter than normal.
Mid Autumn Festival:
A celebration marking the arrival of the
autumn moon. This festival is aimed largely at families and is a time
when parents will spoil their offspring with gifts. Mooncakes are
traditionally offered to relatives and friends and the streets of the
city are filled with flags, hats and smiling faces.
Huong Pagoda Festival:
The
Festival officially starts on February 15 (lunar year), but the Pagoda
has been lively with a big number of visitors from January 15 to
mid-March (lunar calendar). Bến Đục, the quay to the Pagoda, is crowded
with boats and people. As a rule, pilgrims and visitors from all parts
of the country, whether acquainted to one another or otherwise, greet
everyone by saying “A Di Đà Phật.” These words mean, “We beg Lord Buddha
to give us health and luck”.
Do Son Buffalo Festival:
This somewhat gruesome event is held
annually in Do Son, a city just two hours away from Hanoi and sees
buffalœes pitted against each other for the purpose of fighting. Things
get considerably more unpleasant when the winning buffalo is decapitated
in a ceremony of important religious significance. This festival is
only for the strong stomached!
Thay Pagoda Festival:
Held in the Quoc Oai District just 20
minutes drive from the centre of Hanoi, this is the first of two
festivals dedicated to the monk To Dao Hanh who is famous for being the
patron saint of water puppets. Not surprisingly, the festival sees a
large number of water puppet performances.
Lang Festival:
The second festival dedicated to the
holy monk To Dao Hanh, the Lang festival sees a traditional oriental
dragon dance which leads a procession along the Lich River starting from
the Lang Village. Locals turn out in large numbers to join in the
procession.
Co Loa Festival:
A festival aimed at paying tribute to
Vietnam’s King An Duong Vuong who is famous for having founded the first
ever Vietnamese kingdom and also for building the Co Loa Citadel.
Expect to see a variety of spectacles such as cheo theater, traditional
cheo theatre, wrestling competitions and cockfighting. A procession is
also held through the 12 hamlets of the Co Loa commune.
Dong Festival:
Held in the Gia Lam district, the Dong
Festival is one of two festivals dedicated to a mythical historical
character known as Dong Genius. Expect to see various water puppet
performances plus a procession in honour of Dong and reenactments of his
legendary battle against the Chinese army.
Trieu Khuc Festival:
Held in the Trieu Khuc Village in the
Thanh Tri District of the city, this festival is a tribute to King Phung
Hung from the eighth century who is said to be the village’s divine
protector. Dances such as the unicorn, the dragon and the flag dance are
held on the streets of the village in honour of the King.
- Hanoi travel guide
- Vietnam tour package
- Festivals and Events in Hanoi
