Festivals and Events in Vietnam 2026 The Ultimate Travel Planning Guide

Vietnam in 2026 will not simply be a destination you visit, it will be a country you experience. From lantern-lit rivers and centuries-old temple ceremonies to global sporting competitions and fashion showcases, Vietnam’s calendar is packed with moments where tradition and modern energy exist side by side. One day you might be sharing incense at a mountain pagoda festival, and the next you could be watching an international fireworks competition over the Han River.

This guide is designed to help you plan your trip around Vietnam’s biggest cultural celebrations, seasonal festivals, and international events so your journey becomes part travel, part story, and part cultural immersion.

Why Visit Vietnam in 2026?

Tourism in Vietnam is growing fast but the culture is still very local. You can walk through rice fields in the morning and eat modern fusion food in a city at night. Prices are still friendly for travelers and transport inside the country is easy.

Reasons travelers choose Vietnam:

• Rich culture that is still active in daily life.
• Street food scene that rivals any country in Asia
• Beaches, mountains and big cities in one trip.
• Many festivals spread across the year.
• Friendly locals and safe travel conditions.

The real trick is timing. Pick the right month and the country feels alive around you.

Major Festivals and Cultural Events (Month‑by‑Month)

January – February: Lunar New Year (Tết Nguyên Đán)

Vietnam’s most important celebration is Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The entire country prepares for weeks. Homes are cleaned, streets fill with peach blossoms in the north and yellow apricot flowers in the south, and families travel across the country to reunite.

What you’ll experience:

• Fireworks and midnight ceremonies.
• Traditional foods like bánh chưng and bánh tét.
• Lucky money envelopes for children.
• Temple visits and ancestor worship.
• Flower markets in every major city.

February – April: Perfume Pagoda Festival (Hà Nội Region)

One of Vietnam’s largest pilgrimage events, the Perfume Pagoda Festival is a spiritual journey rather than a single-day celebration. Visitors travel by rowboat through limestone mountains and rivers to reach cave temples.

Highlights:

• Boat rides through scenic valleys.
• Mountain hiking to sacred shrines.
• Monks chanting in cave sanctuaries.

This festival offers a unique view into Vietnamese Buddhism and rural life.

March: Lim Festival (Bắc Ninh Province)

This northern festival celebrates Quan họ folk singing, a UNESCO-recognized traditional performance style. Singers perform poetic call-and-response songs while wearing traditional costumes.

Why it matters: It’s one of the few places where you see living heritage, not staged tourism.

April: Hùng Kings Festival & National Holidays

The Hùng Kings Festival honors Vietnam’s legendary founders. Thousands gather at hilltop temples to offer incense and food. Shortly after, Reunification Day (April 30) brings parades and fireworks nationwide.

Best places to be:

• Phú Thọ Province for authenticity.
• Ho Chi Minh City for celebrations.

April (International Event): Vietnam International Travel Mart (Hanoi)

One of Southeast Asia’s biggest travel expos. Airlines, tourism boards, hotels, and digital travel companies gather. It’s excellent if you’re interested in networking, travel business, or regional tourism trends.

May: Ironman 70.3 Da Nang (International Sporting Event)

Athletes from around the world compete in swimming, cycling, and running along Da Nang’s coastline. Even as a spectator, the atmosphere is electric.

Expect:

• Beachfront celebrations.
• International visitors.
• Night markets and live music.

June – July: Da Nang International Fireworks Festival

Teams from multiple countries compete in choreographed fireworks shows over the Han River. This is one of Vietnam’s most photogenic modern events.

Why attend:

• River cruises during performances.
• Night markets and food festivals.
• Music concerts and street shows.

August (Monthly Event): Hoi An Lantern Festival

Held every full moon, but especially magical in late summer. Electric lights are turned off and thousands of lanterns illuminate the old town.

Experiences:

• Floating candle lanterns on the river.
• Traditional music performances.
• Street food stalls.

This is often considered Vietnam’s most romantic night experience.

September – October: Mid‑Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu)

Often described as Vietnam’s children’s festival, cities transform into glowing lantern parades. Mooncakes are exchanged and lion dances fill the streets.

Best locations:

• Hanoi Old Quarter.
• Hoi An Ancient Town.

October: Vietnam International Fashion Week

Hosted in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, designers from Asia and Europe present collections. It shows Vietnam’s modern creative culture and growing global influence.

November: Ok Om Bok Festival (Mekong Delta)

A Khmer cultural celebration involving boat races, moon worship, and night ceremonies. This is a unique opportunity to experience minority cultures rarely seen by casual tourists.

December: Christmas and New Year Celebrations

Though not traditionally Vietnamese, cities celebrate enthusiastically. Ho Chi Minh City especially becomes lively with decorations, rooftop parties, and countdown events.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam in 2026

Vietnam has three climate zones:

North (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay): October–April is cool and pleasant. Central (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An): February–August is sunny and beach-friendly. South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta): December–April is dry season.

For festivals + good weather, the ideal travel windows are:

• February-April (cultural festivals.)
• August-October (lanterns and celebrations.)

Practical Planning Tips

Visa

Vietnam offers a convenient e‑visa system for many nationalities, often allowing stays up to 90 days with multiple entry. Always apply online in advance to avoid airport delays.

Transportation

• Domestic flights are inexpensive and save time.
• Night trains are scenic between Hanoi and central Vietnam.
• Ride‑hailing apps are widely used in cities.

Money

Cash is still common in markets and small towns, but cards are accepted in cities and hotels.

Cultural Etiquette

• Dress modestly in temples.
• Remove shoes before entering homes or pagodas.
• Avoid touching someone’s head.

The “I Came for Pho Stayed for Lanterns” 10 Day Plan

Food You Should Try During Festivals

• Bánh mì street sandwiches.
• Phở noodle soup.
• Fresh spring rolls.
• Bánh xèo crispy pancakes.
• Festival sweets and sticky rice desserts.

Food stalls are most vibrant during celebrations, often better than restaurants.

Small Things You Will Want to Carry Home

Vietnam is full of things that fit easily in a suitcase but stay in memory much longer. Instead of generic magnets, many travelers look for items that are part of daily life here.

Good souvenirs to look for:

• Hand painted lanterns from Hoi An.
• Vietnamese coffee and a metal drip filter.
• Hand embroidered cloth or scarves.
• Lacquerware bowls and trays.
• Bamboo tea sets.
• Traditional conical hat from local markets.
• Silk ties or dresses from tailoring shops.
• Local spices like cinnamon or star anise.

Shopping tips:

• Markets allow polite bargaining.
• Cash is preferred in small shops.
• Wrap fragile items in clothes inside your bag.
• Ask vendors to pack lanterns flat for travel.

Many travelers say these small items bring back memories faster than photos. A cup of coffee at home can remind you of a quiet morning in Hanoi, and a lantern on a shelf can bring back a warm night by the river.

Why Planning Around Events Matters?

Many travelers plan countries by places. Vietnam is better planned by experiences. The same city feels completely different during a festival. Hanoi on a normal day is interesting. Hanoi during Tết is unforgettable.

You will not just observe culture, you will be welcomed into it. Locals often invite foreigners to join meals, celebrations, or family rituals during festivals.

The Friend Who Already Knows the Country

Some trips are planned with bookmarks and twenty open tabs. Others feel easier because someone has already figured out the details. That is the role Voye Global plays for many travelers.

One of the first problems travelers face in Vietnam is internet access. Airport WiFi is crowded, local SIM counters may be closed at night, and many taxis, maps, and translation apps depend on data.

Voye Global offers international eSIM plans across 160+ destinations that activate before you even board your flight. You install the eSIM on your phone at home, and when your plane lands in Vietnam, your mobile data is already active.

Why this matters in Vietnam:

• Ride hailing apps are the main way to move around cities.
• Many streets have similar names and maps are essential.
• Translation apps help with menus and conversations.
• Hotel locations are easier to find with live navigation.

Instead of searching for a SIM shop after a long flight, you can immediately:

• Book a car from the airport.
• Message friends, family.
• Check directions.
• Find nearby Restaurants and more.

The result is simple. You arrive prepared, connected, and less stressed, which makes the first day of travel much smoother.

Why Travelers Choose Voye Global?

Planning an international trip often means managing many small problems. Tickets, internet, programs, and support are usually handled on different websites. The goal of Voye Global is to keep those things in one place so travel becomes simpler.

What makes travelers trust it:

• Provides International eSIM plans in 160+ destinations.
• Activate before travel and get internet as soon as you land.
• No need to search for a SIM card at the airport.
• Quick QR code setup on your phone.
• Keeps your regular number active while using data.
• Support available if activation problems happen.
• Helpful for students, internships, and long stays abroad.
• Makes ride apps, maps, and translations work instantly in Vietnam

It simply removes the first day confusion so you can start your trip smoothly.

The Trip You Keep Thinking About Later

The best part of Vietnam rarely appears on a checklist. It is not only the famous bay views or the lantern streets. It is a small chair on a sidewalk, a bowl of hot soup in the morning air, and strangers smiling even when you share no common language.

You may arrive planning routes and schedules, but somewhere along the way the plan becomes less important. You slow down. You watch daily life happen around you. A market opens before sunrise, a temple bell rings in the evening, and children play in streets lit by warm lights.

Days begin to feel simple. Walk, eat, talk, explore, repeat. When you leave, you might not remember every place name. Instead, you remember the feeling of being there. The sound of scooters at night, the smell of fresh herbs, and the calm of a lantern floating down a river. Some trips end when you return home.
Vietnam usually follows you back.