Vietnamese Culture
food
language
[ holidays ]
traditions
folklore
history
January 1
New Year's Day. Crazy traffic, lots of people and fireworks in the big cities.
February 3
Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party. The flags come out in quantity.
February 7, 2008
Tet Nguyen Dan. The first day of the first lunar month. This 4-day national holiday, Tet,
usually falls between January and February. The festivities begin on New Year's Eve and the first 3
days of a Lunar New Year, but most people celebrate for a week or more. It's a time to be with family
members, so most areas are pretty quiet for the first few days of the lunar new year.
March 8
International Women's DayFloral arrangements about on this day where women still work hard, but
are acknowledged for all they day.
March 15, 2008
Festival at the Perfume Pagoda. Near Hanoi. Buddhists from all over Vietnam make a pilgrimage
to the deep cave at the apex of this holy mountain at the half-moon of the second lunar month.
April 11, 2008
Hmong Spring Festival. In the far north. H'mong populations across the north converge for colorful
parades and market days. Fifth day of the third lunar month.
April 30
Saigon Liberation Day. Celebrated nationwide with lots of parades and commemorative TV programming.
May 1
International Labor Day. The communist marching day around the world. Celebrations and parades in
central squares nationwide. May Day.
May 19
Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh. Nationwide. Cultural performances and candlelight vigils are
held across the country. The major sights in Vinh, Ho Chi Minh's birthplace, are overrun, and Hanoi's
Citadel area, where Ho's body is held in state, are mobbed.
June 1
International Children's Day.Schools plan activities and parents buy gifts; what more could a child want?
September 9, 2008
Tet Trung Nguyen. Nationwide. A time to give thanks to the ancestors. Families gather, remember
those who have died, eat, and visit grave sites. Half-moon of the seventh lunar month.
September 2
National Day. Celebrates the rise of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Local parades, pomp, and
circumstance.
August 9, 2008
Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival. Near Haiphong. A riot for everyone (except the buffalos). The
ninth day of the eighth lunar month.
September 14, 2008
Mid-Autumn Festival. Nationwide. This colorful celebration is a popular one for kids, with dance
and special sweet cakes. Half-moon of the eighth lunar month.
November 20
Teacher's Day. Set aside as a day to honor the respectable profession of teachers, students bring flowers,
cards and small gifts to their teachers.
December 25
Christmas. Celebrated in varying degrees, mostly in the urban areas. I'd assume it's a big holiday
in Phat Diem, too.
Outside resources:
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