Festivals and Events in Hanoi: Celebrations and Cultural Highlights
When it comes to a Hanoi city tour, the renowned traditional festivals are an essential part not to be missed. Join HanoiSky as we take a closer look at 10 exceptional festivals in Hanoi in the following article!
Compilation of the most unique festivals in Hanoi:
- Co Loa Temple Festival
- Dong Da Festival
- Perfume Pagoda Festival
- Thay Pagoda Festival
- Bat Trang Village Festival
- Giong Temple Festival Soc Son
- Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival – Me Linh
- Vong La Festival
- Le Mat Village Festival
- Tan Vien Son Thanh Festival
Co Loa Temple Festival
Among the list of remarkable festivals in Hanoi, the Co Loa Festival commemorates King An Duong Vuong Thuc Phan, a heroic figure in our country’s history. Co Loa Citadel witnessed a tragic story when our nation fell into the hands of invaders, but for the Vietnamese people, it remains a proud historical relic. Apart from honoring the great king, the Co Loa Temple Festival also reminds people of the cherished tradition of “Remembering the Source,” passed down through generations.
The Co Loa Temple Festival consists of both ceremonial and festive parts. During the ceremonial section, people pay tribute to the heroic King An Duong Vuong. Following that, the festive part offers a chance to experience various captivating folk games such as fireworks displays, ca tru singing, and tuong (classical drama) performances. Additionally, there are many enjoyable activities like swings, wrestling, tug-of-war, rice blowing competition, and temple visits to welcome the new year.
Location: Co Loa Village, Dong Anh District, Hanoi
Duration: From the 6th to the 16th day of the lunar month.
Dong Da Festival
The Dong Da Festival, also known as the Dong Da Victory Festival, commemorates the glorious triumph of Ngoc Hoi – Dong Da and pays tribute to the victorious King Quang Trung – Nguyen Hue. As one of Hanoi’s major festivals, it has been celebrated for over 200 years, attracting a citywide audience. Conveniently located near many hotels in Hanoi, the festival takes place annually during the Lunar New Year in the Quang Trung Ward, Dong Da District.
At the Dong Da Festival, people can witness a grand procession with vibrant colors, stretching from Khuong Thuong village to the Dong Da mound. Additionally, there are numerous exciting martial arts demonstrations and traditional games. Each year, high-ranking leaders from our Party and State also attend this significant event.
Location: Dong Da Mound, Quang Trung Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
Duration: On the 5th day of the Lunar New Year.
Perfume Pagoda Festival
In your Hanoi travel itinerary, you must not miss the Perfume Pagoda Festival, one of the country’s largest and particularly significant in Hanoi. That’s why, during the festival, tourists from all over flock to Huong Son commune to immerse themselves in the bustling pilgrimage.
At the Perfume Pagoda Festival, everyone will experience a sense of tranquility as it is a sacred Buddhist land. Apart from participating in the religious rituals, you can engage in other exciting activities such as boat rides, mountain climbing, and enjoying traditional folk singing. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to relax on a floating boat and admire the scenic beauty of the Yen stream.
Location: Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi.
Duration: From the 6th day of the first lunar month to mid-third lunar month.
Thay Pagoda Festival
Every year, during festival season, many tourists choose Thay Pagoda Festival as a must-visit destination when traveling to Hanoi. The festival takes place in Sai Son commune, Quoc Oai district, former Ha Tay province, which is the home of Tu Dao Hanh, the founder of the traditional Vietnamese water puppetry art.
By participating in Thay Pagoda Festival, you will have the opportunity to engage in spiritual activities, pay respects, and witness spectacular water puppet performances. Additionally, the festival offers various other exciting activities for you to experience, such as mountain climbing and enjoying the natural scenery.
Location: Sai Son commune, Quoc Oai district, Hanoi.
Duration: From the 5th to the 7th day of the third lunar month, annually.
Bat Trang Village Festival
When it comes to the outskirts of Hanoi, we all know about the famous traditional pottery village of Bat Trang, which attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists. Particularly, during the Lunar New Year, the village becomes even more vibrant with the Bat Trang Village Festival.
The festival is organized to honor the traditional pottery craft and pay tribute to its origins, while also serving as an occasion for the local people to pray for a prosperous and peaceful year ahead.
Various activities such as the water procession, ritual bathing, and offering ceremonies at the communal house are carefully prepared as part of the festival. The most unique activity during the festive celebration is the human chess game and ceremonial singing. Exploring the pottery village and participating in the New Year festival, you won’t have to think twice about what to do in Hanoi.
Location: Bat Trang Communal House, Bat Trang village, Gia Lam district, Hanoi.
Duration: From the 14th to the 16th day of the 2nd lunar month, annually.
Giong Temple Festival Soc Son
To commemorate the heroic figure of Saint Giong, who played a significant role in repelling the invaders in ancient times, the people of Soc Son district organize the Giong Temple Festival every Lunar New Year. During the main three-day festival, traditional rituals are conducted sequentially, including the opening ceremony, procession, and offering ceremonies at the Upper Temple.
According to the travel experience in Hanoi, if you attend the Giong Temple Festival on the 7th day of the lunar month, you will have the opportunity to witness the grand procession of the elephant. Across generations, the Giong Temple Festival has preserved its beauty and cultural significance. Join your friends or family to explore this captivating tourist destination in Hanoi.
Location: Phu Linh commune, Soc Son district, Hanoi.
Duration: From the 6th to the 8th day of the 1st lunar month.
Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival – Me Linh
You maybe heard about familiar with the two heroic sisters, Hai Ba Trung, in the glorious history of our Vietnam, right? Although there are many places across the country where these heroines are worshipped, the temple and festival in Ha Loi village, Me Linh, hold a special and significant meaning as it is the place where they spent their childhood. The most remarkable part of the festival is the procession. First, the procession of Ba Trung Trac goes ahead, followed by the army, and then the procession of Ba Trung Nhi leads the way.
In addition, the festival includes various traditional folk activities and performances to help people remember the ancient heroic deeds and allow international visitors to have a better understanding of the cultural beauty of the Hai Ba Trung temple festival.
Location: Ha Loi village, Me Linh commune, Me Linh district, Hanoi.
Time: Lunar 6th day of the 1st month.
Vong La Festival
Cultural activities are always an attraction for tourists visiting Hanoi to experience the festivals here, especially the Vong La festival. The five deities revered in the festival are Quoc Cong Dai Vuong and his wife, La Nuong, along with their three children: Linh Khong (First Spirit Prince), Minh Chieu (Second Spirit Prince), and Cung Muc (Third Spirit Prince).
The Vong La festival consists of two main events during the year: the primary festival takes place in the Lunar January, and the second festival is organized in the Lunar August. A series of exciting activities are held during the festival, including Chinese chess competitions, bamboo swings, Quan Ho singing, lion dances, and money throwing dances.
Location: Dai Do Communal House, Dai Do Village, Vong La Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi.
Time: From the 13th to the 15th day of Lunar January.
Le Mat Village Festival
Next, let’s explore a unique festival in Hanoi called the Le Mat village festival. This festival is an occasion for people to commemorate Princess Le Mat, also known as Hoang Duc Trung, who made significant contributions in establishing the 13 Western Farms in Thang Long, now known as Ba Dinh District.
Similar to many other festivals, the Le Mat village festival is divided into ritual and festive parts. The ritual part includes a water procession around the village well, a carp procession into the communal house, and a procession of the 13 farms from Ba Dinh to the village communal house. The highlight of the festival is the artistic snake dance. The snakes, made of bamboo and covered with fabric, symbolize the aquatic monster that will be defeated by the will and strength of the Hoang family descendants. Additionally, many visitors show special interest in the cooking competition using fish, frogs, and snakes.
The festival is also an opportunity for people and descendants to gather and express their gratitude to their ancestors. For those in other regions, to discover the unique aspects of this festival, consider booking a flight to Hanoi and visiting the capital city.
Location: Le Mat Village, Viet Hung Commune, Gia Lam District, Hanoi.
Time: On the 23rd day of the Lunar March.
Tan Vien Son Thanh Festival
Finally, the ideal destination for your exploration of the capital city, as suggested by HanoiSky, is the Tan Vien Son Thanh Festival. The festival takes place in the cultural cluster of Ba Vi, spanning the Doai region, specifically the complex of Thuong Temple, Trung Temple, and Ha Temple, located in Minh Quang and Ba Vi communes. With a large scale, throughout the festival, various cultural activities unique to the Muong and Dao ethnic groups take place. The cultural relics within the Tan Vien Son Thanh Festival have been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as intangible cultural heritage of national significance.
Location: Minh Quang Commune and Ba Vi Commune, Ba Vi District, Hanoi.
Time: From the 13th to the 15th day of the Lunar January.
Conclusion:
Festivals are always a distinctive and traditional beauty of Vietnamese culture. They are also events that attract a large number of visitors from different regions within the country as well as international tourists to travel to Vietnam, especially Hanoi. Join HanoiSky to experience the cultural festival atmosphere of the capital city by booking a tour of Hanoi. We wish you a wonderful and memorable time.
