Vietnam
Festivals and Events
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The festivals and events are calendared in Lunar month.
Normally, a lunar month stay later than western month of
around 30 days.
MAY
LABOR DAY
1st May - public holiday
BA CHUA XU FESTIVAL
Sam
mountain is located 5 kilometers from the town of Chau Doc
in An Giang province. This mountain is the centre of a
complex of historical sites such as the old Tay An Pagoda,
the Ba Chua Xu Shrine, the Hang Pagoda, and the Imperial
Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau.
The festival of Ba Chua Xu (also called the Via Ba Ceremony)
is held annually from the 23rd night to the 27th day of the
4th lunar month. To go to the festival, head along Road
No.10 from Long Xuyen to Chau Doc. Sam Mountain is 5
kilometers away from Chau Doc. Also, one can take the
waterway from Can Tho to Soc Trang, or from Saigon directly.
On the night of April 23rd, there is a bathing and changing
of robes ceremony for the statue of Ba Chua. The bathing
water is scented and Ba Chua's old clothes are cut into
small pieces to distribute to visitors and pilgrims. The
small pieces of clothes are considered lucky, keeping one in
good health and driving away evil spirits.
After this ceremony is the Tue Yet Rite, which starts at
midnight on the 25th and continues into the early morning of
the 26th. This rite petitions Ba Chua's nomination to the
heavens with an imposing procession of dragon dances. The
Imperial Sedan Chair is taken to Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb for a
chanting ritual before being taken back to the shrine of Ba
Chua.
Starting Dates in Western Calendar 2011 May 25, 2012 Apr
04.
SUMMER SOLSTICE DAY (TET DOAN NGO)
Held on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, when offerings
are made to the spirit world and to ward off pestilence and
disease. Tet Doan Ngo is also called Parasite-Killing
Festival. This is a mid-year festival to enhance the
prevention of evils and illnesses, and the memory of the
ancestors.
Starting Dates in Western Calendar 2010 Jun 16, 2011 Jun
06, 2012 Jun 23.
GIONG FESTIVAL
The
Giong Festival is held annually in Phu Dong Village, Gia Lam
District, Hanoi.
This large festival is held on the 9th day of the 4th month
of the lunar calendar. The date commemorates Saint Giong who
defeated the An invaders. In order to show their gratitude
to the hero of Giong Village who sacrificed his life to
fight invaders, the people proclaimed him Saint Giong.
Preparation for the festival occurs from the 1st day of the
3rd lunar month to the 5th day of the 4th lunar month. The
procession starts from the Mother Temple to Thuong Temple
with the performance of a religious service. After reaching
the temple, a feast for the troops occurs. When night falls,
a Cheo play is performed (a classical Vietnamese opera). The
festivities ends on the 10th day of the 4th month, as the
troops withdraw and a thanksgiving procession takes place.
At the Giong Festival, people can make connections with
their the neighbors, with relatives, between the individuals
within a community, and with the past and present. This
festival blends together the traditions of love for the
motherland and the preservation of the cultural heritage.
Starting Dates in Western Calendar 2010 May 03, 2011 May
11, 2012 Apr 29.
CHEM TEMPLE FESTIVAL
Chem Temple festival (Hanoi) worships aliases Ly Ong Trong,
during the Hung kings Dynasty, who helped the Chinese
Emperor Tan Thuy Hoang to hold in check the Mongolian
invaders.
Starting Dates in Western Calendar 2011 May 11, 2012 May
04.
JUNE/JULY
CHILDREN'S DAY
1st June - public holiday
TRA CO VILLAGE FESTIVAL
This festival is held in Quang Ninh Province, in memory of
the establishment of the ancient fishing village, which
founded 600 years ago.
Starting Dates in Western Calendar 2011 Jun 30, 2012 Jun
18.
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