Vietnam is a country with long and rich cultures. Festivals are important facts of the year which varies from different ethnic groups. The Vietnamese year follows a rhythm of festivals and religious observances ranging from solemn family gatherings to national celebrations culminating in Tet.

Many Vietnamese festivals are Chinese in origin, imbued with a distinctive flavor over the centuries, but minority groups also hold their own specific celebrations. The majorities of festivals take place in spring, with a second flurry in the autumn months.

One of the most important holiday celebrated in Vietnam, and indeed by Vietnamese people worldwide, is Tet, known as the Vietnamese New Year. There's an almost appreciable sense of excitement leading up to midnight on the eve of Tet, though the welcoming of the New Year is now a much more moderated. Tet is all about starting the year afresh, with a clean slate and good intentions.

Tet is commonly described as Christmas, Thanksgiving and your birthday all celebrated at once. Christmas is marked as a religious ceremony only by the faithful, though it's becoming a major event for all Vietnamese as an excuse to shop, party and enjoy. The week long festival is marked by feasting: special foods are eaten at Tet, such as pickled vegetables, candied lotus seeds and sugared fruits, all of which are first offered at the family altar. The first visitor on the morning of Tet is also vitally significant: the ideal is someone respected, wealthy and happily married who will bring good fortune to the family.

The ceremonies, you would most likely to see, are weddings and funerals. The tenth lunar month is the most auspicious time for weddings. Both weddings and funerals are characterized by street side parties under makeshift marquees,

Several cultural activities bearing the national colors of Vietnam, such as singing folk songs, chess playing, music, painting, carving, lion dancing, offering lamps on the rivers, and classical opera also take place.

The Perfume Pagoda Festival consists of enjoyable sightseeing trips to different Vietnamese pagodas, temples, and caves. This festival also features ceremonies held in the different temples and pagodas. Pilgrims and visitors have to climb halfway up of the Nui Ba Mountain is often called Lady Den Mountain  to enter Saint Linh Son Temple. This pagoda offers vegetarian meals in exchange for which visitors can make a donation to the pagoda. Visitors can also stay in the pagoda for a few days. The monks are well known for taking excellent care of their visitors.

The second most celebrated Vietnamese holiday is the Mid-Autumn Festival. This celebration honors the harvest time and family. There are many other Vietnamese holidays, religious and non-religious, widespread and local, influenced by Chinese culture or unique to Vietnam. Most Families of Children from Vietnam chapters celebrate both Tet and Tet Trung Thu, either with their local Vietnamese community organizations or independently.

People go to Vietnam not only for the religious services, but also to observe the beautiful natural scenery of Vietnam. The Vietnam tour is designed to give travelers a little taste of the Vietnamese culture in HCMC, the Mekong Delta, Vung Tau Beach, Halong Bay and more. www.vivutravel.com features a selection of Vietnam trips which are customized to help you explore the outstanding landmarks and religious festivals of Vietnam in limited time. All the recommended tours are privately organized by our travel’s local team and all the itineraries can be adjusted to be longer or shorter to meet your expectation.