The Best Festivals in Vietnam Every Foreign Teacher Should Experience

Living and teaching in Vietnam is not just about working in the classroom, it’s also about immersing yourself in the country’s rich culture and traditions. Vietnam is home to hundreds of vibrant festivals throughout the year, blending ancient customs, spiritual practices, and modern celebrations. For foreign teachers, these festivals offer a chance to connect with local communities and experience Vietnamese life beyond textbooks.

Below are the best festivals in Vietnam that every foreign teacher should experience.

1. Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese Lunar New Year)

When: Late January or February
Where: Nationwide

Tet is Vietnam’s most important festival, marking the start of the lunar new year. Families reunite, homes are decorated with apricot blossoms, peach blossoms or kumquat trees, and streets are filled with festive markets. Teachers will notice schools closed for up to 7–14 days, making it the perfect time to travel or celebrate with Vietnamese friends.

Highlights for Teachers:

• Experience family meals with traditional foods like banh chung (square sticky rice cake) in the North and banh tet (cylindrical sticky rice cake) in the South, both made with glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork, symbolizing prosperity and family unity.
• Join in firework displays and lion dances.
• Witness the strong sense of community spirit across the country.
   

2. Mid-Autumn Festival (Tet Trung Thu)

When: September or October (8th lunar month, full moon)
Where: Nationwide, especially Hanoi and Hoi An

Known as the “Children’s Festival,” Tet Trung Thu is celebrated with colorful lanterns, lion dances, and mooncakes. Streets glow with lights, and children parade with star-shaped lanterns.

Highlights for Teachers:

• Try mooncakes and enjoy festive markets.
• Visit Hoi An for magical lantern-lit nights.
• Great cultural experience if you teach younger learners.
   

3. Hung Kings’ Temple Festival

When: April (10th day of the 3rd lunar month)
Where: Phu Tho Province, north of Hanoi

This festival honors the Hung Kings, Vietnam’s legendary founders. Thousands of people gather at Hung Temple to offer incense and participate in traditional music, folk games, and processions.

Highlights for Teachers:

• Explore Vietnamese history and legends.
• Witness a UNESCO-recognized cultural event.
• Join in folk performances and local food fairs.
   

4. Hue Festival

When: Every 2 years (April, May, or June)
Where: Hue City, Central Vietnam

The Hue Festival celebrates Vietnam’s imperial heritage with art performances, street parades, and traditional music inside the ancient citadel. It’s one of the country’s most international cultural events.

Highlights for Teachers:

• Discover Hue’s royal traditions.
• Enjoy ao dai fashion shows, art exhibitions, and fireworks.
• Experience cultural fusion with international performers.
   

5. Perfume Pagoda Festival (Chua Huong Festival)

When: February to April
Where: Hanoi outskirts (Huong Son, My Duc District)

This is one of Vietnam’s largest Buddhist pilgrimages. Visitors take a boat trip along the Yen Stream before climbing to the sacred Perfume Pagoda.

Highlights for Teachers:

• Combine spiritual and natural experiences.
• Witness Vietnamese Buddhist culture up close.
• Great for teachers who enjoy outdoor adventures.
   

6. Hoi An Lantern Festival

When: Monthly, on the full moon
Where: Hoi An Ancient Town

Every month, Hoi An switches off electric lights and glows with thousands of colorful paper lanterns. Locals release floating lanterns on the river while praying for luck and happiness.

Highlights for Teachers:

• Walk through lantern-lit streets for stunning photos.
• Take part in releasing floating lanterns.
• Enjoy traditional games and performances.
   

7. Lim Festival

When: February (13th day of the 1st lunar month)
Where: Bac Ninh Province, near Hanoi

The Lim Festival celebrates Quan Ho folk singing, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Visitors can enjoy traditional music, games, and local hospitality.

Highlights for Teachers:

• Listen to authentic Vietnamese folk music.
• Learn about northern cultural traditions.
• Participate in village festivities.

For foreign teachers in Vietnam, festivals are more than just holidays, they are windows into the soul of Vietnamese culture. From Tet’s family gatherings to Hoi An’s lantern nights and Hue’s royal celebrations, each festival offers a unique way to connect with your students and their traditions. If you’re planning to teach in Vietnam, make sure to mark these festivals on your calendar, you won’t want to miss them!