20 popular festivals that take place in Vietnam, across the categories of music, art, food, and sports:
Music Festivals:
- Monsoon Music Festival – The largest music event in Vietnam, held in Hanoi with both local and international artists.
- Rạch Gía Music Festival – A popular music festival in the southern province of Kien Giang.
- Quest Festival – A three-day music, arts and nature festival set in the outskirts of Hanoi.
- Cocofest – A large music and arts festival held in Da Nang.
Art Festivals:
- Hue Festival – A biennial cultural festival in Hue city, showcasing traditional and contemporary art performances from Vietnam and around the world.
- Hanoi International Film Festival – Celebrates the creative cinematic arts, with a focus on promoting young talent.
- European – Vietnamese Documentary Film Festival – A collaboration between the European Union National Institutes for Culture and Vietnamese filmmakers, showcasing the best in documentary filmmaking.
Food Festivals:
- Southern Fruit Festival – Held in Ho Chi Minh City, showcasing a wide variety of fruits from the southern provinces.
- Hoi An International Food Festival – Promotes the diverse food culture of Hoi An, with local and international chefs.
- Phu Quoc Fish Sauce Festival – A biennial event held in Phu Quoc, celebrating the island’s renowned fish sauce.
Sport Festivals:
- Vietnam Mountain Marathon – Held in Sapa, this event features breathtaking routes through the mountainous region.
- Da Nang International Marathon – A popular marathon event held in Da Nang city.
- Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon – Another major running event, taking place in bustling Ho Chi Minh City.
Cultural Festivals:
- Tet Festival (Vietnamese New Year) – The most important and popular festival in Vietnam, celebrating the Lunar New Year.
- Mid-Autumn Festival – A traditional festival celebrating the harvest, featuring mooncakes, lion dances, and lanterns.
- Perfume Pagoda Festival – A significant Buddhist festival that involves a pilgrimage to the Perfume Pagoda in Hanoi.
- Water Puppet Festival – Celebrates the traditional art of water puppetry, often held in Hanoi.
- Phu Giay Festival – One of the largest and most unique religious festivals, dedicated to Mother Saint Lieu Hanh, held in Nam Dinh province.
- Elephant Race Festival – A traditional festival of the Central Highlands, where trained elephants compete.
- Lim Festival – Celebrates “Quan Ho” singing (a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage), held in Bac Ninh province.
As always, remember to verify the most recent information about these festivals, as their dates and specifics may shift due to various reasons.
