Vietnam’s Buddhist calendar sparkles with celebrations that weave Zen calm, Pure Land hope and age-old village traditions into one colorful tapestry.

First light often finds pagodas draped in lanterns and lotus blooms for Phật Đản (Vesak), marking the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing. Monks chant Trường Thọ Kinh before dawn; laypeople offer pink incense sticks and vegetarian banquets. This year’s 2025 observance saw livestreamed ceremonies from Tây Phương Pagoda reach a global audience, proof that even ancient rites can surf the digital wave.

Rằm Tháng Bảy, popularly known as Vu Lan, unleashes filial spirit in full force. Floating candlelit lotus boats down perfumed rivers, families pour water into the soil beneath ancestral altars, asking forebears to find peace in the Pure Land. Street vendors peddle sweet bánh ú and sticky xôi, while temples ring bells to release roaming spirits—an echo of Vietnam’s fusion between Buddhism and indigenous ancestor worship.

Pilgrims embarking on the Perfume Pagoda (Chùa Hương) pilgrimage trek rocky paths, knee-deep in dew, to reach the hollowed grotto of Hương Tích. Oxcarts laden with incense coils rumble through valleys. By midday, red-robed monks preside over dharma talks on natural rock altars, reminding everyone that enlightenment can bloom anywhere, even inside a limestone cavern.

Every village temple holds its own hội lễ (festival day), commemorating local Bodhisattvas or celebrated abbots. These giỗ (death anniversaries) unite neighbor and stranger alike with a feast of vegetarian chè, lion dances and fire-cracker finales. Recently, eco-friendly bamboo firecrackers have been introduced in Huế, blending tradition with a greener footprint.

When autumn arrives, Hái Lửa lantern festivals blaze atop Tam Chúc Lake, echoing the Pure Land’s lantern-lit shores. Young monks release glowing lanterns inscribed with wishes for world peace—fitting, given this season’s global climate talks in Hanoi. That ritual, part prayer, part poetry, captures how Vietnamese Buddhism remains as much about community warmth as personal awakening.