Vu Lan Festival, Ghost Month in Vietnam: Traditions, Stories, and How Travelers Can Experience It

• Culture and History, Things To Do, Travel Planning

The Vu Lan Festival – A Festival of Filial Piety and Spirits

Every August, Vietnam celebrates one of its most meaningful and spiritual festivals: Vu Lan, often known as the “Vietnamese Mother’s Day,” which coincides with the Ghost Month. Rooted in Buddhism and blended with local beliefs, Vu Lan is not only a time for honoring parents and ancestors but also a period when the spiritual and human worlds connect.

For travelers, experiencing Vu Lan and Ghost Month in Vietnam offers a unique chance to witness local traditions, taste symbolic foods, and explore the country’s deep cultural and religious heritage.

What is the Vu Lan Festival?

Vu Lan (or Ullambana) is one of the most important Buddhist festivals in Vietnam. It takes place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.

The origin of The Vu Lan Festival

The Vu Lan legend tells that after attaining great spiritual powers, Maudgalyayana (Mục Kiền Liên) saw his mother suffering in the realm of hell, tormented by hunger and thirst.

He brought her a bowl of rice, but because she feared it would be taken away, she covered it with her hand. Because of her greed, the rice instantly turned into burning flames, and she could not eat it.

Maudgalyayana sought help from the Buddha. The Buddha taught that no matter how great his spiritual powers were, he could not save his mother alone – it required the collective support of the monks from the ten directions.

The Buddha explained that the full moon of the seventh lunar month was the most auspicious time to make offerings and invite the sangha to perform the ceremony. Following the Buddha’s guidance, Maudgalyayana was able to save his mother. From then on, the Vu Lan Festival was established.

The meaning of the Vu Lan Festival

The Vu Lan Festival is a profoundly beautiful and meaningful celebration of filial piety. It is not only a Buddhist tradition but also a day for all devoted children throughout Vietnam to honor their parents. This festival carries a sacred significance, offering sons and daughters a special occasion to remember their parents’ immense sacrifices, and to awaken the precious spirit of gratitude that every child should hold in their heart. Truly, the nurturing grace of parents can never be forgotten. 

The debt of a father’s labor and a mother’s love has been deeply rooted in every Vietnamese family for thousands of years. Today, the Vu Lan Festival is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. While certain customs and beliefs may vary slightly, the core rituals remain the same.

The symbol of the Vu Lan Festival

In Vietnam, during the Vu Lan Festival, in addition to preparing an offering tray for the ancestral altar with reverence, each person also wears a rose on their chest. The rose, considered the queen of flowers and a symbol of love, is pinned to the chest to express the most beautiful and sacred feelings toward one’s parents. It is a gesture of remembrance for those who gave us life, and a symbol of filial piety that children dedicate to their parents.

On this sacred day, those who still have their parents are blessed to wear a red rose on their chest. This serves as a reminder to live with true filial devotion so that parents may feel happiness and pride in their children.

For those whose mother has passed away, a white rose is worn in remembrance. This simple flower serves as a gentle reminder that everything we have today is thanks to the sacrifices of our parents, and that we must never forget their grace.

Ghost Month in Vietnam

The 7th lunar month is also known as Tháng Ghost Month. According to belief, during this time, the gates of the underworld open, allowing wandering spirits to return to the human world.

In Vietnam, rituals for the ghost festival is a traditional spiritual practice passed down from generation to generation. Every year during the “ghost month,” depending on local customs, different rituals and forms of ceremonies are observed. Throughout this month, people are also advised to avoid major purchases such as houses, vehicles, or clothing, as it is believed these may attract the disturbance of spirits—or be considered as offerings meant only for the departed.

The meaning of Ghost Month

According to Vietnamese belief, the seventh lunar month is the time of “xá tội vong nhân,” when the gates of the afterlife are opened to pardon wandering souls. The customs of rituals for the ghost festival reflects the compassion and respect of the living toward the departed.

Besides offering to one’s ancestors to express gratitude and filial piety, preparing an offering tray for wandering souls is also very important. During the ceremony, the host or ritual practitioners often recite prayers to guide and console homeless, wandering spirits who have no place to return.

Rituals and Traditions You’ll See

Families set up altars with incense, fruits, and food to pay respect to their ancestors.

The custom of rituals for the ghost festival varies across different regions of Vietnam, so the offering trays also differ. A typical offering tray for wandering souls should include the following items:

1. Fresh fruits (traditionally five kinds, clean and unspoiled)
   
2. Joss paper money
   
3. Clean salt
   
4. Ordinary rice
   
5. Incense sticks
   
6. Betel and areca
   
7. Assorted sweets and candies
   
8. Clean water
   
9. Cooked rice with a boiled egg
   
10. Chrysanthemum flowers
    

According to folk belief, offerings should be made in the late afternoon or evening, as this is when the light is weakest, allowing spirits to move and respond more easily. If performed during the day, the bright sunlight is believed to weaken them.

It is advised to offer vegetarian food, as it helps wandering souls attain liberation more easily. Moreover, during the ritual, one should not pray for personal favors, but sincerely dedicate flowers, incense, and merit to the spirits.

Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are advised to stay away from the ritual area, as they are believed to be more vulnerable to being disturbed or teased by wandering souls.

During the Vu Lan Festival, Buddhists in Vietnam take part in various meaningful activities. Many release birds, fish, or turtles as an expression of compassion and the wish to bring freedom to living beings. Others engage in charity work by offering food, clothing, and donations to those in need, spreading kindness and support within the community. In addition, countless people visit temples and pagodas, where solemn prayer ceremonies are held, attracting thousands of visitors who come to honor their parents and ancestors with deep reverence.

Where To Experience The Festival

Across Vietnam, the Vu Lan Festival is celebrated with unique local traditions and sacred spaces that draw countless visitors.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda and Giác Lâm Pagoda are the main gathering places, where thousands of Buddhists and families come together to pray, make offerings, and listen to Dharma talks.

In the capital city of Hanoi, Trấn Quốc Pagoda, located by the peaceful waters of West Lake, provides a serene and spiritual setting for worshippers to honor their parents and ancestors. 

In the ancient capital of Hue, solemn ceremonies are held in historic pagodas, carrying deep cultural and historical resonance that reflect the city’s strong Buddhist heritage. 

Each destination highlights the diversity of Vietnam’s traditions while sharing the same spirit of filial piety and gratitude.

A Spiritual Journey Through Vietnam

Vu Lan Festival and Ghost Month are not just religious events – they are cultural windows into Vietnam’s values of gratitude, compassion, and respect for the unseen world. For travelers, it’s a chance to go beyond sightseeing and immerse themselves in the spiritual heartbeat of Vietnam.

Whether it’s watching a street offering, enjoying a vegetarian meal, or joining prayers at a pagoda, this experience connects you to a tradition that has lasted for centuries.

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