Blog insight

The Vu Lan festival is just around the corner providing us the chance to gather with family, express love and gratitude to parents as well as ancestors. Held in the middle of Ghost month or the 7th month of the lunar year, it is one of the best times of year to visit Vietnam for both domestic and international travelholics.  

Whether you are Buddhist or not, this traditional holiday begs to be explored. Despite the rising crowd, the Vu Lan festival is an ideal occasion to be in for a unique travel as well as encounter experience. 

@vietnamtimes

1. Origin and meaning of Vu Lan Festival 

Taking root in Taoist and Buddhist belief, Vu Lan is celebrated every 15th July of the lunar calendar. Along with the lunar new year, this is the second-largest traditional holiday in Vietnam. According to Buddhist teachings, showcasing one’s honor and appreciation towards ancestors as well as those raising their children can be performed in several ways. This is also the pure purpose of the Vu Lan ceremony in Vietnamese culture. 

The original idea of this festival goes back to an old Buddhist tale. Legend has it that Monk Mục Kiền Liên – one of the great disciples of Buddha – realized that his mother was suffering from the tortures in the Lower World after death due to her cruel actions in the previous life. When asking Buddha for help, he was advised to gather the monks and pray for her relief on the full moon day of lunar July. 

@Nam Thi Vietnamese Language Center

After acting as such, Mục Kiền Liên not only rescued his mother out of the Lower World but also other souls. Since then, Vu Lan is held annually on that day. Native Vietnamese believe Vu Lan to be an occasion to wish the best for their parents,  pay homage to ancestors and remind people of respecting what they have. 

Vu Lan festival continues to be a crossroad for culture, religion and history. Since it takes place on the full moon day, local citizens often refer to the Vu Lan and Ghost Festival as one.  Aside from being brought to life by the same reason, they have other similarities in the meaning, celebration practices and role in the spiritual life of Vietnamese. 

@Food News

2. The best activities to do with your family in Vu Lan festival

When it comes to activity options, Vu Lan offers all the culture-based experiences you are looking for – gathering with family, praying at pagodas, visiting the cemeteries and much more. Here’s what local people would do on this special holiday in Vietnam.   

Pray at pagodas 

Paying a visit to pagodas during Ghost month is not only an activity associated with Buddhism but it also turns out to be an age-old cultural tradition or important part of the spiritual life of local people. On this day, the pagodas will welcome a large number of Buddhist followers flocking to attend the ceremonies, chant prayers and worship the hungry ghosts by offering incense. 

Besides, people tend to carry out charity activities to long for good luck, prosperity and health for their parents. In the big pagodas, in Southern Vietnam particularly, the festival as well as praying ceremonies are held quite soon as scheduled which can last for the whole lunar month. 

@Đạo phật ngày nay

Wearing red and white roses 

Apart from praying at pagodas and local temples, festival goers pin red roses to their shirts if their mothers are alive or white roses if their mothers are deceased. Red color represents respect while white color stands for harmony between offsprings and their deceased parents. Created by Monk Thích Nhất Hạnh back in the 20th century, this act is viewed as a traditional part of the celebration of Vu Lan ceremony to pay homage to their parents. 

@Tapchivanhoaphatgiao

Enjoy vegetarian meal 

Aside from preparing the dishes and votive offerings placed on the ancestral altar, the living family will gather to pray and have lunch, often vegetarian meals. It is common to believe that it will reduce the bad karmas if they do not eat meat during the Ghost month. In addition, most people decide to go vegetarian to dedicate their good merits to their deceased relatives and yearn for good fortune.

@Food Republic

Release the living creatures 

As aforementioned, people do not kill animals in the Vu Lan festival as well as during the 7th month of the lunar year. This is the reason why they set the living creatures at liberty such as fish, birds, etc. As a result, this traditional practice can be easily seen throughout the country, especially in the North.  

@phunutoday

Release lanterns in the river 

Similar to releasing the living animal, floating lighted lanterns and flowers on the river at night is one of the most important customs. They are usually made of colorful paper and lotus-shaped. In the thought of Vietnamese people, lanterns following the river stream will bring their wishes for their parents and turn into reality. 

This ritual takes place in popular travel destinations across the country such as Hochiminh city, Hoi An, Hue, etc. In particular, the sparkling river filled with candle-lit lanterns is a gorgeous sight that you do not want to miss. At the end of the day, Vu Lan festival is the best time to visit Vietnam for those seeking unique cultural experiences. 

@esence.travel

Visit the graves of their ancestors

As part of this Buddhist Fest, people visit their ancestors’ graves to pay special tributes. Accordingly, they will clean up the graves and place the offerings including fruits, joss paper, flowers and other items on them, in the hope that their loved ones will be happy in the afterlife.  

@SBS

Asking for one of the best times of the year to visit Vietnam, both locals and travelholics would likely point to the Ghost month and Vu Lan Festival particularly. Apart from the seasonal element including cuisines, sceneries and weather, this occasion is such a game-changer thanks to its cultural and historical meaning. If you are looking to end your summer with a bang, there’s no better place to be than Vietnam during this Buddhist Fest.