1. Mid-autumn Festival in Vietnam

Mid – autumn festival is traditional festival in Vietnam. It is often held in the middle of the 8^th month base on lunar calendar. It is one of the biggest festivals in Vietnam with a lot of meaning. Mid – autumn festival not only emphasizes the love and reunion between family members but also is a festival for children and adults playing and relaxing in Vietnam.

Mid – autumn festival is the most beautiful memory of every Vietnamese especially children. This is a special occasion for children to enjoy the best time of the years that they can play with friends and family, have new toys and go out for playing with their neighbors. Mid – autumn is attractive for children and also adults. Today, in Vietnam, many adults go out with their friends and play with children in the street, and attend to activities for children because they want to remind their childhood and make they feel young again. The most importance reason is that they can share the happiest moment with other people.

Mid – autumn festival is celebrated at the end of September or early of October. In the past, this was an occasion for people to show their thanks to the heaven and earth after bumper harvests. When harvest time was finished, people also disengaged to participate in the festival. Mid – autumn festival is the second importance festival in Vietnam, just after Lunar New Year festival. This festival is also celebrated at other Asia countries such as China, Thailand and etc. At each country, it has some different names like Moon festival. Before and after the Mid-Autumn Festival there are no festivals reserved for children. Therefore, the eighth full moon in lunar calendar is the people awaited. This day is for the whole family but mainly for children – future generations and hoping to bring growth and development for them. This is also the special humanistic meaning of this holiday. In the past, people often see the moon, eat bread, and enjoy tea together. Besides, they also prepare some fruits for ancestral feast which express their heart of the descendants towards their ancestor. Cultural values of Mid-Autumn Festival are preserved and promoted. Over time, people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival different but the meaning of the family reunion and caring for children is still valid.

Many enjoyable activities are held in this festival. In the past, the ancients were very delicate, particularly for children. When people ate moon cake, children would play the starlight made of bamboo rods. Some families made the fish lights, and pulling the army. This gift for children was usually made by brothers and sisters, parents or grandparents to show their loves for them. Today, Vietnamese still keep many activities of Mid – autumn festival. Firstly, adults in family will give presents for the children such as the starlight, or fish light to show their love, and care for their children. Therefore, they will love their family more. Secondly, Vietnamese buy moon cakes, tea, and wine to worship ancestors. It is also a chance to give moon cakes to their grandparents, parents, teachers, and friends. At night of Mid-autumn festival (15^th August in lunar calendar), children march on the street, sing cheerful songs, and carry colorful lanterns on their hands. The lanterns have different shapes with colorful colors including butterflies, fish, and stars. In addition, there are lanterns that rotate in the same direction without stop when a candle is placed inside, look like the rotation of the earth around the sun. Finally, at the end of the day, all of family member sitting together for eating fruits, moon cake, candies, and so on, and listening their grandparent, parent share their old story, funny story or their experience.

Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a very meaningful custom. That is the meaning of caring, of filial piety, of gratitude, of friendship, of reunion, and of love. All Vietnamese people always try to maintain and develop this beautiful meaning.

2. Buon Ma Thuot Café Festival

The Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival is held once every two years in DakLak Province (in Central Highlands). It is an importance event of Vietnam café’s industry. This festival is also organized in other provinces to promulgate Buon Ma Thuot coffee. The Prime Minister recognized the festival as a national level festival.

The purpose of this festival is to promote the imagine of DakLak as well as improve the economic efficiency of the coffee industry in general, DakLak coffee in particular, and promote the promotion and introduction of trademarks bearing the origin of goods “Buon Ma Thuot coffee”. Moreover, the government wants to create conditions for domestic and foreign coffee enterprises to advertise their trademarks, introduce their products, promote their trade, and step by step raise their knowledge in coffee production and processing. At the same time, the quality of coffee products and export turnover are increasing day by day.

This festival becomes more and more popular. The First festival has attracted over 300,000 visitors for the first time, attracting 106 businesses inside and outside the country. Meanwhile, the nearest festival was held in 2017 attracted more than 350,000 visitors, 145 companies and more than 450 booths.

For the Central Highlands in general and DakLak in particular, coffee is the soul of the land, a source of their life and closes associate of millions of farmers. With more than 100 years of development, Buon Ma Thuot coffee has made great strides, and now providing more than 90% of the country’s coffee output and contributing significantly to Vietnam’s coffee industry over the last 10 years.

Finally, the festival is continuing to affirm the position of coffee in the new era – the period of focus on enhancing added value and sustainable development in many aspects: economic, social, environmental and generative.

3. Mui Ne International Sailing Festival

Mui Ne International Sailing Festival is the biggest international sport – tourism event of sailing in Vietnam which is took place in Mui Ne beach, Binh Thuan province. The main purpose of this festival is to develop sea tourism and promulgate the image of Vietnam generally and Binh Thuan in particularly to other countries in the world.

Mui Ne is known as one of beautiful beaches in Vietnam. It is the reason why it is chosen to organize the international sailing festival. This festival creates a great chance for Mui Ne becoming an international destination for entertainment industry as well as sailboats manufacture of many trustworthy corporations over the world. Every year, it attracts the participation of about 20 sailing teams from countries like China, Korea, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, and etc, and about 150 sailboat manufacturing companies around the world.

Being held for several times in Mui Ne since 2010, Mui Ne International Sailing Festival is increasingly improved in content to satisfy the need of local and international tourists. Besides the sailing contest, tourists come to Mui Ne in this festival also have a chance to enjoy many cultural activities, and excited music and artistic outdoor shows with the contribution of famous artistic delegations, artists, famous singers and pop bands from America, Russia, Greece, France, Australia, Korea, and Hong Kong.

In conclusion, this festival is believed to create favorable conditions for Mui Ne to become a famous entertainment center nationally and internationally as well as enhance international tourists and investors to Vietnam.

4. Thai Nguyen International Tea Festival

The Tea Festival Thai Nguyen is often biennially held in Thai Nguyen which is a province located in the Northeast of Vietnam famous for tea products. The festival provides a great opportunity for Thai Nguyen particularly and other provinces to promote tea products and tea culture of Vietnam to international customers.

Thai Nguyen Tea Festival is considered as one of the most important festival in Vietnam on tea. The number of visitors attending this festival can be more than 400,000 people. Every time, the festival attracts the participation about ten countries, 30 provinces of Vietnam, 50 traditional villages and 25 enterprises in tea industry. Members of International Tea Association, such as China, South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Laos, and India… are expected to join in festival. There are many enjoyable activities held in the festival, for instance Miss Tea-land Contest, exhibition of ornamental creatures, photography exhibition, art performance, and touring tea villages. Thai Nguyen Tea Carnival is one of the main activities in the festival’s framework including theatrical performances and performing arts of circus troupes as well as famous domestic and international street artists. Besides excited activities, many helpful workshops are also organized here. In workshops, audiences have a great chance to know about the history of Vietnamese tea; the process of production of tea; and good effects of tea on human health.

With the crystal green colour, sweet taste and unique smell, Thai Nguyen tea scores very high in the international market. Therefore, through the festival, Vietnam not only expect to promote tangible and intangible cultural values of Thai Nguyen Tea but also tourism promotion, gradually expanding cultural exchanges, economic development and international integration, boosting development of the tea industry, improving the quality and value of tea products of Thai Nguyen in particularly and Vietnam generally. In conclusion, this festival is a cannot-miss event for tea lover.

5. Hue Festival

Hue Festival is a marvelous cultural event in Vietnam which is celebrated biennially in Hue City – the ancient capital of Vietnam. The festival is aim to honor cultural and historical values of Hue City towards tourists from all over the world.

Hue is a beautiful city and Hue’s architectural heritage was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1993. Currently, Hue City is known as a favorite destination of tourists both for national and international people in Vietnam. Therefore, Hue Festival is very famous that it is one of the most major festivals in Vietnam. With the participation of over 40 art companies from both Vietnam and international countries, the festival is a great opportunity to promote different kinds of arts as well as exchange cultural values of Vietnam to people around the world. During the festival, people will be introduced the art of Hue royal court music and wonderful folk songs in Hue. Besides art performances of Hue, the festival also presents unique contemporary art programs from nations in the world, such as France, China, England, Italy, Spain, USA, and South Korea.

Not only aim to cultural exchange, the festival is also a strong motivation to promote the development of tourism and economy. In Hue Festival 2016, the festival can attract more than 60,000 international visitors and more than 120,000 domestic tourists. The number of visitor is increase year by year. For those who attend in Hue Festival, it is sure that you will feel delight because of the exciting atmosphere and a large number of enjoyable activities like art performances, contests, traditional games, exhibitions, international trade fairs, sport activities, travel routes and fireworks. Last but not least, Hue is also famous for its elaborate cuisine. Therefore, coming to Hue Festival, the visitor has a chance to discover wonderful places in Hue, join in interesting activities and enjoys delicious foods at here such as Tapioca starch with shrimp, bloating fern-shaped cake, Hue beef noodle, many different kinds of Sweet gruel and etc.

6. Ok Om Bok

The OK OM BOK festival (or also called “Worshipping the Moon” festival) is a Khmer festival and is very respected in the Khmer ethnic community, especially in Tra Vinh and Soc Trang (two regions that main of Khmer people live in). To Khmer people, the moon is a god that can control weather, affect to the crops and bring the wealthy and happiness. Thus, the purpose of the festival is to gratitude to the Nature and prays for bumper harvests, favorable weather and the happiness. Every year, Ok Om Bok is normally celebrated on the 14th or 15th of October, according to the lunar calendar.

This festival is prepared for a month before the festival takes place, and it is usually held at a temple, pagoda or large open space. The offers to the Moon include “flat Cốm” (that is made from the best rice), sweet potato, fruit, biscuits, candy and beautiful flowers. When the Moon is full, the ceremony of worshiping the Moon starts; the representative of the Khmer people (who is usually elder and has a good reputation) expresses the gratitude of Khmer people to the moon and praying for the wealth and happiness that will come to the villagers. Also, after worshiping, children will be gathered to ask about what they want to become or do in the future and they will eat “flat Cốm”; they believe that the wish of children will be belief and motivation for adult people in the next year.

Three most popular and interesting activities in Ok Om Bok festival are building bamboo gate, dropping wind lanterns, and Ngo boat racing. Firstly the bamboo gate is made from bamboos (the main pillars) and coconut leaves (the horizontal arches), with decoration of 12 betel leaves (that are represented as 12 months in years) and a rope hanging 7 betel nuts (that are represented as 7 days a week). Secondly, for the activity of dropping wind lanterns, people believe that the light of wind lanterns will take away all the woes and misfortunes of the hamlets, so the left is happiness and wealthy. Finally, The Ngo boat racing is traditional ritual to send the God of Water to the sea after the planting season and also a religious ritual in remembering that the ancient Nagar serpent god turned into a log to help the Buddha to cross the river.

Nowadays, the Ok Om Bok attracts thousands of visitors, spectators and local residents.

7. Vietnam Lantern Festival

“Tet Nguyen Tieu” (Tết Nguyên Tiêu – it takes place when the moon is full in January of lunar calendar) is a traditional festival day that is original from China, it is also called Tet Thuong Nguyen (Tết Thượng Nguyên”, the full moon festival or lantern festival in Vietnam. The full moon festival begins at midnight on the 14th (the night before the full moon) to the 15th day (the full moon day) and until midnight on the 15th day (the night of full moon) in January of lunar calendar.

There are two customs in this festival, which are eating “banh troi nuoc” (floating cake) _ the food that is represented for the union in Vietnam belief, and hanging lanterns _ this is also the reason why the full moon festival is also called lantern festival.

Buddhism for more than a thousand years into Vietnam has linked Vietnamese cultural customs, and the full moon festival is not the exception. Nowadays, the full moon festival is one of the most important festival and popular for most of regions in Vietnam. Because the full moon festival is takes place on the first full moon of a year as well as the best time to pray for peace and happiness of a new year, it attracts a large number of Buddhists and main of population. In this day, people come to temples and pagoda to pray for the peace, wealthy, happiness, and prosperity of their family, friends, loved ones and country.

The most tourist attractive destinations on the full moon festival are “Cho Lon” (Chợ Lớn) in Ho Chi Minh City and the Lantern Festival Hoi An that especially is held in Hoi An. In generally, people decorate the streets and houses with lots of different and various colorful lanterns and sell many the traditional foods, especially “banh troi nuoc”. In Cho Lon, there are the dragon dancing shows and the colorful parades along the streets.

For the foreign tourists who come to Vietnam in this festival, it is a great chance for them to enjoy this eventful festival at Cho Lon or Hoi An, and also the great opportunity to understand more about the culture of Vietnam.

8. Da Nang International Fireworks Competition

Da Nang International Fireworks Competition is a festival with the participation of many countries in the world, which is held every two years in Da Nang, in the end of March or April of the year.

This is an impressive cultural festival, considered as a great party of sound, light and vibrant colors, attracting thousands of domestic and foreign tourists. The impressive fireworks always come with vibrant sound and story and metaphorical meaning in it. This festival was first held in 2008, and international teams will perform fireworks in about 20 to 22 minutes. Over the years, international teams from France, Italy, the United States and China regularly participated in the competition. Place of fireworks performances often  are located at Han River Port, or Tran Hung Dao Street, or Thuan Phuoc  Bridge.

There are other interesting activities that accompany with the fireworks performances such as the art concert, the official concert, and musical performances between the fireworks displays of the teams. Also, there are accompanying activities during the competition such as the “flower boat parade” on the Han River, the “display of stone statues” about the Mountain and Water, fireworks competitions on computer, folk games, pedicabs parade, and street music performances … etc.

Besides, Da Nang also has tourist attractions such as Ngu Hanh Son Mountain, Non Nuoc Village, Danang Museum, Cham Sculpture Museum; and several outstanding tourism activities such as diving tours, fishing with fishermen, visiting Ba Na Hills or exploring the natural beauty of Son Tra Peninsula. Also, do not forget the Han River and the Han River Bridge, they are considered as the places that concentrate the dreamlike aspects and express the aspiration of the city.

9. Vung Tau International Kite Festival

Vung Tau International Kite Festival was first held in 2009, and has been held annually so far. This festival has the participation of many international kite clubs. During the festival, the tourists have the opportunity to watch a colorful sky by the kites of every shape, size and style. This festival is not only an opportunity for people who love the artistic sport of playing kites, but also for Vung Tau to attract visitors from both domestic and international.

International kite clubs often bring kites that express their traditional culture of their country. For Vietnam, the kites are designed as phoenix and dragons (the legends of the royal) are indispensable. Also, at night, there are kite performances with a combination of sound and light that are very attractive to visitors.

Each of years, the kite competition has a theme, for example 2009 is “The Dance of the East Sea”, 2010 is “Legends of a Thousand Years”, or of 2012 is “Dance of Peace “. In 2009, this competition attracts kite clubs from 15 countries around the world, and this number has grown rapidly over the years, the year 2010 attracts the participating clubs from nearly 30 countries, and in the following years, is about 25 countries in the world.

Besides, Vung Tau is also a tourist destination with beautiful beaches, Binh Chau Hot Spring, lighthouse and especially the largest Kito statue in the world.

This festival is not only a chance to spread the culture of playing kite for local and international visitors, but also an opportunity to introduce Vietnamese culture to the world.

10. Nha Trang Beach Festival

Nha Trang Beach Festival is one of the most interesting and attractive tourist attractions in Nha Trang, which is usually held every two years in the summer (usually in June). The festival is usually took place at the beach of Nha Trang.

With its cool climate, the most beautiful beaches in the country, Nha Trang is an ideal venue for festival as well as the important events such as Miss Vietnam, Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss Earth … etc; all of them were held in Nha Trang.

This festival was first held in 2003, and its framework includes many cultural, social and sporting activities. For example, along the coast of Nha Trang beach, there are special art exhibits on the beach designed by many national and international delegations. In addition, sea sports such as parachuting, volleyball or water motor riding also attract many participants. Other interesting activities include kite art performances, colorful street parades, night fishing, night picnics … etc. Interesting, you can visit the Yen Island, or dive to see one of the most plentiful coral reefs of Vietnam in Mun Island. Also, Cham culture exhibition is a highlight event that tourists should not miss when coming to this festival.

In general, the Nha Trang Beach Festival is unique festival that carries many special characteristic of Nha Trang, and it is also an opportunity to attract tourists from both local and international regions. Also, it is one of the most convenient ways to introduce the beauty of landscape and people of Nha Trang to the world.

11. Halong Carnival

Halong, one of the most popular tourist attractions of Vietnam, has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Thus, Halong Carnival is a large and important festival of Quang Ninh province, a chance to attract a lot of tourists and spread images of Ha Long Bay in particular and Quang Ninh Province in general for national and international visitors. With the advantages of beautiful landscape and favorable climate, Halong Carnival is held annually in late April to early May. As usually, the festival takes place along the Hoang Quoc Viet road of Ha Long City.

This carnival includes large-scale art performances that combine sound, color and excitement; and the participation involves thousands of people of all sorts of occupations (models, artists, singers, actors, misses, those who work in the field of professional arts, amateurs and local people) come from the regions in different provinces/cities of the country. Moreover, this carnival specially has the participation of foreigners; every year there are always large numbers of casts that from big international delegations of neighboring countries like China, Korea, Laos and Thailand come to Halong to perform in Halong Carnival. In addition, each performance has its own theme, the performances from Vietnam often means to honor the beauty of people and the land of Quang Ninh in particular and Vietnam in general. Also, the performance of the international delegations has the nuance of each country.

Besides, one of the main purposes of Halong Carnival is to call for the awareness of the people and the community of visitors to continue maintaining and protecting the cultural values ​​of Halong Bay, and simultaneously discovering, exploiting, introducing and developing tourism potential of Quang Ninh province as well as attract potential investors from domestic and international.

This festival always calls for the attention of the press in the country and abroad. Therefore, Halong Carnival not only helps to exchange knowledge and exchanges culture between regions and countries, but also to promote the images of society and human of Ha Long – Quang Ninh in particular and Vietnam in general.

12. Vietnam Rice Festival

Vietnam Rice Festival is a national festival that is held every two years. The festival was held for the first time in 2009, as usual, the holding place is unfixed, a particular province will be selected as the place to hold this festival. Also, this festival focuses on discussions about high quality rice varieties/ high-yield rice varieties of Vietnam.

Besides discussing the existing good rice varieties of Vietnam, this is an opportunity for those (who are in or interested in this field) gathering information about the outstanding rice varieties. Simultaneously, it honors the Vietnamese farmers and Vietnamese rice companies in particular, and also honors the wet rice civilization of Vietnam

Through useful seminars, the rice festival helps those in this industry and those interested in the field to identify the position of the Vietnamese rice brand in the international market. Moreover, on this occasion, Vietnamese enterprises participate in the sustainable development strategy for rice growing areas by supporting agricultural machinery for farmers and imparting knowledge about the application of advanced science and technology in agriculture.

This festival always attracts the participation of domestic and international units. To detail, the provinces of the Mekong Delta, North and Central Vietnam always participate in this festival; And about the international units, it is counted about 17 countries (such as India, the Philippines, Ukraine, New Zealand, and Germany … ect)  agree to participate in this festival . In particular, the festival will be attended by representatives from FAO, International Rice Research Institute.

From the first time, this festival has attracted 400,000 people to visit and buy. The cultural activities in the festival are diverse: introducing wet rice civilization and national cultural identity, cultural food festival, folk music performance, honoring the record of Vietnamese rice, and many workshops such as seminars on investment promotion and rice export Vietnam.

To conclusion, the Vietnam Rice Festival gives the opportunities of exchanging knowledge of rice field, gathering the information about rice of the market, and attracting the potential investor; also, it helps to enhance the images of Vietnamese rice brands, increase their competition in international market.

13. Dalat Flower Festival

Dalat Flower Festival is a festival in December _ the month that Dalat has the best weather of the year. Normally, this festival is held every 2 year, at Dalat city of Lam Dong province, or some other place of Lam Dong province. It is first held at 2005 and since then, it is considered as one of the most unique and impressive festival in Vietnam; It is a great exhibition of various flowers from the local, other provinces in the country, and other countries around the world.

This is an occasion for flower growers to meet and exchange flower with the ones who love flowers, do business with flowers and research on the field of flowers. Also, this festival helps to attract not only thousands of touristic and visitors, but also the potential investors; and this will lead to the increase of economic and society of Dalat – Lam Dong as well as promote the cultural identity of life and human at Dalat.

During the festival, people decorate Dalat by the full of bright and colorful flowers. People design hundreds of beautiful miniature landscapes, and thousands of flower baskets and ornamental bouquets are put at the attraction points and along the main routes such as Ho Xuan Huong Street, Le Dai Hanh – street of flower and Ong Dao Bridge.

In addition, there are many miraculous activities such as the exhibitions of Dalat’s unique souvenirs, the travel – market Vietnam – Asian – Dalat, the traditional costumes of Tay Nguyen indigenous people, the carnivals, flower market, flower festival and brocade festival … etc.

Over the years, the festival has recorded many special milestones, such as the first organization (2005) attracted more than 80,000 people, the second organization (2007) made 8 new records in the Vietnam record Book – Vietkings, and in the third organization (2010) Dalat has been recognized as the flower city of Vietnam.

To conclusion, Dalat Flowers Festival is a national festival that creates the important steps in the development of economic and society of Dalat in particular and Dalat tourism in general. It not only attracts tourists, but also is a meaningful activity that respects the value of flowers, flower farmers and this industry to promote and attract investment to Dalat.

14. Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival

Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival is a festival that is held in March or April each year, and is a traditional tourism festival of the city. This event is a great opportunity for businesses to expand exchanges, increase cooperation, and always attract many visitors each year. Also, Area B, Park 23-9 (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) was chosen to celebrate this annual festival.

The festival includes attractive tours with promotions and activities that aim to stimulate the tourism. Also, in the framework of the festival, industrial clusters of provinces and regions (such as the North area, the Mekong delta, Tay Nguyen etc.) will be allocated their own space, and this help to stand out the characteristic of each regions/provinces. Through this occasion, the enterprises have opportunities to meet and exchange with customers, introduce products as well as attract potential customers. The unique services and promotional programs that are offered from enterprises always attract much attention. Furthermore, there are many other events and activities such as exhibitions and artistic performances, conferences and seminars that focus on the discussion about how to cooperate together to develop in the tourist industry … etc.

The festival is a special occasion of the year that brings many opportunities for Ho Chi Minh City tourism as well as the participating businesses to develop and promote the brands because it always attract large number of visitors. Also, for the tourist, it can be a regret to miss this festival when coming to Ho Chi Minh City in its time of each year.