15th July Vu Lan Festival – Vietnamese Family Bonding Day

The Vu Lan Festival is one of Vietnam’s most meaningful celebrations, dedicated to honoring parents and ancestors. Taking place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, it is a time for gratitude, family reunions, and acts of kindness. Whether visiting temples, preparing special meals, or simply spending time with loved ones, Vu Lan serves as a heartfelt reminder of family bonds and appreciation. In this guide, we will guide you through the important information of the Vu Lan Festival, and how to enjoy it when you are visiting Vietnam.

What is the Vu Lan Festival?

The Vu Lan Festival, also known as the Buddhist Mother’s Day (Vietnamese: Vu Lan báo hiếu) or Ullambana (meaning: deliverance from suffering), is one of the most important religious celebrations in many Asian countries, including Vietnam. Taking place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month (around mid-August in the solar calendar), this festival is a time for people to express gratitude towards their parents, both living and deceased, to remember their ancestors, and to help the homeless hungry souls.

The origins of the Vu Lan Festival traced back to the story of Maudgalyayana Bodhisattva (Vietnamese: Mục Kiền Liên), a disciple of Buddha, who, on the 7th full moon, saved his mother from suffering in the underworld to be reborn in a better place. This story symbolizes the core essence of the festival: honoring parents, showing gratitude, and performing good deeds to gather blessings for the family. Therefore, during this festival, many Vietnamese visit temples to make offerings, recite Buddhist scriptures and participate in acts of charity.

What to Do at the Vu Lan Festival?

The Vu Lan Festival is marked by a variety of customs and activities that reflect the deep-rooted respect for ancestors and the importance of family. Here are some of the key things people do during the festival:

Attending Pagodas and Temples

One of the most common traditions is visiting pagodas and temples to pray for ancestors and deceased family members. People bring offerings such as flowers, fruits, and vegetarian food to the altars, seeking blessings and good fortune. Some pagodas even perform a lantern-lighting ritual to show their respects to their parents, making it an even more beautiful festival.

Wearing Red or White Roses on the Chest

A unique tradition of the Vietnamese Vu Lan Festival is the practice of wearing roses, initiated by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh back in the 1960s. Those whose parents are still alive wear red roses as a symbol of gratitude, while those whose parents have passed away wear white roses to honor their memory. This tradition serves as a touching reminder of the importance of parental love and appreciation.

Offering Food and Charity to the Less Fortunate

Charity plays a significant role in the Vu Lan Festival. Many families prepare food and distribute it to the needy, monks, and homeless people. Others donate money to charitable organizations, reflecting the Buddhist belief in compassion and kindness.

Preparing Special Family Meals

Many Vietnamese families prepare a special meal to offer to their ancestors (in Vietnamese: cỗ cúng). The meal usually consists of traditional vegetarian dishes, symbolizing purity and respect. After making offerings, family members gather to share the meal, strengthening familial bonds.

Release Living Creatures Into Nature

On this day, people also go to the market to buy several types of small animals, like fish, snails, eels, and birds, and then release them into natural habitats. This way, this can be considered an act of salvation and accumulate more blessings for their lives.

The Significance of Vu Lan Festival – A Family Bonding Day

More than just a religious event, the Vu Lan Festival is a day that reinforces the values of gratitude toward our parents, and family bonds. It serves as a heartfelt reminder for people to cherish their parents while they are still alive and to express their love through actions rather than words.

In modern times, as society becomes busier and people spend less time with their families, the Vu Lan Festival is an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their relationships with their parents. It encourages younger generations to reconnect with their roots and respect traditional values. Moreover, Vu Lan is a time of forgiveness, where people let go of past grievances, seek reconciliation, and strengthen relationships. Many families take this occasion to reunite, share meals, and celebrate together, making it one of the most significant family bonding days in Vietnam.

How to Prepare for the Vu Lan Festival?

The preparation for the Vu Lan Festival varies depending on personal beliefs and family traditions. Here’s how you can get ready for this meaningful day:

• Setting Up an Ancestral Altar: Many families clean and decorate their ancestral altars with fresh flowers, candles, and food offerings. This is a way to invite their ancestors to join in the festival and bless the family.
• Cooking Vegetarian Dishes: A common practice during the Vu Lan Festival is consuming vegetarian food to cleanse the body and soul. Popular dishes include sticky rice, boiled vegetables, tofu, and fruit-based desserts.
• Writing Letters of Gratitude: Some people choose to write letters to their parents, expressing their appreciation and love. This simple yet heartfelt gesture can strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories.
• Making Charitable Donations: Helping the less fortunate is an important aspect of the Vu Lan Festival. Many individuals donate food, clothing, and money to charities or help elderly people and orphans in their community.
• Praying for Family and Ancestors: Prayers and meditation sessions are commonly held at home or in temples. People pray for the well-being of their parents, wish for family harmony, and ask for peace and prosperity.

Notable Places in Vietnam to Join in the Vu Lan Festival

If you want to experience the Vu Lan Festival in a deeply spiritual way, there are several renowned places in Vietnam where the festival is celebrated with grandeur:

Ba Vang Pagoda (Quang Ninh)

Ba Vang Pagoda hosts one of the most well-organized Vu Lan Festival events, with thousands of people gathering to pray, release lanterns, and participate in charitable activities. Quang Ninh is most famous for the iconic Halong Bay, so you can plan a trip there too. For more secluded and sacred temples, Yen Tu Pagoda, a beautiful pagoda on the top of a mountain with a thousand stone steps to reach, is also a great choice.

Perfume Pagoda (Hanoi)

As one of Vietnam’s most famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites, the Perfume Pagoda sees a large number of visitors during the Vu Lan Festival. The peaceful surroundings and spiritual ambiance make it a perfect place to honor ancestors.

Some other pagodas to consider in Hanoi are: Quan Su Pagoda, Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery, Tran Quoc Pagoda.

Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh)

The largest spiritual site in Vietnam and also the largest temple in Southeast Asia as of 2018, Bai Dinh Pagoda is an ideal spot to visit on your spiritual trip and to join in the Vu Lan Festival. It is also near many other attractions in Ninh Binh, most notably the Trang An Complex, perfect for a short-term holiday.

Giac Lam Pagoda (Ho Chi Minh City)

Giac Lam Pagoda is one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City. During the Vu Lan Festival, it holds solemn ceremonies where devotees offer incense, chant sutras, and take part in charitable activities.

Some other pagodas to consider here are: Dieu Phap Pagoda, Hoang Phap Pagoda, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, or Buu Long Pagoda.

>>>> Visit other temples and pagodas here for your Vietnam trip!

Conclusion

The Vu Lan Festival is more than just a Buddhist celebration – it is a heartfelt reminder of gratitude, love, and family connections. Whether you participate in temple ceremonies, prepare offerings, or simply spend quality time with your parents, this festival provides a meaningful way to express appreciation for loved ones.

If you are paying a visit to Vietnam around July to August, why not give a shot at this festival? It will be an even greater choice if you are traveling with your family, or just simply want to immerse in the cultural beauty of Vietnam. To plan an authentic trip and not miss any important events, plan a customized trip with us at YESD Travel and have a memorable journey with your loved ones!