Culture & Events

Festivals, etiquette & 4,000 years of story

A little context turns a good trip into a memorable one.

Guides & articles

Festivals worth planning around

The celebrations that light up the calendar.

Jan–Feb

Tết

Lunar New Year — the biggest holiday (2026: 17 Feb). Magical, but many shops close; book early.

Every full moon

Hoi An lanterns

The old town switches off electric lights for a river of lanterns & floating candles.

Sep–Oct

Mid-Autumn

Tết Trung Thu — mooncakes, lion dances and lanterns for children nationwide.

Apr (odd years)

Huế Festival

Royal arts, áo dài processions and night performances in the imperial city.

Etiquette — quick do’s & don’ts

✓ Do

Remove your shoes when entering homes & many temples.

Dress modestly at pagodas — cover shoulders & knees.

Receive & give items (and money) with both hands.

Learn “xin chào” (hello) and “cảm ơn” (thank you) — locals love it.

✕ Don’t

Touch anyone’s head — it’s considered the most sacred part.

Point with your feet or rest them on furniture.

Lose your temper in public — calm gets better results.

Take photos of people (especially ethnic-minority elders) without asking.

4,000 years, in five beats

~2000 BC

Hùng Kings & the Đông Sơn bronze-drum culture.

939

Independence from China after the Bạch Đằng victory.

1802

Nguyễn dynasty unifies Vietnam; Huế becomes capital.

1945

Declaration of independence; decades of change follow.

1986→

Đổi Mới reforms open one of Asia’s fastest-rising economies.

Come for a festival — plan the visa

Time your trip with Tết or the Hoi An lanterns, then compare E-visa tiers with TVK.

View visa pricing →