Vietnam Travel Guide Backpacking and Individual Travel Blog
Top special Vietnam Festivals in May 2018 give you the inspiring heads-up of the upcoming events in a beautiful S-shaped country. If holding an interest in the culture preservations and festive celebrations, the actual participation in the festivals will leave you with the unforgettable memories and stories to tell. Nothing but the travel to Vietnam in May can let you feel and experience the unique festivities of Ironman 70.3 Vietnam, Danang Street Festival, Giong Festival, and Ba Chua Xu Festivals.
#1: Ironman 70.3 Vietnam 2018 in Da Nang City
Ironman 70.3 Vietnam 2018 in Da Nang City
This is Vietnam’s premier triathlon sports event held in the exquisite beach town of Da Nang, on May 13th, 2018. The athletics competition is the top Vietnam summer festivals that the sports fanciers will not miss. In that event, each competitor will take part in three rounds of swimming, cycling, and running to win the awards. With the mix of cultural highlights, delightful weather, and tasty food, Da Nang is the ideal place to host this sports event. There are many exciting things to watch.
The participants will complete in a scenic course, including the 1.9-km ocean swimming, followed by the two-loop 90-km bike course along the coastal roads, and then the 21-km flat run course toward the end of the beachfront finish point. The event can be described as “competitive yet appealing.” If you’re keen on the upcoming Ironman Festival in Danang, research to buy the Ironmen’s items like blue/green/grey shirt, name tower, T-shirt, visor, etc., is a great idea. Particularly in Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa, the world-class triathlon event will bring more visitors.
#2: Da Nang Street Festival 2018
Da Nang Street Festival 2018
This is the monthly outdoor festival on May 26th, 2018, in the dynamic Tran Hung Dao Street, Da Nang City to enjoy during your Da Nang Package Tour. The event delivers the exciting atmosphere filled with parades, live music, and dancing on the banks of the well-known Han River. It is the street party that both locals and foreigners are free to attend for the sleepless nightlife. The fun evening out with Da Nang Street Festival makes the city tour more enjoyable than ever. Besides the fairs for souvenirs and food, people will get immersed in the live music and dancing performances amidst the secured and joyful environment.
According to the People’s Committee of Da Nang City, they will organize for the top security of the street event that guarantees the safe and cheerful zone for both locals and travelers to rave. Catch your opportunities to mingle with the residents, chat with them, and have fun together.
#3: Giong Festival in Hanoi
Giong Festival in Hanoi
Once a year, Giong Festival takes place on the 9th day of the 4th lunar month, in Phu Dong Village, Gia Lam District, Hanoi. This year, it falls on May 23rd, 2018 of the Georgian calendar. This Vietnam special festival is to commemorate Saint Giong who protected the country by vanquishing the An enemies. The Vietnamese keeps a legend of the Saint Giong, put the legend in the nation’s schoolbooks, and celebrate the annual festival to show gratitude to the ancestor. In the Vietnamese folk beliefs, Saint Giong is one of the four undying characters.
It takes days to prepare for the event, particularly from the 1st day of the 3rd lunar month to the 5th day of the 4th lunar month. Then, on the 9th day of the 4th lunar month, the procession will begin from the Mother Temple toward Thuong Temple, which covers various religious rites. At night, there will be the music performances of Cheo (the classical Vietnamese opera) that is worth listening to. The foreign guests will find lots of interests in this religious festival as well as the ancient art and cultural preservation. It’s great to announce that the Giong Festival in Phu Dong Temple was inscribed as the Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. There are various “Hoi Giong” around Hanoi, but the one in Phu Dong Village is most recognizable.
#4: Ba Chua Xu Festival in An Giang Province
Ba Chua Xu Festival in An Giang Province
This is a spiritual festival dedicated to worship Ba Chua Xu (Lady of Religion) in Sam Mountain, An Giang Province, Vietnam. The Ba Chua Xu Festival is held once a year, which calls for numerous pilgrims throughout the country to gather at the well-known Mountain to do worshipping to the revered statue of Ba Chua and witness the series of rites. Annually, the Ceremony is taken place from the 23rd night to the 27th day of the 4th lunar month (from June 6th to June 10th, 2018 of the Gregorian calendar), the region becomes packed with visitors and various fairs.
There is even a legend telling the origins of the festival. About 200 years ago, many invaders took Sam Mountain as their shelters. Some of them climbed the top of the Mountain and found out a revered and beautiful stone Statue. They tried to take that Statue but couldn’t move it. At that time, there was an unexplained and occult event in the village: a little girl suddenly became a medium who transferred the Lady’s message telling that she was “the Lady of Religion” and instructing the villagers how to get her Statue from the forested Sam Mountain. It was required nine virgin girls to move the Statue and put it in the designated place.
Even now, the Statue is at the same location as was, making Sam Mountain and the Lady Temple the sacred sites of worshipping that attract about 2 million pilgrims per year. In fact, Ba Chua Xu Ceremony is one of the most special festivals of Vietnam in the Mekong Delta areas. It delivers the beautiful culture and healthy religious effects to all visitors. In fact, The Lady Temple was ranked as The National Cultural Relic.
The festivals of sports, street parades, culture, and religion in May and June 2018 will attract more and more people to experience Vietnam travel. They might want to attend at least one of the four events above. The festive celebrated atmosphere has no second to feel bored; rather, it has boundless fun and joy to cheer you up!
