1. Origins of Hanoi’s events and holidays
Start with a short introduction related to this subject.
Just give background infroamtion where Hanois events, holidays and festivals come from. But don’t go to into detail about each event/holiday/festival. They can only be names as an example, but not description or what to expect, as later in this article for each festival/event/holiday we have a dedicated section with description, so I want to avoid duplicated texts.
1.1 Religious events
Explain. What religious. Budshism but also Folk religion (what is that?)
1.2 Historical celebrations
Most historical celebrations based on Vietnam War, also most well known for most people. Few others too that go way further back (hung kings).
1.3 Western influences
Christmas, new year of course. to valentine and international womans day. They all get celebrated in Hanoi, but often not seen as officialy. But due to western influences. In smaller towns outside Hanoi people don’t celebrate them or some might hardly heard about some of them. Vietnam has their own New Year and even Vietnames Womans day that are consindered way more important then the international counter events??
2. Vietnamese calendar explained
It can be a bit confusing, that some festivals are not celebrated on fixed yearly dates, while others are. So before jumping to all the events, it is important to know that Vietnam uses two different calendars.
2.1 ??? calendar
2.2 Lunar calendar
3. Overview of all festivals and events in Hanoi
Introduce this part of the article/guide.
Then explain very short one more time that below some events you can see in two months, because based on lunar as explained in the earlier section. To know the exact date of that year, go to each individual festival or holiday that includes this.
3.1 January
3.2 February
3.3 March
4. Explaining the holidays and festivals in Hanoi
1 sentence introduction, saying below are the events, holidays and festivals celebrated in Hanoi in month.
If there is no event or festival this month, you can explain it and link to the page with overview of all “holiday and events in Hanoi” https://dev.localvietnam.com/hanoi/hanoi-festivals-holidays-events/
Only add the event/festival/holiday if it falls in this month!
No bold text anywhere in the text.
4.1 Vietnamese New Year
For months: January, February
What is Vietnamese New Year? Either late January or early February. What does this mean for Hanoi? Weeks before Tet with preperations and decorations, during Tet many places close down for few days or full week. Hotels stay open. Unique opportunity and can be difficult traveling. That is why good to read the guide “Vietnamese New Year in Hanoi”, to see what to expect and how to handle it with useful travel tips. https://dev.localvietnam.com/hanoi/vietnamese-new-year-tet-hanoi/
4.2 Perfume Pagoda Festival
For months: February, March, April
What is Perfume Pagoda and the Perfume Pagoda Festival and where located from Hanoi, Day tour options. Is it a very unique opportunity or too crowded to visit (most busy is beginning, whole festival is spread over 3 months)? from the 6th day of the 1st month to the end of the 3rd month of the lunar calendar, which is mostly February, March, April
On the end add a sentence linking to our guide “guide to Perfume Pagoda Festival”, with all the information what to do and expect. https://dev.localvietnam.com/hanoi/perfume-pagoda-festival/
4.3 Hung Kings’ Temple Festival
For months: April
Who are the Hung Kings and what is celebrated? Where is it celebrated the most and how far is it from Hanoi and how to get there (renting car with driver).
On the end add a sentence linking to our guide “Hung Kings Festival”, with all the information what to do and expect. https://dev.localvietnam.com/culture/holidays/hung-kings-festival/
4.4 Reunification Day
For months: April
When is it? What is Reunification Day? What kind of celebrations will you see in Hanoi.
Also add travel tip that Labour Day in May is in 1 May and if it falls in weekends it shifts, so creates the second biggest holiday of the year in vietnam. Many people travel (not to Hanoi though, so Hanoi is not more crowded), but places around Hanoi are like Sapa, Ha Giang, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh.
4.5 International Labour Day
For months: May
May 1. Official day off for Vietnamese. Also, end of April (30) is Reunification Day, which is also day off. Together with the weekend, even if the official day falls in weekend, the day off gets moved, it created a big holiday period. Many people travel (not to Hanoi though, so Hanoi is not more crowded), but places around Hanoi are like Sapa, Ha Giang, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh.
4.6 Buddha’s Birthday (Vesak)
For months: May
What is Buddha’s Birthday? Why is it relevant to Hanoi, what can you see and experience in Hanoi. Or more somehting families do and bit more busy at temples maybe?
4.6 Vu Lan Festival
For months: August
What is Vu Lan Festival? Why is it relevant to Hanoi, what can you see and experience in Hanoi. Or more somehting families do and bit more busy at temples maybe?
4.7 Ghost Month
For months: August, September
What is Ghost Month? 7 th Lunar month, which is part August and September. As traveller is quite minimum what you see and able to experience. Quite a family thing. Temples might be more busy. Also you will notice people on the street making fires where they do joss paper burning.
4.7 Vietnam National Day
For months: August, September
For August, mention it is not August but National Day is 2 september, but you see preperations end of august.
What is Vietnam National Day? What can people expect in Hanoi during this time. Can they experience anything?
4.8 Mid Autumn Festival
For months: September, October
What is Mid Autumn Festival? What can people expect in Hanoi during this time. Can they experience anything?
Either late September or early October
On the end add a sentence linking to our guide “Mid Autumn Festival in Hanoi”, with all the information what to do and expect. https://dev.localvietnam.com/hanoi/mid-autumn-festival-hanoi/
4.9 Hanoi Liberation Day
For months: October
What is Hanoi Liberation Day? What can people expect in Hanoi during this time. Can they experience anything?
October 10
4.10 Christmas
For months: December
Vietnam not chistian country, very small part only, not typical Vietnamese culture, but many have embraced the commercial part of it. Lots of shops, restaurants, hotels and even some peoples homes are decorated. There are complete streets where every shop sells christmas decorations. Restaurants and hotels might offer special christmas dinners.
On the end add a sentence linking to our guide “Christmas in Hanoi”, with all the information what to do and expect. https://dev.localvietnam.com/hanoi/christmas-hanoi/
4.11 New Year
For months: December
Explain New Year in Hanoi, not typical Vietnamese culture either, they have Vietnamese New Year in late january or early february which is way more important. But they do have new years eve celebrations in Hanoi due to westernized and tourism. Even firework, new years eve parties at bars.
On the end add a sentence linking to our guide “New Years Eve in Hanoi”, with all the information what to do and expect. https://dev.localvietnam.com/hanoi/new-years-eve-hanoi/
5. Tips for joining celebrations in Hanoi
Many festivals and events have besides a joyful celebration also important in anchestor worship or budhist practises.
