Known locally as Phat Dan, Buddha’s Birthday in Vietnam falls on the 15th day of the fourth lunar month and serves as a major time for spiritual reflection and acts of charity. Devotees across the country honor this day by draping pagodas in vibrant flags, cleaning their home altars, and gathering at rivers to release glowing paper lanterns accompanied by peace prayers. Now, HoiAn Day Trip Company will provide all information about it.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
About Buddha’s Birthday Celebration in Vietnam
In Vietnam, the Buddha’s Birthday (known as Le Phat Dan) is celebrated on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month each year. Because the lunar calendar shifts, the official Western (Gregorian) dates for the main day of celebrations from 2025 to 2030 are:
– 2025: May 12 (Monday)
– 2026: May 31 (Sunday)
– 2027: May 20 (Thursday)
– 2028: May 9 (Tuesday)
– 2029: May 27 (Sunday)
– 2030: May 16 (Thursday)
The Week of Vesak: While these dates mark the official day, the festival actually spans a full week in Vietnam, starting on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month. If you are near major historic centers or temples around these times, you will see streets lined with lanterns and elaborate flower floats on the rivers.
Vesak Day or Buddha’s Birthday is not an public holiday in Vietnam. Vietnam operates under a secular government framework that maintains a clear separation between state affairs and religious celebrations, resulting in a national holiday calendar primarily focused on historical, political, and traditional lunar events like Tet. Consequently, while major public celebrations are freely held at temples nationwide, businesses and government offices remain open as usual on this day.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company still organizes tours during Buddha’s birthday in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Buddha’s Birthday Celebration in Hoi An 2026
This is the official schedule of the Buddha’s birthday in Phap Bao Pagoda, the Buddhist center of Hoi An:
– 7th day of the 4th lunar month (24th May 2026): lighting 7 big lotus lanterns on Hoai River (6:30 PM).
– 8th day of the 4th lunar month (25th May 2026): procession to bring Buddha statue from Chuc Thanh Pagoda (the head temple for Chuc Thanh sect) to Phap Bao Pagoda + bathing the buddha ceremony + chanting (4 PM).
– 9th day of the 4th lunar month (26th May 2026): chanting (7 PM).
– 10th day of the 4th lunar month (27th May 2026): chanting (7 PM).
– 11th day of the 4th lunar month (28th May 2026): chanting (7 PM).
– 12nd day of the 4th lunar month (29th May 2026): chanting + light festival + praying ceremony for peace and prosperity for the country (7 PM).
– 13rd day of the 4th lunar month (30th May 2026): Bharma talk (7 PM).
– 14th day of the 4th lunar month (31st May 2026) – Buddha’s birthday: procession by bicycle (7:30 AM) and the most important procession across Hoi An Old Town (6 PM).
*This date is also the Hoi An Lantern Festival.
– 15th day of the 4th lunar month (1st June 2026): music and dance performances (7 PM).
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company still organizes tours during Buddha’s birthday in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
How to Get to Phap Bao Pagoda in Hoi An
Phap Bao Pagoda is at 673 Hai Ba Trung Street, Minh An ward, Hoi An, Vietnam. It lies within the Hoi An Ancient Town world heritage site area.
From Hoi An, visitors can go to Phap Bao Pagoda by walking, bicycle, motorcycle, taxi/car, electric bus, shuttle bus of the hotel/resort, cyclo, bus/minivan. Although this building is NOT in the pedestrian zone, car/taxi, bus and minivan are still banned from getting here. The nearest place to drop off or park is the crossroad of Hai Ba Trung St and Tran Hung Dao St (or in the ground of Phap Bao Pagoda). The parking fee is 5,000-10,000 VND/bike/time.
From Da Nang, the distance to Phap Bao Pagoda in Hoi An is some 30 kilometers, to the south. Visitors often choose a car or ride the motorbike by themselves. The best motorbike route is the coastal road and then Hai Ba Trung Street until motorbikes are not allowed to go anymore (the entrance of the pedestrian zone, entrance of Phap Bao Pagoda). The pagoda is on the left hand side. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/zalo/line) to book a private roundtrip transfer by car.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company still organizes tours during Buddha’s birthday in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Other Festivals & Cultural Events in Hoi An
Besides Quan The Am Festival, visitors can visit these festivals in Da Nang:
+ monthly festivals:
+ yearly festivals: First Full Moon Festival (Tet Nguyen Tieu), Mid-Autumn Festival (Tet Trung Thu), Dragon Boat Festival (Tet Doan Ngo), Hung Kings Festival, Lunar New Year (Tet Festival, Tet Nguyen Dan), Hungry Ghost Festival, An Bang Beach Food & Music Festival, Cold Food Festival (Tet Han Thuc), Hoi An International Food Festival, Corn Festival, Long Chu Festival, the Buddha’s Birthday (Le Phat Dan), Vu Lan Festival, Balloon Festival, Cau Bong Festival, Cau Ngu Festival,…
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company still organizes tours during Buddha’s birthday in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Buddha’s Birthday in Hoi An
Here are photos, videos about Buddha’s birthday in Hoi An:
