Better to Know about Hungry Ghost Festival (Vu Lan Festival)

Origin: the Hungry Ghost Festival in Vietnam, known as Vu Lan or Tet Trung Nguyen, originates from the Buddhist legend of Muc Kien Lien, a disciple who saved his mother from the realm of hungry ghosts by following the Buddha’s advice to offer food and prayers to the monastic community. This religious foundation merged with ancient folk beliefs that the “Gates of Hell” open during the seventh lunar month, allowing all spirits—both ancestors and “homeless” wandering souls—to return to the living world to be fed. Today, the festival is a unique cultural synthesis that emphasizes filial piety toward one’s parents alongside the compassionate act of offering food and joss paper to appease restless spirits and prevent bad luck.

Other names: the Hungry Ghost Festival is called Vu Lan in Vietnam because it is a phonetic transliteration of the Sanskrit term Ullambana, which refers to the “liberation” of souls from suffering. While the broader “Ghost Month” focuses on appeasing wandering spirits, the name Vu Lan highlights the Buddhist legend of Muc Kien Lien to emphasize the specific duty of filial piety and gratitude toward one’s parents.

Cultural significances: the Vu Lan Festival serves as a sacred time for Vietnamese people to practice filial piety by honoring their parents and ancestors through prayers, offerings, and the symbolic “Rose Ceremony” to express gratitude for the gift of life. Beyond family bonds, it carries a deep humanitarian significance as a day of universal compassion, where people offer food and rituals to liberate wandering souls and pray for peace for all sentient beings.

HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours 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!