Vietnam Festivals
Buon Don Elephant Races
Vietnam’s Buon Don district has long been famous for its M’Nong wild elephant tamers and trainers. Demand for their skills may have dried up somewhat, but Buon Don continues to celebrate its proud heritage every year with its annual Elephant Races, held every year in the forests near the Sevepoi River. The race takes place on a short racetrack a mile or so long, set on level ground. Each elephant is ridden by two jockeys; one steers the elephant, while the other manages the animal’s speed. Elephants can move at a surprisingly fast clip (25 mph), especially when encouraged by crowds yelling and beating gongs!
The Buon Don Elephant Races take place on most of the months of April and May.More »
Buddha's Birthday
Buddha's Birthday is celebrated with much gusto in Vietnam, despite its nominal Communist status. Most Buddhist temples and many towns throw great festivals in honor of the Buddha, drawing thousands of devotees from nearby towns.
Buddha's Birthday takes place on the 8th day of the 4th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Relative to the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs on these dates:
- May 17, 2013
- May 6, 2014
- May 25, 2015
- May 14, 2016
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn festival, or T?t Trung Thu, is marked with fanciful lanterns to help a legendary moon-bound figure back to Earth. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a favorite with children, as the occasion calls for more toys, candies, fruit, and entertainment than any other time of the year. Mid-Autumn parties serve cakes like the banh deo and banh nuong, shaped like fish and the moon. Finally, lion dances are commonly performed by traveling troupers who go from house to house to perform for a fee.
The Mid-Autumn Festival takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Relative to the Gregorian calendar, the festival occurs on these dates:
- September 19, 2013
- September 8, 2014
- September 27, 2015
- September 15, 2016
Source...