Ha Long Festivals are a brilliant cultural highlight of this coastal city, offering a journey to discover its unique identity and vibrant vitality. From spiritual traditional rituals to dynamic modern events, each festival tells a distinct story. In this article, Yen Tu Tung Lam will introduce the top 16 most prominent Ha Long festivals, inviting you to immerse yourself in the distinctive cultural space of this heritage land.

Here is a summary table of the 10 most distinctive Festivals in Ha Long:

1. Yen Tu Pagoda Festival

• Address: Yen Tu Mountain, Thuong Yen Cong, Uong Bi, Quang Ninh
• Time: From the 10th day of the 1st lunar month to the end of the 3rd lunar month

The Yen Tu Pagoda Festival is organized on a large scale annually, attracting tens of thousands of pilgrims from all directions to pay homage in early spring. The Yen Tu mountain region not only possesses majestic natural beauty but also serves as a sacred spiritual space, where visitors can find a sense of purity and peace amidst the mundane world.

When participating in the festival, visitors will blend into the bustling crowd ascending the mountain to worship, expressing their reverence and praying for blessings and peace for themselves and their families. This is a profound spiritual experience for many Vietnamese people and also an excellent opportunity for visitors to learn more about the unique Buddhist culture of Quang Ninh province.

2. Sacred Destination at Ba Vang Pagoda Festival

• Address: Ba Vang Pagoda, Uong Bi, Quang Ninh
• Time: January (Lunar Calendar)

The Ba Vang Pagoda Festival is one of the important spiritual destinations in early spring in Quang Ninh. Visitors here not only participate in the festival to pray for peace but also engage in many solemn rituals imbued with national cultural identity.

The festival includes unique spiritual rituals such as bell ringing, drum beating, incense offering, and balloon release praying for national peace and prosperity. These activities not only carry deep spiritual meaning but also contribute to spreading good spiritual values, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility to festival participants.

>>> See more: Vu Lan Festival: Origin and meaning of this holiday in 2025

3. Colorful Ha Long Carnival

• Address: Ha Long City Center
• Time: Late April and early May

Ha Long Carnival is considered one of the biggest and most distinctive festivals in the coastal city. Annually in late April and early May, locals and tourists flock to the city center to immerse themselves in the vibrant and colorful atmosphere of the festival.

First organized in 2007, Ha Long Carnival quickly became a famous tourism brand of the coastal city. Annually, the festival is organized with different themes, conveying many meaningful messages. Coming to the festival, visitors will be immersed in a lively space with unique artistic performances on stage and in the streets, bringing an unforgettable experience to participants.

4. Long Tien Pagoda Festival

• Address: Long Tien Pagoda, foot of Bai Tho Mountain, Ha Long
• Time: 23rd day of April (Lunar Calendar)

Long Tien Pagoda is one of the largest pagodas in Ha Long city, built in 1941 with rare and unique architecture. Annually on the 23rd day of April (Lunar Calendar), the pagoda organizes a traditional festival with many special activities, attracting a large number of local people and tourists from all over.

The highlight of the festival is the solemn palanquin procession. The palanquin procession will pass through Duc Ong Temple, to An Duong Vuong Temple in Vung Dang via Loong Toong and then return to the pagoda. In addition to the main festival day, on the full moon days, the first day of each month, and especially the Lunar New Year, Long Tien Pagoda is also very busy with sightseeing activities, offering incense to Buddha, and chanting sutras.

5. Cua Ong Temple Festival

• Address: Cua Ong Temple, Cua Ong Ward, Cam Pha City
• Time: From the 2nd day of the 1st lunar month to the end of March, main festival day: 2nd day of the 3rd lunar month

The Cua Ong Temple Festival is organized to commemorate and express gratitude to General Tran Quoc Tang – who made great contributions in repelling invaders, bringing peace to the villagers.

The festival consists of two main parts: the solemn sacrificial ceremony and the palanquin procession re-enacting the Duke’s tour. After the rituals are vibrant cultural activities, unique folk games such as dragon dance, drumming, tug-of-war, stick pushing, and blindfolded pot smashing. Coming to the Cua Ong Temple Festival, visitors also have the opportunity to admire the beautiful pristine scenery of Bai Tu Long Bay.

6. Tra Co Communal House Festival: A Cultural Beauty of the Border Region

• Address: Tra Co, Mong Cai, Quang Ninh
• Time: From May 30th – June 6th (Lunar Calendar)

Tra Co Communal House, with nearly 600 years of history, is where the Thành Hoàng (Village Deity) is worshipped – the guardian deity who protects the peaceful lives of local people. Annually, the Ha Long festival at Tra Co Communal House is organized with the purpose of commemorating the merits of Thanh Hoang and expressing wishes for a prosperous and happy life.

On the 25th day of the 5th lunar month, a solemn fleet of boats departs from Tra Co to Do Son – considered the ancestral homeland. By the 30th, the fleet returns to Tra Co, preparing for the main festival days. On the 1st day of the 6th lunar month, the main festival officially begins with the ritual of “King’s Procession to the Sea” (bringing the King to the temple). After this solemn ritual are competitions for livestock and agricultural products, notably the competition for healthy pigs called “Ông Voi” (Mr. Elephant) by the locals.

7. Quan Lan Communal House Festival

• Address: Dinh Wharf, Quan Lan, Van Don
• Time: From June 10th – June 19th (Lunar Calendar)

The Quan Lan Communal House Festival is a distinctive cultural event taking place on Quan Lan Island, Van Don district. This festival is an occasion to honor the martial spirit of the nation during the resistance war against the Mongol invaders.

During the festival days, Dinh Wharf becomes vibrant and bustling with joy and excitement everywhere. Visitors here not only admire fascinating dragon boat races but also have the opportunity to learn about the long-standing traditional culture of the coastal area of Quan Lan, contributing to enriching the tourism experience in Ha Long.

8. Thap Cuu Tien Cong Festival

• Address: Thap Cuu Tien Cong Temple, Cam La, Yen Hung
• Time: January 5th-8th (Lunar Calendar)

The Thap Cuu Tien Cong Festival is an occasion for people to honor 19 Tiên Công (Immortals) – the pioneers who reclaimed land from the sea, creating the fertile Ha Nam island as it is today.

Annually on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, elders aged 70 and above gather with their children and grandchildren at the temple to offer tributes to the Tiên Công. Traditionally, young children carry the offering trays in front, followed by the elders, creating a beautiful image of succession and respect for tradition. After the offering ceremony, there is a ground-breaking ceremony and a festive part with many unique folk games such as cockfighting, buffalo fighting, human chess, and *hát chèo* (traditional opera).

9. An Sinh Temple Festival: Preserving Tran Dynasty Heritage

• Address: Tran Dynasty Special National Relic Site, Dong Trieu
• Time: August 20th (Lunar Calendar)

The An Sinh Temple Festival is held on the main death anniversary of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan, an important cultural event of the Dong Trieu region. The ceremonial part takes place solemnly with rituals such as drum and gong beating to open the festival, incense offerings to commemorate the Tran kings and pray for national peace and prosperity, along with incense offerings at the tombs of the kings.

The festive part is vibrant with many attractive activities such as tug-of-war competitions, art performances, and traditional folk games. In addition, visitors can admire unique exhibitions such as artistic bonsai exhibitions and photo exhibitions about the Dong Trieu region, helping them understand more about the history and culture of this land.

10. Ban Vuong Festival of the Dao People

• Address: Dao Ethnic Community Cultural House, Son Hai, Nam Son, Ba Che
• Time: December 27th

The Ban Vuong Festival holds immense sacred significance for the Dao people across Vietnam, especially the Dao community in Ba Che. This is an occasion for the people to express deep gratitude to the ancestor who gave birth to the Dao ethnic group and assisted the 12 clans in crossing the sea to a new land.

The festival is also an opportunity to strengthen community solidarity, connecting villages and clans. Through unique activities, the festival re-enacts the arduous sea crossing journey of the 12 Dao clans. Coming to Ha Long festival, visitors can admire unique rituals such as the offering ceremony to Ban Vuong ancestor at Ban Vuong Temple, the ritual praying for favorable weather, and enjoy distinctive traditional folk songs and dances.

11. Bach Dang Festival

• Address: Yen Giang Commune, Yen Hung District, Quang Ninh Province
• Time: 8th day of the 3rd lunar month annually

The Bach Dang Festival is held in the ancient land with countless heroic vestiges, commemorating the glorious victories of the Vietnamese nation in resistance wars against foreign invaders. This is where the achievements of national heroes are marked: Ngo Quyen defeating the Southern Han army (in 938), Le Hoan resisting the Song army (in 981), and Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan along with the famous generals of the Tran Dynasty crushing the Mongol army (in 1288).

The main festival day features the solemn procession of Đức Thánh Trần from Bach Dang Linh Tu Temple to Yen Giang communal house, and then back from the communal house to the temple with many solemn rituals. After the ceremonies are lively games re-enacting the brilliant victories on the Bach Dang River such as dragon boat races, dramatic performances about the Bach Dang battle, the ritual of offering tidal calendar, setting fire, and planting stakes on the Bach Dang River.

12. Ha Long Kite Festival

• Address: Ha Long City
• Time: April 30th – May 1st holiday

The Ha Long Kite Festival is one of the unique activities within the series of cultural events celebrating the Carnaval on the April 30th – May 1st holiday. This event attracts a large number of local people and domestic and international tourists.

Coming to the festival, visitors will experience unique and impressive artistic kite flying performances, including flute kites. Especially, the exhibition space for flute kites and large kites with distinctive decorations, imbued with Vietnamese folk images and the image of Quang Ninh miners from kite clubs, creates a special highlight for the Ha Long festival, helping visitors understand more about the culture and people here.

>>> See more: Explore Yen Tu Festival: Origin, Meaning, and 3 Parts of the Festival

13. Ha Long Cherry Blossom Festival

• Address: Ha Long City
• Time: According to flower season

The Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the major Ha Long festivals held annually to strengthen friendly cooperative relations between Quang Ninh and cultural associations and agencies of Japan, and to promote investment from Japanese investors.

At the festival, visitors not only admire hundreds of cherry blossom trees in full bloom but also have the opportunity to experience many Vietnamese-Japanese cultural and artistic exchange activities. This is also an occasion to explore unique tourism products, household goods, cuisine, characteristic souvenirs, and participate in interesting folk games of both countries.

14. Hokkaido Festival

• Address: Ha Long City
• Time: Annually announced

The Hokkaido Festival is one of the large-scale festivals in Quang Ninh, attracting the attention of a large number of local people and tourists. It is organized with the aim of strengthening solidarity and friendship between Quang Ninh province and Hokkaido prefecture, and contributing to promoting the deep strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

Each year, the Ha Long festival Hokkaido brings a different theme but always features many colorful cultural activities from both countries. Visitors to the festival have the opportunity to enjoy unique artistic performances, thereby understanding more about the land, people, and culture of the cherry blossom country.

15. Ba Men Temple Festival

• Address: Ba Men Temple, Ha Long
• Time: January 19th-20th (Lunar Calendar)

The Ba Men Temple Festival is a festival rich in beliefs and distinctive culture of the fishing villages in Ha Long Bay. Held annually on the 19th and 20th days of the 1st lunar month, the festival attracts all fishermen from Ha Long and Cat Ba fishing villages to gather at Ba Men Temple.

The festival consists of two main parts: the ceremonial part and the festive part. The ceremonial part takes place from the 19th day of the 1st lunar month until noon on the 20th, with a large number of fishermen, Buddhist followers, and tourists offering incense and tributes. From noon on the 20th, the festive part begins with a traditional boat racing competition among fishing villages. Each boat consists of 1 helmsman and 14 rowers, creating a lively and exciting atmosphere with enthusiastic cheers from spectators.

16. Duc Ong Temple Festival: Solemn Ceremony in Ha Long

• Address: Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple, at the foot of Bai Tho Mountain
• Time: April 29th (Gregorian Calendar) annually

The Duc Ong Temple Festival is held annually on April 29th (Gregorian Calendar) at Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple, at the foot of Bai Tho Mountain. The festival takes place solemnly with a palanquin procession from the temple through Ha Long market gate to Long Tieu Pagoda, then offering incense at the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Labor Cultural Palace and returning to the temple.

The atmosphere of the procession is bustling, attracting the participation of a large number of people from children to the elderly. According to folk beliefs, adults who pass under Duc Ong’s palanquin will have much luck and peace, while children who pass under the palanquin will be easy to raise, grow quickly, and be healthy.

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With the 16 distinctive Ha Long festivals mentioned above, visitors will have the opportunity to delve deeply into the culture, customs, and unique beliefs of this beautiful coastal land. Yen Tu Tung Lam hopes that the shared information helps esteemed visitors have complete and meaningful experiences when visiting the festivals in Ha Long coastal city!