Hanoi pagodas fill with worshippers for Vu Lan Festival

Crowds gather at Quan Su Pagoda for prayer ceremonies held from the 11th to the 13th days of the seventh lunar month as part of the Vu Lan Festival.

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On August 25, or the 13th day of the seventh lunar month, Quan Su Pagoda is packed with Buddhist followers who come to express their gratitude to their ancestors and deliver offerings to their wandering souls.

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Vu Lan is widely regarded as a Vietnamese tradition of filial piety, encouraging people to honor their parents and ancestors, cherish family bonds and practice kindness.

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Inside the main sanctuary, worship rituals are conducted with solemnity.

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With the pagoda packed with worshippers, many people sit along the corridors to take part in the August 25 prayer ceremony.

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Worshippers sit along the corridors surrounding the pagoda, facing the main sanctuary as they join the prayer ceremony.

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Many worshippers also travel from nearby provinces to Quan Su Pagoda in the days leading up to the full moon. Nguyen Thi Huong from Bac Ninh says she returns to the pagoda every year to take part in the rituals and pray for peace, health and happiness for her family and relatives.

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This year’s Vu Lan Festival holds special significance as it coincides with the nation’s preparations for the 81st anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2), alongside other major national and Buddhist events.

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Vu Lan is marked by prayers, offerings and other Buddhist activities at pagodas across Vietnam, with some observances beginning several days before the full moon.

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Vietnamese people believe that on this day, the souls of the dead return home and gather with family members. It’s therefore an important occasion for family gatherings and a time to express love and gratitude to ancestors and parents.

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At Tay Ho Temple crowds of people come to offer prayers, sincerely wishing for peace for their families and good health for their parents.

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Locals prepare offerings which often include incense (agarwood), flowers, lanterns (lights, candles), tea, fruit, and food (sticky rice, cake) for worship rituals during the Vu Lan Festival.

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Some pagodas host events including floating lanterns and pinning roses on Buddhists’ clothing to mark the event. Red and white roses worn as part of Vu Lan Festival tradition. Many wear roses on their shirts, red for those with living mothers, white for those whose mothers have passed.