Yulan Festival – spiritual beauty in Vietnamese people's life

For generations, the 15th days of July in Lunar calendar, Yulan or Hungry Ghost Festival, is one of important dates of Vietnamese people’s spiritual life. The festival not only reflects Vietnam’s tradition of “when drinking water, remember its source” but also provides an opportunity for family reunion and pay tribute to the ancestors, grandparents and parents.

Amid Covid-19 spirals, pagodas in Ha Long City did not organize Hungry Ghost Festival as previous years in order to limit gatherings in public places. However, they were open to locals and Buddhist followers to pay for health and peace. Measures against the disease were undertaken by both pagodas and local people.

On this occasion, apart from going to pagodas, Vietnamese families often offer a feast to pay tributes to the ancestors. This is also a chance for family reunion, thereby tightening brotherhood.

Translated by Quynh Trang