Every country has its own culture and Vietnamese culture is of course not an exception. Of all religious traditions, Vu Lan festival or “Xá Tội Vong Nhân” festival is the most holy one because it is believed that the souls of the dead will come back their homes to reunite with their families on that day.
Vu Lan Festival
As a matter of fact, on Vu Lan festival, Vietnamese people always prepare a lavish meal with various kinds of foods to express their honor and gratitude to their ancestors and parents. Some kinds of vegetarian foods such as: vegetarian rice vermicelli (bún chay), vegetarian mushroom soup (lẩu nấm chay), Gac steamed rice (xôi gấc), vegetarian spring rolls (gỏi cuốn chay), vegetarian pork bologna (chả lụa chay) are the most popular on this day. They also burn incense to invite ancestors to come back home, because incense is believed to help the souls of the dead come back their homes.
Buddhist followers in Vu Lan Festival
People also gather at pagoda during this day and to listen to monks talking about the responsibilities of children to their parents. They often wear a rose in front of their chest. They will wear red rose if their parents are alive; and it is white if their parents are gone.
At night, people will release lanterns with the hope that their ancestors will rest in peace in the afterlife
