View the current Vietnamese lunar calendar and important dates for holidays and celebrations. Easily switch between years, months, and days to find the lunar date for any occasion.
Lunar Calendar Converter
The Vietnamese calendar is an important part of Vietnamese culture, as it not only serves as a way of marking time but also plays a significant role in traditional festivals, ceremonies, and daily life. Unlike the Western Gregorian calendar, the Vietnamese calendar is a lunisolar calendar that is based on the cycles of the moon as well as the sun. This means that the lunar months and years are slightly shorter than their solar counterparts, resulting in the lunar calendar shifting earlier each year. The Vietnamese calendar has a 12-year cycle of zodiac animals, each representing a different year and personality traits.
The Lunar Calendar Converter is a tool that allows users to easily convert dates between the solar (Gregorian) calendar and the lunar calendar. This is especially useful for individuals who follow the lunar calendar, such as those who celebrate traditional Vietnamese holidays.
Lunar Year and Zodiac Animals
The Vietnamese calendar is a unique combination of lunar and solar cycles, which means it is based on both the phases of the moon and the solar year. The lunar year is made up of 12 lunar months, each lasting 29.5 days on average, which adds up to 354 days in total. This is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar year, which is why the Vietnamese calendar is considered a lunisolar calendar.
The Vietnamese zodiac is a 12-year cycle of animal signs that correspond to the lunar calendar. Each year is associated with a different animal sign, which is believed to have certain personality traits and characteristics that influence people born in that year. The 12 zodiac animals in the Vietnamese calendar are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Each zodiac animal also has a corresponding element, which adds another layer of significance to the zodiac. The five elements are metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. For example, a person born in the Year of the Rat may be associated with the element of water, while a person born in the Year of the Horse may be associated with the element of fire.
The Vietnamese zodiac is widely used in Vietnamese culture, from astrology to naming conventions. Many parents choose to name their children after the zodiac animal associated with their birth year, and some people even choose to change their name to bring them luck based on their zodiac animal.
In addition to the zodiac animals, the Vietnamese calendar also has a 60-year cycle that combines the 12 zodiac animals with the five elements. Each year in the 60-year cycle has a unique name and is believed to have a different level of luck and fortune. This 60-year cycle is often used in traditional Vietnamese astrology and fortune-telling.
Lunar Festivals
The Vietnamese calendar is rich with traditional festivals that are based on the lunar cycle. These festivals are an important part of Vietnamese culture and are celebrated with great enthusiasm by people all over the country.
Here are some of the major lunar festivals in Vietnam:
- Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year): Tet Nguyen Dan, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important festival in the Vietnamese calendar. It falls on the first day of the first lunar month and marks the beginning of the new year. The festival is celebrated with family reunions, traditional foods, and various customs such as giving red envelopes containing lucky money to children.
- Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival): Tet Trung Thu, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is a time for family reunions and for children to enjoy mooncakes, lanterns, and lion dances. The festival also has a legend about a man who flew to the moon and reunited with his wife and children.
- Tet Trung Nguyen (Ghost Festival): Tet Trung Nguyen, also known as the Ghost Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. It is a time for Vietnamese people to honor their ancestors and the spirits of the dead. People offer food and flowers to the dead and burn incense to help guide their ancestors back to the afterlife.
- Tet Han Thuc (Cold Food Festival): Tet Han Thuc, also known as the Cold Food Festival, is celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month. It is a time for people to commemorate Jie Zitui, a loyal retainer of Duke Wen of Jin who refused to betray his master even when he was in exile. The festival is marked by eating cold food such as rice dumplings.
- Tet Doan Ngo (Dragon Boat Festival): Tet Doan Ngo, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. It is a time for people to ward off evil spirits and diseases by eating sticky rice dumplings wrapped in leaves and drinking wine. It is also a time for dragon boat races in many parts of the country.
- Tet Trung Cuu (Double Ninth Festival): Tet Trung Cuu, also known as the Double Ninth Festival, is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. It is a time for people to show respect to the elderly and to ward off bad luck. The festival is marked by climbing mountains, eating chrysanthemum cakes, and drinking chrysanthemum wine.
Each of these festivals has its own unique traditions and customs that are deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. By understanding these festivals, visitors can gain a deeper appreciation of Vietnamese culture and history.
Buddhist calendar
The Buddhist calendar is a type of calendar used in mainland Southeast Asia, including countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. It is a lunisolar calendar with months that alternate between 29 and 30 days, with leap days and extra months added at certain intervals.
The Buddhist calendar is based on the Surya Siddhanta, which originated in the 3rd century BC and differs from its modern form. The Surya Siddhanta is also used in various Hindu calendars, but all forms of the Buddhist calendar are based on the original version.
To learn more about this calendar system, please refer to the article What is the Buddhist calendar?
How to Use the Lunar Calendar
The Vietnamese lunar calendar has been used for thousands of years and is an integral part of Vietnamese culture. It is used to determine auspicious dates for important events like weddings, housewarmings, and business openings.
Here are some tips on how to use the lunar calendar:
- Understand the basics of the lunar calendar: The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and has 12 months of 29 or 30 days each. This means that the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. The lunar calendar is used alongside the solar calendar, so it’s important to understand the differences between the two.
- Know the zodiac animals and their meanings: The Vietnamese lunar calendar is based on a 12-year cycle of zodiac animals, each representing a different year. The zodiac animals are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal has its own strengths and weaknesses and is associated with certain characteristics and personalities.
- Choose auspicious dates for important events: The lunar calendar is used to choose auspicious dates for important events like weddings, housewarming, and business openings. Certain dates are considered lucky or unlucky based on the zodiac animals, the lunar phases, and the elements. For example, the year of the Dragon is considered lucky for weddings, while the year of the Snake is considered unlucky.
- Avoid unlucky days: In addition to choosing auspicious dates, it’s also important to avoid unlucky days. Certain days are considered inauspicious for certain activities, like moving house or starting a business. The lunar calendar can help you determine which days to avoid based on the zodiac animals and lunar phases.
- Use the lunar calendar to plan for festivals and holidays: The lunar calendar is also used to determine the dates of festivals and holidays in Vietnam. For example, Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) is celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar, while Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival) is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. By using the lunar calendar, you can plan ahead and prepare for these important events.
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We acknowledge that this page contains some terminologies of Feng Shui and horoscopes originating from Eastern culture, which we may have inadequately translated. We welcome and appreciate any advice and suggestions you may have to offer, in order for us to improve the quality of our content. Thank you for your valuable input.
Please find below a list of some of the terminologies used in this article:Giờ hoàng đạo: All relevant terms in this article such as: “auspicious hours”, “propitious hours”, “favorable hours”, “lucky hours”, “good hours”, or “auspicious times” are interpreted as “giờ hoàng đạo”.
Xuân phân: Chunfen, Spring Equinox
Thanh minh: Qingming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day.
Lập hạ: Lixia, Summer Begins, Summer Commences
Cốc vũ: Guyu, Gǔyǔ, Kokuu, Gogu
Tiểu mãn: Xiaoman, Shōman, Soman
Mang chủng: Mangzhong, Bōshu, Mangjong
Hạ chí: Summer solstice,
Tiểu thử: Xiaoshu, Shōsho, Soseo
Đại thử: Dashu (solar term), Taisho, Daeseo
Lập thu: Liqiu, Risshū, Ipchu
Xử thử: Chushu, Shosho, Cheoseo
Bạch lộ: Bailu (solar term), Hakuro, Baengno
Thu phân: Qiufen, Shūbun, Chubun
Hàn lộ: Hanlu, Kanro, Hallo
Sương giáng: Shuangjiang (solar term), Sōkō, Sanggang
Lập đông: Lidong, Rittō, Ipdong
Tiểu tuyết: Xiaoxue,
Đại tuyết: Daxue (solar term),
Đông chí: Dongzhi (solar term), Tōji, Dongji, Tunji
Tiểu hàn: Xiaohan, Shōkan, Sohan
Đại hàn: Dahan (solar term), Daikan, Daehan
Lập xuân: Lichun, Lìchūn, Risshun, Ipchun
Vũ thủy: Yushui (solar term), Usui, Usu
Kinh trập: Jingzhe,
Tết đoan ngọ: Doan Ngo Festival, Double Fifth Festival
Ông Táo chầu trời: Kitchen God Worship Festival
Giáp (甲): Yang Wood
Ất (乙): Yin Wood
Bính (丙): Yang Fire
Đinh (丁): Yin Fire
Mậu (戊): Yang Earth
Kỷ (己): Yin Earth
Canh (庚): Yang Metal
Tân (辛): Yin Metal
Nhâm (壬): Yang Water
Quý (癸): Yin Water