Halloween and Vietnam’s Ghost Month may both celebrate spirits and the supernatural, but they differ in origin, customs, and significance. While Halloween has evolved from ancient Celtic traditions into a playful, costume-filled holiday celebrated widely in the West, Vietnam’s Ghost Month is a solemn time rooted in ancestor worship and Buddhist-Taoist beliefs. During Ghost Month, Vietnamese families honor the spirits of the deceased with offerings and ceremonies, reflecting a deep reverence for those who have passed. Exploring these unique traditions offers a fascinating glimpse into how different cultures connect with the spirit world, each in their own meaningful way.
How do Halloween and Vietnam’s Ghost Month Differ?
Origin
About Halloween
Halloween began around 2,000 years ago with the Celtic festival of Samhain, which governed the souls of the dead and allowed spirits to reunite with their families.
On this night, Celtic monks would predict the future, so villagers would extinguish their fires to prevent the devil from entering. Instead, they gathered around a communal fire, listening to astrological prophecies. Halloween also marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter, a time when Celts believed the boundary between life and death blurred. To protect themselves, they dressed as ghosts to scare away spirits.
With Saint Patrick's arrival, the Samhain festival’s influence waned, and churches later reinterpreted it as a Christian ceremony. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III moved All Saints' Day to November 1, combining Samhain with Christian customs, giving rise to what we now call Halloween.
What is Ghost Month in Vietnam?
In Vietnam, the full moon of the seventh lunar month—known as Ghost Month—is one of the most culturally rich and spiritually significant times of the year. This month embodies profound aspects of Vietnamese folklore and spiritual traditions, making it an intriguing period for travelers to experience.
In Vietnamese culture, Ghost Month has deep roots, with multiple interpretations of its origins. In his book Worshiping Customs of the Vietnamese People, Bui Xuan My describes the tradition as rooted in the belief that, on the seventh lunar month’s full moon, souls in the underworld are released temporarily. Families take this day to honor their ancestors, offering a spread of food, burning joss papers, and praying that the spirits remain peaceful, bringing comfort rather than disturbance.
Another interpretation suggests that Ghost Month is influenced by Taoist beliefs, where, during the seventh lunar month, the god of hell opens the gates for spirits to revisit the world. Vietnamese families extend compassion by offering rice, porridge, and other food items to wandering, hungry ghosts, showing respect and hoping to deter any mischief from these spirits.
Through these practices, Ghost Month reflects a blend of reverence, compassion, and cultural beliefs, allowing families to honor their ancestors and embrace a sense of protection against wandering souls.
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| Masquerade are held during Halloween (Photo: Thai Ngoc My Linh) |
Tradition
Halloween is a holiday of ghosts and prophecies. Besides popular activities such as dressing up, carving pumpkin lanterns, and setting fires to ward off evil spirits, Westerners participate in other fortune-telling activities such as trying Barnbrack - a fruit cake hiding items such as coins (symbols for a prosperous year), or rings (symbols for a happy year). In some countries, couples throw coals into the fire to foresee their relationships.
Halloween comes in the apple harvest season, so many apple-related activities are held on this holiday, such as apple peeling contests, and apple bobbing. Many believe that whoever has the longer apple peels will have more luck and happiness.
Regarding Vietnam's Month of Ghosts customs, it is written in a book named "Worshiping customs of Vietnamese people" published by Culture and Information Publishing House that "Tet Trung Nguyen is held on the full moon day of the seventh lunar month, also known as the Day of Pardon. Many people leave food in the yard or doorstep to offer the wandering and hungry souls. Their offerings include rice cakes, popcorn, corn, sweet potatoes, and boiled eggs."
"The offerings for the homeless souls also include porridge, rice balls, fruits, and cakes. When the ceremony is finished, the poor and the young take the food," wrote Bui Xuan My, author of the book.
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| People wear a rose on their chest as an activity in Vu Lan (Photo: Plum Village) |
Ghost Month vs Vu Lan Festival
According to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Vu Lan, the filial piety ceremony, is one of the main Buddhist holidays held on the full moon of the seventh lunar month. The festival originated from a Buddhist legend: "The Great Maudgalyayana Rescues His Mother from Hell". Maudgalyayana's mother was sent to hell after her death, due to her lavish and atheistic lifestyle. To save her soul, Maudgalyayana followed Buddha's words: "On the full moon day of the seventh month, hold a festival... On this day, you make offerings to the buddhas, then your mother will be saved from suffering." Since then, Buddhists have maintained the tradition, making every full moon day of the seventh lunar month Vu Lan, the ceremony of filial piety.
Vu Lan coincides with Vietnam's Amnesty for the dead. According to Hoang Trieu Hai, Director of CRPAOA, on Amnesty for the dead, the hell's gate is opened so that the soul could freely return to earth. While Vu Lan is a ceremony to show respect to parents, the rituals on the Day of Atonement show humanity, a spirit of sharing with helpless souls.
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| Young people enjoying the Halloween atmosphere at Hang Ma Street (Photo: Viet Anh) |
How young Vietnamese celebrate Halloween?
Unlike Western countries where Halloween is widely celebrated, in Vietnam, Halloween is more of an opportunity for young people to gather for a chat or take on new experiences.
Tran Duong, 19 years old, a student at Thuong Mai University said: "For me, Halloween is a time for interesting and special experiences. This year, I and my friends plan to visit Hang Ma - the street that sells Halloween decorations. I also want to join masquerade events, wearing superhero costumes."
Although not a traditional Vietnamese holiday, Halloween is an opportunity for many clubs, centers and schools to organize exciting events for young people. Ngoc Anh, a member of the English Club, Thuong Mai University, said that this year, the club would hold a Halloween-themed activity. "We will learn vocabulary related to Halloween, and join some activities like dressing up and singing Halloween songs. I'm looking forward to participating in the activity and hope members of our club will have a very happy holiday."
Though busy with her work, Thu Hien, 25, an office staff, still finds time to prepare small gifts for Halloween. "Halloween is becoming more and more popular in Vietnam, especially among young people. Even in my group of friends, a few years ago people didn't talk much about Halloween, but this year everyone is excited. Everyone has set up their plans for this occasion. For me, Halloween is an interesting holiday with a completely different atmosphere, decoration, and fun. The more widespread this holiday in Vietnam is, the more it shows the integration of the country in terms of culture. In addition, this is also an opportunity for friends and relatives to gather and have some interesting experiences together."
Check out the link for some of the best spots to enjoy Halloween treats in the city: 7 Must-Visit Spots to Experience Halloween Vibes in Saigon
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