The Lunar Calendar is strictly observed in Vietnam, whether for joy or terror. While it is known as a holiday, the month of the Hungry Ghosts is a time to honor and venerate ancestors. Many people fear bad luck or blame anything terrible that happens to malevolent lost spirits. This is an essential holiday to be aware of if you are in Vietnam at the time, as it is believed to apply to all who pass through. Read Toplist's "Things to Know about Vietnam Ghost Month" to understand more about Vietnam culture.

When is Vietnam Ghost Month?
What is Vietnam Ghost Month?
Ghost Month’s History
Dos during Vietnam Ghost Month
Don’ts during Vietnam Ghost Month
Offerings in Vietnam Ghost Month
Giut Co Hon (Offerings Snatching of the Spirits)

When is Vietnam Ghost Month?

Vietnam Ghost Month occurs in the seventh lunar month, which commonly falls at the end of August in the Gregorian calendar. In 2022, the Western calendar places the Ghost Month Festival on August 12.

Another remembering for the ghosts and spirits of those who were sacrificed in the collapse of Hue Citadel in 1885 takes place in Hue, but it is not recognized as a national festival.

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What is Vietnam Ghost Month?

A human being, according to Vietnamese belief, is made up of two parts: the soul and the body. When a person dies, their spirit lives on in the afterlife. If the individual accomplished a lot of good, they would be reincarnated as a human or a saint. Otherwise, their spirits would be cast into hell and tortured and starved as punishment for their crimes.

During Vietnam Ghost Month, the spirits of the dead are allowed to roam the living world because Pluto, the King of the Underworld regions, unlocks the portal between the two worlds. This notion is held in high regard across East Asia, notably Vietnam, and has resulted in numerous rituals and taboos.

Vietnam, like the rest of East Asia, believes that Hungry Ghost Month might bring bad luck due to the curses of roaming lost souls. On the other side, it is also known as a time when the living forgives the most sinful deceased. This notion is primarily derived from Taoist and Buddhist thinking.

The Gates of Hell are unlocked on the second day of the Vietnam Ghost Month, allowing ghosts to enter the present. From the gifts and prayers of their descendants, ancestors’ spirits could be traced back to their place of origin. However, there are no offerings for lonely spirits who have no living family members or who passed away without a proper funeral. When they are allowed to freely roam the living world, they angrily curse bad luck upon strangers in a spiteful manner.

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Ghost Month’s History

This month in the Buddhist calendar is linked to the legend of Ananda, Buddha’s personal attendant. According to legend, Ananda was in deep meditation when a fiery spirit demanded food for other hungry ghosts or else he would die soon.

According to popular belief, during this month, ancestors will travel with blessings while “lost ghosts” who have no place to call home would wander around bitter and lost. They decide to wish bad luck on live strangers because they lack relatives or feel neglected. As a result, the living trust in prayer and making contributions to uphold compassion.

Ananda, Buddhist monk – Britannica

Atlas Obscura

Dos during Vietnam Ghost Month

The unique custom of Vietnam Ghost Month has been observed for many years. But not all Vietnamese adhere to these traditions. Some Buddhists and businesspeople in Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown take this notion seriously.

There is a list of activities that should and should not be done during the month in order to have serenity and happiness in addition to the worshipping ceremonies. These are the things you should do in ghost month.

On any day of the month, give food to the spirits to show your appreciation.
Consume vegetarian fare in order to avoid animal murder, develop morality, and ward off evil spirits.
Avoid arguments
Protect people from threats.
Visit the cemeteries or temples where your relatives are buried

According to Buddhism, Vietnam Ghost Month is a time for kids to thank their parents and ancestors, including those who have passed away. But some of these practices were regionally exclusive to different parts of Vietnam.

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Vietnam Times

Don’ts during Vietnam Ghost Month

Because evil spirits would hunt for a chance to seize the souls of the living, the ghost month is perhaps the most sensitive and superstitious time of the year. As a result, Vietnam Ghost Month is a horrible time to make big decisions like traveling, moving, or establishing a new business. Other activities to avoid in the evening and at night are listed below:

Dry your clothing at night since devils may take them.
When going out at night, call out other people’s names; otherwise, the devil will remember the person’s name.
Swim because the devil will play tricks on you.
Play a joke and scare others because that person’s spirit becomes temporarily misplaced, making their body vulnerable to invasion by a wandering spirit.
Pick up the money scattered on the road.
When approaching a secluded area, turn around.
Place the chopsticks upright in a rice bowl, making them look like an incense offering for the dead.
Stay alone at this time; else, the devils will torment you.
Photograph at night because you may catch the roaming spirit in your images.
During the witching hour, wear red, black, or white (3 a.m. to 4 a.m.). Red and black are often associated with evil, and if you wear either of these colors and chance to be out during that hour, you may attract evil spirits. Although nothing will happen to you if you wear white, you may wind up scaring people, which leads to the next issue.
In public, call out your friend’s name. You’ll never know whether a spirit is listening in, and it will memorize the person’s name for future use.

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Conde Nast Traveler

Offerings in Vietnam Ghost Month

A typical custom that occurs from the 15th day to the end of the Vietnam Ghost Month is to create a feast of well-prepared cuisine. Vietnamese, particularly businesspeople in Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown, believe that the food will feed hungry spirits, and so these spirits will not interfere with their operations.

Vietnamese families frequently make two feasts during the day on the full moon day of Vietnam Ghost Month. The first is offered to the ghosts of ancestors at midday. For the hungry, traveling ghosts, the second feast is frequently served after sunset.

Rice porridge, sugarcane, confections, fruits (which often comprise a variety of fruits with five colors), and sweet potatoes make up the bulk of the food served at feasts. Along with the meal, there are also candles, salt, votive paper, three glasses of water, and three sticks of incense. Gruel porridge is essential because it’s said that spirits have a small esophagus and can’t digest tough foods. Following the completion of the gifts, salt and rice are thrown on the street and road to send the spirits on their way.

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Goody Feed

Giut Co Hon (Offerings Snatching of the Spirits)

Wealthy families and some large corporations, mostly in Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown, occasionally distribute substantial gifts, such as little amounts of change that add up to a significant number (of millions of VND). As a result, some people and kids frequently assemble in areas where there are abundant offerings in order to steal money and food. This is referred to as “Giut co hon” in Vietnamese.

Some of them participate because they can make a lot of money from it, while others do it for enjoyment and use the offerings. Some of them take this tradition very seriously. Additionally, business owners frequently think it is luck when customers grab their products.

On this occasion, wealthier individuals also donate vital products to the poor, such as rice and noodles.