Vietnam Events in November 2026: Festivals & Things to Do

November is one of the most interesting months for cultural travel in Vietnam. Northern Vietnam becomes cooler and drier, the Central Highlands are at their seasonal best, and the Mekong Delta hosts traditional Khmer celebrations.

November 2026 is particularly notable because Vietnam will celebrate its first Vietnam Culture Day on November 24. The month also brings the Hanoi International Film Festival, the Chu Dang Ya Volcano Wild Sunflower Week, the Buckwheat Flower Festival in the northern highlands and the Khmer Ok Om Bok Festival in southern Vietnam.

If you are planning a trip around a particular event, this guide focuses on the November activities that are genuinely useful for travelers rather than listing every trade show or local business conference.

Before choosing your destination, check our Vietnam Weather by Month Guide because November conditions are very different between northern, central and southern Vietnam.

Best Vietnam Events in November 2026

Event	Date	Location	Why Go
Chu Dang Ya Volcano Wild Sunflower Week	November 1–30	Gia Lai	Wild sunflowers, highland culture and gong performances
Central Highlands Gong Culture International Festival	November 1–8 (festival began October 30)	Gia Lai (Pleiku, Bien Ho wards)	UNESCO-recognized gong culture, part of Visit Vietnam Year 2026 – Gia Lai
Buckwheat Flower Festival	November 3–11	Dong Van, Tuyen Quang Province	Mountain scenery, flowers and local culture
Ok Om Bok Festival	Around November 23	Soc Trang and Khmer communities	Khmer culture and Ngo boat racing
Vietnam Culture Day	November 24	Nationwide	National cultural celebrations and a new public holiday
Hanoi International Film Festival	November 26–December 2	Hanoi	International cinema, screenings and cultural events
Hoi An Full-Moon Lantern Night	November 22	Hoi An	Lanterns, traditional performances and evening atmosphere

Vietnam Culture Day 2026

Date: November 24, 2026
Location: Nationwide
Type: National cultural observance and public holiday

Vietnam Culture Day is the biggest new addition to Vietnam’s November calendar in 2026.

Vietnam’s National Assembly established November 24 as Vietnam Culture Day under Resolution 28/2026/QH16. The resolution also provides for a fully paid day off for employees and allows fees for visits to public cultural and sports facilities to be exempted or reduced according to decisions by the relevant authorities.

For travelers, this matters for two reasons.

First, November 24 will be a public holiday, so popular attractions, restaurants, transport services and tourist areas may be busier than on a normal Tuesday.

Second, cultural institutions and local authorities are expected to organize exhibitions, performances, heritage activities and other public programmes around the first Vietnam Culture Day.

The exact programme will vary by city. Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and other major destinations are likely to have their own activities.

What Should Tourists Expect?

• Cultural performances
• Heritage and museum activities
• Traditional crafts
• Food and cultural demonstrations
• Exhibitions
• Special programmes at public cultural institutions

If you are visiting Vietnam around November 24, check local announcements before visiting museums and heritage attractions because some venues may have special schedules.

For first-time visitors, our Vietnam for First-Timers Guide is a good starting point.

Chu Dang Ya Volcano Wild Sunflower Week 2026

Date: November 1–30, 2026
Location: Chu Dang Ya, Gia Lai
Type: Nature and cultural event

The Chu Dang Ya Volcano Wild Sunflower Week is one of the most visually impressive events on Vietnam’s November calendar.

Every November, the slopes around Chu Dang Ya are covered with golden wild sunflowers. The official Vietnam Tourism calendar lists the 2026 event throughout the month of November.

The event is not just about flowers. The programme includes gong performances, traditional weaving, sculpture carving and local cultural showcases.

This makes Chu Dang Ya particularly interesting for travelers who want to combine dramatic landscapes with Central Highlands culture.

Why Visit Chu Dang Ya in November?

• See the seasonal wild sunflower bloom.
• Experience Central Highlands culture.
• Watch traditional gong performances.
• Explore rural landscapes away from Vietnam’s main tourist cities.
• Combine the event with a wider Gia Lai itinerary.

The flowers are naturally weather-dependent, so the exact appearance of the fields can vary during the month.

If you want a less conventional Vietnam itinerary, this is one of the strongest November options.

Central Highlands Gong Culture International Festival

Date: October 30 – November 8, 2026 (most of the programme falls in November)
Location: Pleiku and Bien Ho wards, Gia Lai Province, Central Highlands
Type: Cultural, music and heritage festival

The Central Highlands Gong Culture International Festival runs alongside Chu Dang Ya Wild Sunflower Week and is one of the most distinctive cultural events on Vietnam’s November calendar. It takes place within the framework of Visit Vietnam Year 2026 – Gia Lai and promotes the UNESCO-recognized Space of Gong Culture in the Central Highlands.

Provincial officials have confirmed the festival runs October 30 through November 8, so travelers visiting Gia Lai anywhere in the first week of November will overlap with it, alongside the wild sunflower season at Chu Dang Ya.

Expect gong performances, traditional rituals and cultural experiences connected with the ethnic communities of the Central Highlands, where these traditions developed.

Our South Vietnam Travel Guide can help when planning a broader route through southern and central-southern Vietnam.

Buckwheat Flower Festival 2026

Date: November 3–11, 2026
Opening ceremony: November 6
Location: Dong Van, Tuyen Quang Province
Type: Nature and cultural festival

The Buckwheat Flower Festival is one of the best reasons to travel to Vietnam’s far northern mountains in November.

The 2026 festival is scheduled around the blooming season of buckwheat flowers in the Dong Van area. The programme includes cultural performances and activities connected with the communities of the northern highlands.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for November 6. The wider festival programme runs from November 3 to 11.

The 2026 programme also includes a Vietnam–China International Trade Fair, a local products exhibition and other cultural activities.

For tourists, however, the biggest attraction remains the landscape: mountain roads, limestone peaks, traditional villages and fields of pink and white buckwheat flowers.

If you are considering the northern mountains, our North Vietnam Travel Guide will help you plan the route.

Is It Worth Going Only for the Festival?

Yes, if you enjoy mountain scenery and photography.

However, Dong Van is a long way from Hanoi, so it makes more sense to combine the festival with a wider northern Vietnam itinerary rather than traveling there for only one event.

Our 2-Week Vietnam Itinerary can help if you are trying to connect several destinations into one trip.

Ok Om Bok Festival 2026

Date: November 23, 2026
Location: Soc Trang and other Khmer communities in the Mekong Delta
Type: Traditional Khmer festival

The Ok Om Bok Festival, also known as the Moon Worship Festival, is one of the most distinctive cultural celebrations in southern Vietnam.

It is traditionally celebrated by the Khmer community on the full moon of the tenth lunar month. In 2026, the lunar date corresponds to November 23.

The festival is associated with giving thanks to the moon and celebrating the end of the agricultural season.

The most famous public attraction is the Ngo boat race, where long traditional boats compete on the water with large teams of rowers.

What Can Travelers See?

• Traditional Khmer ceremonies
• Moon-worship celebrations
• Ngo boat racing
• Khmer music and dance
• Traditional food
• Community celebrations around Khmer temples

Soc Trang is one of the best places to experience the festival because of its large Khmer community and strong cultural traditions.

If you are already visiting the Mekong Delta, you can combine Soc Trang with Can Tho and other destinations in the region.

Our South Vietnam Travel Guide is useful for planning a broader southern itinerary.

Hoi An Full-Moon Lantern Night

Date: November 22, 2026
Location: Hoi An
Type: Recurring cultural event

Hoi An’s famous lantern night continues throughout the year, and the November full-moon celebration falls on November 22, 2026.

During the evening, the Ancient Town becomes especially atmospheric as electric lighting is reduced and traditional lanterns become the focus.

Visitors can expect lantern displays, traditional performances, riverside activities and the famous illuminated streets of the Old Town.

This is not a one-off November festival, but it is worth including because travelers planning a November trip can deliberately choose these dates.

November weather in Hoi An can be unpredictable, however. Heavy rain and flooding are possible during the wet season, so treat the lantern night as an experience that can be affected by weather rather than something guaranteed to run exactly as planned.

If you are staying in Da Nang, our Da Nang to Hoi An Guide explains how to make the trip.

Hanoi International Film Festival 2026

Date: November 26–December 2, 2026
Opening ceremony: November 28
Location: Hanoi
Type: International film and cultural festival

The 8th Hanoi International Film Festival (HANIFF VIII) is one of the largest international cultural events in Hanoi in late November.

The festival is scheduled to run from November 26 through December 2, so it is technically a cross-month event rather than a November-only festival.

The opening ceremony will take place on November 28 at the Vietnam Exhibition Center, with the opening film screening scheduled for the same day at the National Cinema Center.

The programme includes film screenings, cultural exchanges, public activities and events involving Vietnamese and international filmmakers.

A new Vietnam Film & Television Market will also be held within the festival framework from November 28–30 at the Vietnam Exhibition Center, bringing together companies from the film, television and digital-content industries.

Why Should Tourists Care?

You do not have to be a film industry professional to enjoy HANIFF.

Public screenings, exhibitions, cultural performances and other activities will take place around Hanoi, including a special programme at the Temple of Literature area on November 29.

Mobile film screenings are also planned at several locations around the city during November.

If you enjoy cinema and want to experience Hanoi beyond the usual tourist attractions, HANIFF is worth checking while you are in the city.

For practical arrival information, see our Hanoi Airport to City Center Guide.

Vietnam Events in November: Where Should You Go?

Choose Hanoi for Culture and Cinema

Hanoi is the best all-round option in November.

The new Vietnam Culture Day on November 24 and HANIFF from late November into early December create an unusually strong cultural calendar.

November is also a good time for walking around the Old Quarter and exploring Hanoi’s historical attractions as temperatures become more comfortable.

Choose Northern Vietnam for Mountains and Flowers

If your priority is scenery rather than large city events, head north.

The Buckwheat Flower Festival around Dong Van is one of the most distinctive seasonal experiences of the month.

The northern mountains are also particularly attractive for road trips and photography during the cooler season.

Choose Gia Lai for a Different Side of Vietnam

Gia Lai offers an experience that is far removed from the standard Hanoi–Ha Long–Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City itinerary.

The Chu Dang Ya wild sunflower season combines spectacular landscapes with Central Highlands traditions and gong performances.

The first week of November also overlaps with the Central Highlands Gong Culture International Festival (through November 8), so a Gia Lai trip in early November can combine both events.

Choose Soc Trang for Khmer Culture

Ok Om Bok offers one of the most distinctive cultural experiences in southern Vietnam.

It is particularly worthwhile for travelers who have already seen the major tourist attractions and want to experience the cultural diversity of the Mekong Delta.

Choose Hoi An for Lanterns

Hoi An remains one of Vietnam’s most atmospheric destinations in November, especially around the November 22 full-moon lantern night.

However, keep the weather in mind because Central Vietnam can still experience heavy rain during this period.

November Weather and Events in Vietnam

November is a complicated month weather-wise because conditions differ sharply across the country.

Northern Vietnam is generally cooler and drier. Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and the northern mountains can be excellent destinations for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

Central Vietnam can still experience heavy rain. Hoi An, Da Nang and Hue may have wet periods, and travelers should keep plans flexible.

Southern Vietnam is moving toward its drier season and is generally warm throughout the month.

This means November is one of the better months for combining northern cultural events with southern destinations, but you should not assume that the entire country has the same weather.

For a more detailed breakdown, see our Vietnam Weather by Month Guide.

Tips for Visiting Vietnam During November Events

• Book northern mountain accommodation early: popular weekends around the buckwheat season can become busy.
• Expect crowds on November 24: Vietnam Culture Day is a new national public holiday.
• Check museum opening hours: cultural institutions may have special schedules around the new holiday.
• Keep Central Vietnam plans flexible: rain can affect Hoi An, Hue and Da Nang.
• Book Hoi An accommodation carefully: the November full-moon lantern night can increase demand.
• Carry cash in rural areas: small food stalls and local vendors may not accept cards.
• Dress for changing temperatures: Hanoi and the northern mountains can be much cooler than southern Vietnam.
• Check official festival schedules: some traditional events finalize individual activities closer to the date.

Our Vietnam Currency: Cash or Card Guide explains where you are most likely to need cash.

If you are moving between several event destinations, use our Vietnam Transport Guide to compare flights, trains, buses and other options.

Vietnam Events in November 2026: Quick Calendar

Date	Event	Location
November 1–30	Chu Dang Ya Volcano Wild Sunflower Week	Gia Lai
November 1–8	Central Highlands Gong Culture International Festival (began Oct 30)	Gia Lai
November 3–11	Buckwheat Flower Festival	Dong Van, Tuyen Quang Province
November 22	Hoi An Full-Moon Lantern Night	Hoi An
November 23	Ok Om Bok Festival	Soc Trang and Khmer communities
November 24	Vietnam Culture Day	Nationwide
November 26–December 2	Hanoi International Film Festival	Hanoi
November 28	HANIFF Opening Ceremony	Vietnam Exhibition Center, Hanoi
November 28–30	Vietnam Film & Television Market	Vietnam Exhibition Center, Hanoi

Bottom Line

November 2026 is an excellent month for cultural travel in Vietnam.

The biggest new development is Vietnam Culture Day on November 24, which will be observed nationwide and is now an official paid public holiday.

For nature and photography, the Buckwheat Flower Festival in the northern mountains and Chu Dang Ya Wild Sunflower Week in Gia Lai are the standout choices.

For traditional culture, Ok Om Bok in Soc Trang offers a chance to experience Khmer heritage and the famous Ngo boat races.

Hanoi is especially attractive toward the end of the month because of HANIFF VIII, which begins in late November and continues into December.

Hoi An’s November 22 lantern night is another good date to keep in mind, although Central Vietnam’s November weather means you should have a flexible plan.

For a broader trip around the country, start with our Best Places to Visit in Vietnam Guide and then build your route around the regions that match your interests and the November weather.

Sources

• Vietnam Tourism — November 2026 Festivals & Events
• Vietnam Tourism — Chu Dang Ya Volcano Wild Sunflower Week 2026
• Resolution 28/2026/QH16 — Vietnam Culture Day
• Tuoi Tre News — Vietnam Culture Day 2026 Holiday Proposal
• Tuoi Tre News — 8th Hanoi International Film Festival
• VOV — HANIFF VIII Programme in Hanoi
• HANIFF — Official Festival Website
• VOV — Central Highlands Gong Festival 2026 Confirmed Dates (October 30–November 8)