TL;DR: Rằm tháng 7, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month (in 2026 it falls on Thursday, 27 August of the solar calendar), is a major festival that includes lễ Vu Lan (the filial piety ceremony) and the custom of cúng chúng sinh (offerings to wandering souls). Many families make indoor offerings during the day, make cúng chúng sinh outdoors in the evening, and may begin as early as the 10th day of the lunar month. The suggested auspicious days and hours are only for reference according to folk belief, not a mandatory rule.
What is Rằm tháng 7 and why does it have so many names?
Rằm tháng 7, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, is one of the biggest festivals in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people. It carries many names, each tied to a different layer of meaning: lễ Vu Lan (also called Vu Lan báo hiếu, the filial piety ceremony) in Buddhism, lễ Xá tội vong nhân (the rite of pardoning wandering souls) in folk belief, and Tết Trung Nguyên in Daoist thought. Many places simply call it cúng Rằm tháng Bảy.
According to Vietnamese custom, on this day families prepare an offering tray to present to the Buddha, ancestors and grandparents to pray for health and peace[1]. In 2026, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month falls on Thursday, 27 August of the solar calendar[2].
In Buddhism, lễ Vu Lan is linked to the story of Mục Kiền Liên (Maudgalyayana) saving his mother, expressing the spirit of filial piety and gratitude[1][3]. In folk belief, Rằm tháng 7 is also called the day of "xá tội vong nhân", when King Yama opens the gates of hell for souls who in life fell on hard times and have no place to rely on[2].
Which day is best for the Rằm tháng 7 offering?
There is no fixed mandatory day for everyone. By custom, the cúng chúng sinh rite begins to be performed from the 10th day until before noon on Rằm tháng 7 of the lunar calendar[1]. Many families choose to make offerings on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month itself, but some make them earlier to suit work and daily life.
Some feng shui specialists give suggestions for auspicious days and hours based on the age of the head of the household. For example, according to suggestions by feng shui specialist Nguyễn Song Hà, the 11th day of the 7th lunar month suits the ages of Tý, Sửu, Mão, Thìn, Ngọ, Mùi and Tuất, with auspicious hours for the rite being the hour of Thìn (7-9 a.m.), the hour of Tỵ (9-11 a.m.), the hour of Mùi (1-3 p.m.) and the hour of Dậu (5-7 p.m.)[2]. The 12th day of the 7th lunar month is unfavorable for the ages of Tý, Ngọ, Mão, Dậu and Thân, with auspicious hours being the hour of Mão (5-7 a.m.), the hour of Thìn (7-9 a.m.), the hour of Thân (3-5 p.m.) and the hour of Dậu (5-7 p.m.)[2].
It should be noted that this is a calculation according to the feng shui school, not a rule of Buddhism or a mandatory customary law. The most important thing remains sincerity and careful preparation.
Some folk beliefs hold that the 10th day of each lunar month, including the 7th month, is the day of the God of Wealth (Nguyệt Thần Tài), so the Rằm offering should be avoided on this day to prevent breaching ritual propriety. If the God of Wealth is worshipped first on the 10th and the Rằm offering is made afterwards, that is acceptable[2].
When should the hour for the Rằm tháng 7 offering be chosen?
According to folk belief, the offerings to the Buddha and ancestors indoors should be made during the day, with the most auspicious hour being the hour of Tỵ (9-11 a.m.). If the family cannot make the offering at this hour, the head of the household may perform the rite at the hour of Thìn (7-9 a.m.)[2].
In contrast to indoor offerings, the cúng chúng sinh rite must be carried out in the evening, after the sun has fully set. The most suitable time is the hour of Dậu (5-7 p.m.)[2]. According to folk belief, wandering souls fear light and only dare to come and receive offerings when it is dark[2].
The cúng chúng sinh rite needs to be completed before 12 noon on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, because after this time, according to folk belief, the gates of hell close and the souls are not permitted to return to the world of the living[2].
What does the Rằm tháng 7 offering tray include?
The Rằm tháng 7 rite in each home is usually performed in the order: offerings to the Buddha, deities, ancestors, and finally the offering of food to wandering souls (cúng chúng sinh)[1]. Each rite has its own meaning and requires suitable offerings.
| Type of rite | Main offerings | Placement | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offering to the Buddha | Vegetarian rice, five-fruit tray, incense, clean water, fresh flowers | Buddha altar, highest position | Daytime |
| Offering to deities | Sticky rice, boiled chicken, bánh chưng, tea, wine, fruit, fresh flowers | Altar of deities | Daytime |
| Offering to ancestors | Vegetarian or non-vegetarian rice, votive paper money, incense and flowers | Ancestor altar | Daytime |
| Offering to wandering souls | Thin rice porridge, rice and salt, cakes and sweets, popcorn, paper clothes, votive paper money | Outdoors, in front of the main door | Evening |
The Buddha offering tray
For Buddhist families, Rằm tháng 7 is also the season of Vu Lan filial piety, originating from the story of Mục Kiền Liên saving his mother. The Buddha offering tray usually includes vegetarian rice, fresh flowers, incense, clean water and a five-fruit tray[3]. Dishes may be prepared from vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, sticky rice, sweet soup or vegetarian sausage[3]. Non-vegetarian food, votive paper or offerings involving the killing of living beings should not be placed on the Buddha altar[3].
The offering tray to deities and ancestors
The indoor offering tray usually has incense, flowers, tea, wine, clean water, fruit, betel and areca, sticky rice and various dishes. Depending on family tradition, the head of the household may prepare a vegetarian or non-vegetarian feast[3]. A non-vegetarian feast usually includes sticky rice, boiled chicken, rice, soup, stir-fried dishes, braised dishes or braised fish[3].
The offering tray to wandering souls
According to culinary artisan Phạm Thị Ánh Tuyết, the cúng chúng sinh tray may include: a plate of rice and salt; 12 bowls of thin white rice porridge; 5 kinds of fruit of different colours; 12 pieces of slab sugar; paper clothes for wandering souls; 3 cups of water, 3 incense sticks and 2 small candles[3]. In folk belief, thin porridge is a characteristic offering because wandering spirits have small, narrow throats and cannot eat ordinary food[2].
This offering tray is usually placed outdoors or in front of the main door, not on the ancestor altar[3].
How is the Rằm tháng 7 ritual performed?
After preparing all the offerings and the feast tray, the person performing the rite dresses neatly, devoutly lights incense and reads the prayer text[3].
If the family performs all the rites, the order may be as follows: offerings to the Buddha first, then to deities and ancestors, and finally cúng chúng sinh outdoors[3].
On the day of cúng chúng sinh, the family should follow the sequence: in the morning go to the pagoda to pray for the salvation of souls, then return home to light incense to ancestors, and in the afternoon make the food offering and release living beings[1].
After completing the indoor rites, the head of the household waits for the incense to nearly burn out, then makes the farewell rite, takes down the feast tray so the members can share the blessed food[3]. For the cúng chúng sinh rite, after the incense burns out, rice and salt are scattered in the yard, on the pavement or in areas outside in various directions[3].
What should and should not be done during Rằm tháng 7?
In the spirit of gratitude and filial piety of lễ Vu Lan, some things that should be done include: visiting, offering flowers and lighting incense at the graves of grandparents and ancestors; eating vegetarian food, doing good and virtuous deeds; going to the pagoda to pray for peace; visiting and caring for parents and grandparents[1].
According to folk belief, during the 7th lunar month people often avoid certain things such as: killing living beings, doing bad deeds, holding weddings or business openings[1]. These taboos come from the belief that the 7th month is the month of wandering souls, not from a rule of Buddhism or mandatory customary law.
Where does the "rose pinned to the shirt" ritual on Vu Lan day come from?
On lễ Vu Lan, pagodas in Vietnam often hold the "Bông hồng cài áo" (rose pinned to the shirt) ritual for Buddhists. Those who still have parents pin a red rose on their shirt, while those who have lost their parents pin a white flower[1].
This ritual was initiated by Zen master Thích Nhất Hạnh through his book in 1962[1]. The image of the rose pinned to the shirt has since become a symbol of the Vu Lan filial piety season among Buddhists, with the meaning of reminding each person of gratitude and filial respect[1].
Practical notes when performing the rite
The person performing the rite should wear neat clothing, maintain a devout attitude and choose a quiet space[3]. The altar should be cleaned but the incense bowl or worship objects should not be moved arbitrarily[3]. Flowers and food used as offerings must be fresh, clean and not spoiled[3].
For families living in apartments, placing offerings, lighting incense and burning votive paper must comply with the building's regulations, especially fire prevention and fighting rules. The offering tray should not be placed in corridors, stairways or emergency exits[3].
Burning votive paper is not a mandatory ritual. Families may limit or not use votive paper, and instead do charitable deeds and help people in difficult circumstances to express the humane spirit of Rằm tháng 7[3].
Families are not required to perform all the rituals if they lack the conditions or if these do not suit their beliefs. Rằm tháng 7 is first of all an occasion for each person to remember ancestors, practise filial piety, care for parents and share with those less fortunate[3].
