Vietnamese Women's Day and Mother's Day traditions

Vietnam celebrates women twice a year: on March 8, International Women's Day, and on October 20, Vietnamese Women's Day. There isn't a single official Vietnamese Mother's Day, but many people honor mothers during Vu Lan, a Buddhist festival on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, and some also mark the Western Mother's Day in May.

On these days you'll see flowers everywhere, workplaces holding small celebrations and men taking on extra chores at home.

March 8: International Women's Day

International Women's Day is widely observed in Vietnam. It's a day for honoring women in families, schools and workplaces. Typical gestures include:

• Giving flowers, especially roses, to mothers, wives, girlfriends, teachers and colleagues
• Small gifts or cards
• Male coworkers organizing a celebration or treating female colleagues to a meal
• Children making cards or presents for their mothers and teachers

You'll hear people say "Chúc mừng ngày Quốc tế Phụ nữ" (Happy International Women's Day) or simply "Chúc mừng 8/3" (said "tám tháng ba").

October 20: Vietnamese Women's Day

Ngày Phụ nữ Việt Nam on October 20 marks the founding of the Vietnam Women's Union in 1930. It's celebrated much like March 8, with flowers, gifts and workplace gatherings. Many Vietnamese people treat both dates as equally important, and some families celebrate both.

The greeting is "Chúc mừng ngày Phụ nữ Việt Nam" or "Chúc mừng 20/10" (said "hai mươi tháng mười").

Common wishes for women

When giving flowers or a card, people often add a short wish:

• "Chúc mẹ luôn mạnh khỏe và hạnh phúc": wishing you, Mom, good health and happiness.
• "Chúc chị em luôn xinh đẹp": wishing all the women here to stay beautiful, a common workplace wish.
• "Cảm ơn mẹ vì tất cả": thank you, Mom, for everything.

The words chị em here refer collectively to women, a usage you'll often hear in group settings. Learn more about how these words shift with context in our guide to Vietnamese pronouns.

Vu Lan: honoring mothers and parents

Lễ Vu Lan is a Buddhist festival held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, usually in August or early September. It's associated with gratitude toward parents, especially mothers, and with praying for ancestors and wandering souls.

The festival is linked to the story of Mục Kiền Liên (Maudgalyayana), a disciple of the Buddha who sought to save his mother's suffering soul. His devotion became a model of filial love.

A well-known Vu Lan tradition is the rose ceremony (bông hồng cài áo). People pin a rose to their clothes:

• A red or pink rose if their mother is still living
• A white rose if their mother has passed away

This custom was popularized by the Vietnamese monk Thích Nhất Hạnh's essay "Bông hồng cài áo" ("A Rose for Your Pocket"). Many temples hold ceremonies where volunteers pin roses on attendees, and it can be a moving moment.

Western Mother's Day in Vietnam

The second Sunday in May, Mother's Day in the US and many other countries, has become more visible in Vietnam, especially among younger people and on social media. Shops and cafés sometimes run promotions, and families with ties abroad may celebrate it. Still, for many Vietnamese families, Vu Lan carries the deeper traditional meaning.

What people typically do

Across these days, celebrations are usually warm and simple:

• Flowers, which sell out at shops and markets
• Homemade cards from children
• A family meal, sometimes cooked by the men of the house
• Small gifts like cosmetics, scarves or jewelry
• Visiting temples or ancestor altars during Vu Lan

Florists and gift shops are very busy around March 8 and October 20, so people often order ahead.

Tips if you're in Vietnam or with a Vietnamese family

• On March 8 and October 20, a bouquet or a small gift for the women in your life, including colleagues, is a kind gesture.
• During Vu Lan, it's respectful to visit a temple, offer incense or simply call your mother.
• If you're invited to a family celebration, a thoughtful wish in Vietnamese will be appreciated even if your pronunciation isn't perfect.

For more on Vietnamese family life, see Vietnamese culture and traditions you'll notice first.

Put March 8, October 20 and the date of Vu Lan in your calendar now so the flowers arrive on time.