Đoan Ngọ Festival (5th of 5th lunar month): origins & customs

Đoan Ngọ (the 5th of the 5th lunar month), popularly the "pest-killing" day, is one of the oldest traditional festivals. "Đoan" means beginning and "Ngọ" the Horse hour — when the year's yang energy peaks.

Origins & meaning

Falling mid-year, when the changing season brings illness and crop pests, the rite aimed to drive out pests, protect health and the harvest, and honour ancestors.

The offering

Typically incense and flowers, votive paper, fermented sticky rice (rượu nếp), ash cakes (bánh tro), and summer fruits like plums, lychees, peaches and melon. Offered in the morning, ideally at the Horse hour.

Why eat fermented rice and ash cakes?

Tradition says that eating fermented rice, sour fruit and ash cakes first thing on the morning of the 5th "kills" the pests inside the body — keeping you healthy. It is the signature food custom of the day.

Other customs

• Gathering medicinal herbs at the Horse hour to dry and keep.
• Hanging mugwort at the door to ward off bad energy (folk belief).

Timing & dates

Check the auspicious hours and lunar calendar for the 5th. To find good dates for other tasks, use Choose a good day.

A folk custom, for reference and cultural heritage.