Two distinct types of festival may be found in Việt Nam.

Traditional festivals (lễ hội) take the form of celebrations related principally to local traditions or religious rites, and are deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. It has been estimated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that every year some 8,300 traditional festivals are held across the country, including many of great antiquity.

Arts festivals in the western sense (generally known as liên hoan) have only recently begun to develop in Việt Nam but are rapidly becoming an important part of the national cultural landscape.

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