Vu Lan 2026: Vietnam's vegetarian month, explained

For Vietnamese, the 7th lunar month is the biggest vegetarian season of the year. Some eat plant-based on the new moon and full moon; many vow a whole month, dedicating the merit to their parents. For a vegetarian house cooking since 2010 like Hoan Hy, it is the busiest month of the kitchen — and the month when a little planning makes your meals much smoother.

When is Vu Lan this year?

In 2026, the 7th lunar month begins on Thursday, August 13, and its full moon — Vu Lan itself — falls on Thursday, August 27. The month runs through September 10. If you follow the lunar days, the new-moon and full-moon dates for the next two months are always listed on our Visit page.

Vu Lan is Vietnam's season of filial gratitude, often compared to Mother's Day: those whose mother is living pin a red rose on their shirt, those who have lost her pin a white one. In that spirit, a vegetarian meal — cooked at home or shared at a restaurant — is the simplest way to think of one's parents, near or far.

A whole month without repeating a flavor

The biggest worry for first-timers is boredom. Hoan Hy's answer has not changed in over a decade: let vegetables and mushrooms be themselves, with no mock shrimp or mock meat. More than 80 dishes mean more than 80 ways to vary the day — lettuce rolls and mushroom hot pot today, Hue-style noodle soup tomorrow, clay-pot rice the day after, closed with a glass of five-bean milk. A full month, no repeats, and nothing imitating meat.

The Vu Lan offering tray: six ready sets

Every family wants a generous tray for the 7th-month full moon, and the cook is usually also the person running everything else that day. Hoan Hy's six sets — An Nhien, Thinh Vuong, Cat Tuong, Nhu Y, Hoan Hi, An Khang — carry 7 to 8 courses each, from 700,000 to 800,000 VND, balanced from appetizer and salad through mains, soup or hot pot, and something sweet. The full breakdown is in our earlier post on vegetarian offering trays.

One practical note: many families make the offering early in the month rather than on the full moon itself, so trays can be ordered all month long. Call or message on Zalo 1-2 days ahead; in the week before the full moon, order earlier to be safe. Pick up at the restaurant, or have it delivered via GrabFood or ShopeeFood.

Visiting during Vu Lan

Hoan Hy has two homes: 290/7 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, and 47B Le Dai Hanh, Nha Trang. On new-moon and full-moon days the rooms fill up from noon, so call ahead for a table if you come as a group — both branches' numbers are on the Visit page. This seventh month, come share a gentle meal, and let the heart rest light.