On the 15th of the 7th lunar month, many families in Vietnam prepare incense, flowers, and offerings while reciting prayers to honor their ancestors and deities, seeking peace and prosperity for their households. This occasion, known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture and is associated with the belief in forgiving the spirits of the deceased.

In Vietnamese folk culture, the 7th lunar month is also referred to as the Ghost Festival, a time when families pay respect to their ancestors and remember those who have passed away. It coincides with the Vu Lan Festival, an important occasion for expressing filial piety towards parents and grandparents.

According to the lunar calendar, the 15th of the 7th month in 2026 falls on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Since this date is in the middle of the week, families may choose to hold their ceremonies either before or after this date, as long as they do so with sincerity and respect for their ancestors.

Below are the traditional prayers for the 7th lunar month:

Prayer for Ancestors

"Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! I bow to the nine directions of heaven, to all Buddhas of the ten directions. I respectfully bow to my ancestors and all spirits. The faithful host (we) are... residing at...

Today is the 15th of the 7th lunar month, coinciding with the Vu Lan festival during the Mid-Autumn period. We remember our ancestors who gave birth to us and built our family legacy, allowing us to enjoy the merits of their good deeds.

We express our gratitude for their sacrifices, and we prepare offerings of incense, flowers, tea, fruits, and gold and silver, lighting a stick of incense with sincere hearts to honor our ancestors and all spirits in our family lineage.

We humbly request that you show compassion and allow your spirits to descend, witness our sincerity, accept our offerings, and bless us with health, prosperity, and good fortune, ensuring our family thrives and adheres to the righteous path.

We offer our humble prayers with sincerity before the altar, and we ask for your blessings.

Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha!"

Prayer for the Earth God and Deities

"Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! I bow to the nine directions of heaven, to all Buddhas of the ten directions. I respectfully bow to the Heavenly Emperor, the Earth God, and all deities.

Today, on the 15th of the 7th lunar month, we sincerely prepare offerings of incense, flowers, gold, silver, tea, and fruits, lighting fragrant incense before the altar.

We respectfully invite the deities to grace us with their presence, witness our sincerity, accept our offerings, and bless our family with peace and prosperity in all endeavors.

We offer our humble prayers with sincerity before the altar, and we ask for your blessings.

Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha!"

Prayer for Wandering Spirits

"Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! I bow to the nine directions of heaven, to all Buddhas of the ten directions.

As the 7th month approaches, the gates of hell are opened. Spirits without homes wander aimlessly. We humbly invite you to join us, receiving our offerings of food, drink, and money, and we ask for your blessings for our family.

We remember the spirits during this time, and we ask that you return to your resting place after receiving our offerings. May our humble prayers be acknowledged.

Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha!"