In 2026, the Thanh Minh period takes place from April 5 to April 20 of the solar calendar, in which the first day of this period, i.e. Thanh Minh Tet, falls on Sunday, February 18 of the lunar calendar.
This is an opportunity for families to turn to their roots, remember their ancestors through tomb sweeping, offering sacrifices and gathering together.
On the tomb sweeping day, people often bring tools to clean up, repair the tomb, and clear weeds to maintain cleanliness and avoid damage.
After completing the renovation, the families proceed to burn incense and offer offerings at the tomb.
The offering ceremony can be vegetarian or savory depending on customs, but in general, it includes familiar items such as incense, lamps, water, wine, betel and areca, fruits and votive paper.
Thanh Minh Prayer for the spirits outside the grave according to the book "Traditional Prayers of Vietnamese People" (Lao Dong Publishing House):
Nam Mo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times)
I bow to the nine heavens, the ten directions of the Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions.
I respectfully bow to the incense spirit... (show examination, show sister or group survey, group sister...).
Nhân tiết Thanh minh, tín chủ (chúng) con là:...
Located at:...
We and the entire family of descendants, thanks to the immense gratitude, the high ethics, building the fortune of..., sadly thinking of the underworld in the desolate place, our believers sincerely prepare offerings, areca nut, betel leaves, incense, flowers, tea, and fruits, light incense sticks to offer before the grave, respectfully inviting the true spirits... to come and contribute.
We ask permission to repair the tomb, enrich the earth, make it thicker and more durable, and repair the afterlife road to be more solid. Thanks to the blessings of the Buddha and saints, supporting the blessings of heaven and earth, feeling the blessings of the gods, making the word peaceful, yin super positive. Our descendants ask for the true spirit... to vow to accumulate virtue and cultivate virtue, make love, do good deeds, offer three treasures, help orphans and widows, sacrifice poor people to save victims, and be filial to the lineage to take this blessing towards the ancestors.
I humbly ask the sacred to witness, enjoy offerings, bless and protect children and grandchildren, go back and forth to examine the door of the house.Cover the ears and save disasters, bestow wealth and blessings, bring good things, dispel bad things.Increase the family's prosperity, cheerful cinnamon, happy children and grandchildren enjoy heaven's blessings, old and young thanks to the merits of the Buddha and saints.
We offer sincere offerings, humbly ask to witness.
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! (3 times)
Thanh Minh Tet prayer in the house:
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! (3 times)
I bow to the nine heavens, the ten directions of the Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions
I bow to ancestors, relatives on both sides of the family...
I bow to my grandmother, grandpa, grandma, little Red girl, little Red boy at home
Today is the day... month... year...
Now I keep the act of worshiping named... , age..., born in commune... , district... , province... with the whole family, before the ancestral altar, bowing and worshiping.
Respectfully inviting Earth God Tao Quan to be a mixed-race person.
Respectfully offer silver offerings: Betel, wine, tea, water, incense, fruits and sincere offerings on the occasion of the Thanh Minh festival, respectfully invite the souls of paternal and maternal ancestors, relatives, grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters to witness and enjoy the ceremony.
I sincerely and respectfully bow to ancestors, aunts and uncles, grandparents... to bless and protect, to be mindful of arranging order, caressing and protecting my whole family for peace and prosperity, three months of summer and nine months of winter are all cool and prosperous. Good things brought in, bad things brought out for my family's work are all smooth sailing, lots of luck.
We respectfully offer a sincere silver offering, and bow to our ancestors to prove and witness the sincerity of the entire family.
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! (3 times)
