Today is Friday, the 1st day of the 3rd lunar month, marking the beginning of a new month with many notable spiritual activities.
First of all is Han Thuc Tet (3rd day of the 3rd lunar month) - a holiday with profound meaning in the cultural life of Vietnamese people. On this day, many families prepare banh troi and vegetarian cakes to offer to the ancestral altar, expressing gratitude and the morality of "drinking water, remembering the source".
Next, the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month is the Hung Kings' Death Anniversary - a national ceremony to commemorate the merits of building the country of the Hung Kings. Key rituals take place at Hung Temple (Phu Tho) with palanquin processions and solemn incense offerings. This is also the day when workers are off work and still receive their full salaries.
On the 1st day of the 3rd lunar month of 2026, preparing a tray of offerings and prayers is a way for each person to express their respect for the Gods, Earth Gods and ancestors, and at the same time send wishes for health, peace and convenience in life.
Preparing offerings
The worshiping ceremony on the 1st day (Soc festival) is usually a vegetarian ceremony: incense, flowers, betel and areca, fruit, money and gold. In addition to the vegetarian ceremony, you can also offer a savory ceremony on this day including: wine, boiled chicken, and savory dishes.
Preparing offerings on the 1st day of Tet is mainly sincere worship, asking for offerings can be very simple:
- 1 jar of wine
- 1 vase of fresh flowers
- 1 plate of fresh fruit
- 1 glass of water
- Betel, areca nut
1st day of the month prayer
Below are detailed prayer texts for the 1st day of the 3rd lunar month (according to the book "Vietnamese Traditional Prayers", Hong Duc Publishing House):
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! (3 times)
I bow to the Nine Heavens, the Ten Directions of Buddhas, the Ten Directions of Buddhas
Respectfully praying to the Emperor, Heaven, Earth, and all venerable gods.
I respectfully bow to Lord Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan
I respectfully bow to Lord Ban Gia Tho Dia Long Mach.
I respectfully bow to the Five Directions, Five Earths, Good Deeds, and Righteous Gods.
I respectfully bow to your predecessor, landlord, and God of Wealth.
I respectfully bow to the Gods who govern this land.
Today is the... month... of the Binh Ngo year
My trustee is...
Living in... together with the whole family sincerely preparing incense, flowers, offerings, and honey and green tea, burning incense sticks to offer before the altar.
We sincerely respectfully invite: Sir Kim Nien duong cai Thai Tue chi duc Ton than, Sir Ban canh Thanh hoang Chu vi Dai Vuong, Sir Dong tru Tu menh Tao phu Than quan, Sir Ban gia Tho dia, Long Mach Ton than, sirs Ngu Phuong, Ngu Tho, Phuc duc chinh than, the gods ruling in this area.
I humbly ask you to hear the invitation to pity the believers and bring them down before the court, witness their sincerity, enjoy offerings, and bless us believers so that our whole family is peaceful, work is smooth, everyone is safe, fortune and wealth increase, morality is expanded, prayers are answered, wishes are fulfilled.
We offer a sincere and humble offering, before the altar, respectfully offering, and bow to ask for blessings and protection.
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! (3 times)
