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The Ultimate Guide to Rằm tháng 7: Offerings, Rituals, and Timing

Every year on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, families across the globe prepare special meals to pay respect to Buddha, their ancestors, and to pray for the well-being of all sentient beings.

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4 August, 2024

The arrangement of the altar and the rituals performed on this day are of utmost importance as the 15th day of the seventh lunar month is a significant holiday in Vietnamese culture. It is an opportunity for descendants to express their gratitude to their ancestors, including their grandparents, parents, and forefathers. Let us guide you through this process.

1. What should be included in the altar for the 15th of the seventh lunar month?

Vegetarian offerings for Buddha

On this day, it is customary to offer vegetarian dishes to the Buddha as a sign of respect and adherence to the law of karma, which forbids taking life. Typically, the altar may include the following dishes:

Glutinous rice with mung beans or black beans,
Vegetarian spring rolls or tofu spring rolls,
Mushroom soup or pumpkin soup,
Stir-fried mushrooms,
Other dishes according to the family’s preferences and circumstances.

Vegetarian altar for Buddha on the 15th of the seventh lunar month

Non-vegetarian offerings for ancestral worship

The altar for ancestral worship, also known as the family altar, expresses respect and gratitude to the deceased. It should be prepared neatly, fully, cleanly, and nutritiously.

This altar usually consists of non-vegetarian dishes such as boiled chicken, red sticky rice, fried spring rolls, salad, rice, soup, and other dishes, along with incense, candles, and flowers. Additionally, there will be gold and silver paper money and some other items for the deceased to have a comfortable and fulfilling afterlife.

Non-vegetarian altar for ancestral worship on the 15th of the seventh lunar month

Non-vegetarian offerings for hungry ghosts

In addition to offerings for the Buddha and ancestors, people also set up an altar for hungry ghosts—those who are still lingering in the mortal realm. This altar is usually placed outside the house and prepared in the afternoon of the 14th or at noon on the 15th of the seventh lunar month. The offerings typically include:

Various types of fruits, cakes, and candies,
Thinned porridge,
Water,
Incense and candles,
Fruits,
Paper money,
Clothes and shoes made of paper.

Non-vegetarian altar for hungry ghosts on the 15th of the seventh lunar month

2. How should the altars be arranged for the 15th of the seventh lunar month?

For the Buddha altar, the offerings should be placed at the highest point on the altar. If you cannot prepare vegetarian dishes, offering filtered water and fruits is acceptable. Lotus flowers are preferred as they symbolize the Buddha.

For the ancestral worship altar, dishes such as boiled chicken, sticky rice, cylindrical glutinous rice cakes (bánh tét), or square glutinous rice cakes (bánh chưng) with the leaves removed but not cut into pieces should be placed before the other dishes.

For the hungry ghost altar, avoid an extravagant display of offerings to prevent arousing greed and jealousy.

Arranging altars for the 15th of the seventh lunar month

3. The proper way to perform rituals on the 15th of the seventh lunar month

When is the best time to perform rituals for the 15th of the seventh lunar month?

The rituals for this day should be performed on the 13th of the seventh lunar month, which corresponds to August 10th of the Gregorian calendar. This date, known as Đường Phong, is considered auspicious for travel, financial endeavors, and overall well-being, with the presence of noble persons to assist in the rituals.

The best time to perform rituals for the 15th of the seventh lunar month

What is the best time of day to perform rituals for the 15th of the seventh lunar month?

When performing rituals for this day, pay attention to the auspicious hours and arrange the ceremonies sincerely to demonstrate your devotion to the Buddha and your ancestors:

Rituals for the Buddha: Morning
Rituals for ancestral worship: 10 AM – 11 AM
Rituals for hungry ghosts: 5 PM – 7 PM

Additionally, you can refer to the following table for auspicious dates and times to perform rituals for the 15th of the seventh lunar month in 2022:

Auspicious date for rituals in 2022	Auspicious time for rituals in 2022
4th day of the seventh lunar month (August 1st, 2022)	Nhâm Thìn (7 AM – 9 AM): Thanh Long; Quý Tị (9 AM – 11 AM): Minh Đường; Bính Thân (3 PM – 5 PM): Kim Quỹ; Đinh Dậu (5 PM – 7 PM): Bảo Quang.
6th day of the seventh lunar month (August 3rd, 2022)	Ất Mão (5 AM – 7 AM): Ngọc Đường; Mậu Ngọ (11 AM – 1 PM): Tư Mệnh; Canh Thân (3 PM – 5 PM): Thanh Long; Tân Dậu (5 PM – 7 PM): Minh Đường
10th day of the seventh lunar month (August 7th, 2022)	甲辰 (7 AM – 9 AM): Thanh Long; 乙巳 (9 AM – 11 AM): Minh Đường; 戊申 (3 PM – 5 PM): Kim Quỹ; 己酉 (5 PM – 7 PM): Bảo Quang
11th day of the seventh lunar month (August 8th, 2022)	Bính Thìn (7 AM – 9 AM): Tư Mệnh; Mậu Ngọ (11 AM – 1 PM): Thanh Long; Kỷ Mùi (1 PM – 3 PM): Minh Đường; Nhâm Tuất (7 PM – 9 PM): Kim Quỹ
13th day of the seventh lunar month (August 10th, 2022)	Kỷ Mão (5 AM – 7 AM): Bảo Quang; Tân Tị (9 AM – 11 AM): Ngọc Đường; Giáp Thân (3 PM – 5 PM): Tư Mệnh; Bính Tuất (7 PM – 9 PM): Thanh Long

Ritual procedures

Rituals for the Buddha

These rituals should be performed in the morning. The host must dress respectfully and prepare the altar beforehand. During the rituals, the host will light three incense sticks and recite the invocation clearly and at a moderate pace. After the invocation, the host will join their palms together and bow three times to conclude the ceremony.

Rituals for the Buddha on the 15th of the seventh lunar month

Rituals for ancestral worship

Similar to the rituals for the Buddha, the rituals for ancestral worship should be performed in the morning. The host will light three incense sticks and begin reciting the invocation. After finishing the invocation, the host will bow three times to conclude the ceremony. After about a week, the host will read the invocation for burning gold and silver paper money and offering shoes and clothes to the deceased.

Rituals for ancestral worship on the 15th of the seventh lunar month

Rituals for hungry ghosts

These rituals are usually performed in the afternoon or evening. After setting up the altar, the host will light incense and bow three times. Then, the host will recite the invocation and conclude the ceremony with another three bows. After about a week, the host will sprinkle rice and salt in the yard to prevent lingering spirits from affecting the family negatively. The gold and silver paper money will be burned, and the invocation for sending off the spirits will be recited aloud.

Rituals for hungry ghosts on the 15th of the seventh lunar month

4. Invocation for the 15th of the seventh lunar month

Nam mô A Di Đà Phật (recite three times)

We bow to the nine directions of the sky and the ten directions of the Buddha.

We respectfully bow to the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and the Arhat Maudgalyayana.

Today is the 15th day of the seventh lunar month in the year of the Water Tiger, 2022.

We, the faithful, are…

Living at…

Sincerely prepare incense, flowers, fruits, and other offerings, and respectfully present them before the altar.

We sincerely invite the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and the Arhat Maudgalyayana.

We sincerely invite the God of the Year, the God of the Land, the City God, the Local Deities, the Kitchen God, and all the deities who govern this area.

Please descend to the altar and witness our sincerity.

Today is the Ghost Festival, the day when the deceased are pardoned. We are grateful to the Triple Gem for their protection, to the gods and deities for their blessings, and for the great merits we have accumulated. We do not know how to repay this debt of gratitude.

Therefore, we respectfully offer these gifts and sincerely hope for your acceptance. Please protect and bless us and our family, granting us good health, peace, and harmony. May we always be devoted to the right path, and may our wealth and career prosper.

We sincerely offer these gifts and pray for your blessings.

Nam mô A Di Đà Phật (recite three times)

5. What to offer and what to avoid offering on the 15th of the seventh lunar month

Offer: Incense, flowers, fruits, sticky rice cakes, sweets, and other offerings depending on the family’s financial situation.
Avoid offering: Dog meat, cat meat, snake meat, turtle meat, or pork.

What to offer and what to avoid offering on the 15th of the seventh lunar month

6. Notes on the altar for the 15th of the seventh lunar month

Maintain personal hygiene and avoid consuming foods with strong odors for about two days before the rituals to prevent impurity. The altar for hungry ghosts can be set up outside the house or in a temple.

As there are many wandering souls during the 15th of the seventh lunar month, clearly write the names of the intended recipients on the paper items offered to the deceased. When invoking the deities and spirits, read the names of the deceased aloud.

Notes on the altar for the 15th of the seventh lunar month

This article provides information on what to prepare and what to keep in mind when setting up altars for the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. We hope you found it helpful, and don’t forget to follow us for more useful knowledge!

Frequently asked questions

Ram Thang 7, also known as Vu Lan Festival or Ghost Month, is a traditional Vietnamese festival held in the seventh lunar month of the year. It is a time when people pay respect to their ancestors, offer prayers for the deceased, and perform rituals to bring peace and blessings to the living and the dead.

During Ram Thang 7, people make offerings of food, flowers, incense, and paper votive objects to their ancestors and the deceased. They also perform rituals such as releasing paper lanterns on water, burning joss paper, and offering prayers at temples or shrines.

The seventh lunar month is considered an inauspicious time, and it is believed that the spirits of the dead are more active during this period. Therefore, the rituals and offerings are typically made throughout the month, with a focus on the first and last days, which are considered the most important. The 15th day of the month is also significant, as it is believed to be when the gates of hell are opened and the spirits are free to roam the earth.

Yes, there are traditional foods associated with Ram Thang 7, including ‘com chung’, which is a sticky rice dish with mung beans, and ‘xoi ngu sac’, a five-color sticky rice dish. People also offer fruits, vegetables, and dishes that were favored by the deceased when they were alive.

Ram Thang 7 shares similarities with other Asian cultural festivals honoring the dead, such as China’s Ghost Festival. Both festivals involve offerings and rituals to respect the ancestors and the deceased. However, Ram Thang 7 has its own unique traditions and rituals that are specific to Vietnamese culture, such as the release of paper lanterns and the offering of ‘com chung’.