Held on 13 January (lunar calendar)/13 February in the northern city of Bac Ninh, the Lim Festival is a huge 3-day celebration of ethnic Vietnamese culture, from brightly colored costumes and art to Quan ho, a distinct form of folk singing recognized by UNESCO.

Each year the festival draws visitors from all over the country to Bac Ninh – considered the heart of the cultural region of Kinh Bac, which now spans several provinces, including parts of Hanoi. The city is famous for its ancient, spiritually significant Buddhist pagodas, including the Lim pagoda that gives the festival its name.