Complete and Meaningful Ghost Festival (Vu Lan) Offering Tray in 2025

Preparing a Ghost Festival (Vu Lan) offering tray and performing the ritual on this day holds great spiritual importance. The 15th day of the seventh lunar month — known in Vietnam as Ram thang 7 – is one of the most significant traditional festivals, associated with two major meanings: the Vu Lan Festival (Filial Piety Day) and the Ghost Festival (Offering to Wandering Souls). Arranging a proper and meaningful offering tray not only expresses sincerity but also helps families preserve the beauty of Vietnamese cultural traditions. Join Vo Uy Vegetarian Restaurant as we explore what to prepare for the Ram thang 7 offering tray in 2025.

The Meaning of the Ghost Festival Offering Tray in Vietnamese Culture

The Ram thang 7 offering tray carries two profound spiritual values. First, it represents the Vu Lan Festival, a time for children to honor their parents’ sacrifices, pray for blessings for those still alive, and dedicate merit to deceased ancestors.

Second, it is the Ghost Festival, when, according to belief, the gates of the underworld open, and wandering souls return to the living world. Families prepare offering trays to give alms and pray for these spirits to find peace and liberation. Beyond religious rituals, the practice reflects the Vietnamese values of compassion, filial piety, and kindness — timeless virtues passed down through generations.

Best Date and Time for the Ghost Festival Offering in 2025

• Main festival day: The Ghost Festival (Ram thang 7) falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, which corresponds to September 6, 2025 in the Gregorian calendar.

• Families can perform offerings anytime between the 14th and 15th of the lunar month to avoid the peak time.

Suitable Times for Offerings:

• Morning and noon: Ideal for offerings to the Buddha and ancestors.

• Afternoon and evening: Appropriate for offerings to wandering souls (cúng chúng sinh).

Homeowners can choose a flexible time according to their schedule, as long as the rituals are performed with sincerity.

Common Types of Ghost Festival (Vu Lan) Offering Trays

On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, Vietnamese families often prepare two to three offering trays, depending on their traditions and beliefs. While the content and meaning of each tray vary, they all reflect filial piety, gratitude, and a sincere wish to cultivate virtue.

Buddha Offering Tray (Vegetarian Offerings)

The Buddha offering tray is usually prepared first, with simple vegetarian dishes that symbolize purity and compassion. Common offerings include:

• Fresh seasonal fruits (ngũ quả), carefully chosen for ripeness and freshness.

• Sticky rice (xôi chay) and sweet soups (chè), such as mung bean sweet soup or glutinous rice balls in syrup.

• Vegetarian spring rolls, vegetarian sausage, or light fresh rolls.

• Mushroom soup or vegetable broth.

This tray is placed on the Buddha altar, the highest altar in the home, arranged neatly and kept separate from the ancestor offerings. Vegetarian offerings represent purity, compassion, and the avoidance of killing. This is a time for descendants to express gratitude, praying for peace, health, and happiness for the entire family.

Ancestor Offering Tray (Traditional Family Feast)

The ancestor offering tray is considered the main feast during the Ghost Festival and is placed on the ancestral altar. Traditionally, a savory tray includes:

• Boiled chicken with golden skin.

• Sticky rice (xôi gấc or mung bean sticky rice).

• Fried spring rolls and Vietnamese pork sausage (giò lụa).

• Vegetable soup or bamboo shoot vermicelli soup.

• Braised fish, stewed pork, and plain rice.

• Fresh fruits, rice wine, and tea.

For Buddhist families, the ancestor offering tray can be prepared in a vegetarian version, with dishes such as fried tofu, vegetable salad, stir-fried vermicelli with mushrooms, and braised tofu or mushrooms.

This offering reflects deep respect for ancestors, with prayers for their blessings so that descendants may enjoy good health, career success, family harmony, and prosperity. It is also a time for family members to gather, strengthening the bond between generations and honoring the virtue of filial piety.

Offering Tray for Wandering Souls (Outdoor Ghost Offering)

The offering tray for wandering souls, also known as the hungry ghost offering, is usually placed in the courtyard or outside the main entrance. The offerings are kept simple yet symbolize generosity and compassion:

• Thin porridge (12 small bowls representing the twelve types of hungry ghosts).

• Popcorn, candies, boiled sweet potatoes, boiled corn.

• Rice, salt, and clean water.

• Paper clothes and joss paper money.

• Incense sticks and candles.

The tray is arranged outdoors so that wandering spirits can easily approach. After the ritual, the host scatters rice and salt in all directions, symbolizing an act of giving to restless souls.

This offering tray reflects compassion and the wish to share blessings with souls without shelter. It must never be placed inside the house, and the food offered should not be consumed afterward to avoid misfortune.

Comparison of Offerings Between Different Types of Ritual Trays

Traditional Prayer Text for the Ghost Festival (Ram thang 7)

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (recite 3 times)

We respectfully pay homage to the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, the Bodhisattvas, and the Holy Sages.

We bow to Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva (Địa Tạng Vương Bồ Tát) and Venerable Maudgalyayana (Tôn giả Mục Kiền Liên).

Today is the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, Year of the Dragon 2024.

I, the devotee…
Currently residing at…

With utmost sincerity, we prepare incense, flowers, offerings, and humble gifts to present before the altar.

We respectfully invite:

• Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva and Venerable Maudgalyayana,

• Local guardian deities, Thành Hoàng Đại Vương, and Earth God (Thổ địa Tôn thần),

• The Kitchen God (Táo Quân) and all protective deities in this land.

We pray that you descend to witness our sincerity, accept our offerings, and bless our family with peace and harmony.

On this Ullambana Festival – the season of filial piety, which is also the day of pardoning wandering souls – we remember with gratitude the Triple Gem, the Buddhas, and the deities for their boundless protection. Their merits are immeasurable, and we humbly acknowledge our inability to repay them.

Today, we offer these modest offerings as a token of our reverence, sincerely hoping they will be received with compassion. May our entire household be blessed with health, peace of mind, prosperity, and righteous guidance in life.

We bow our heads with respect, praying for your divine witness.

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (recite 3 times).

Notes and Taboos for the Ghost Festival Ritual

Besides preparing the offering trays properly, families should pay attention to certain customs to ensure the ritual is complete and aligned with tradition.

Things to Do

• Clean the altar space: Ensure the altar and offering area are tidy and spotless to show reverence to deities and ancestors.

• Dress respectfully: The host should wear neat and appropriate attire, avoiding casual or sloppy clothing, to express sincerity.

• Offer with a sincere heart: The true value of the ritual lies not in lavish offerings but in the genuine devotion of the worshippers.

Things to Avoid

• Do not perform the ritual late at night: Folklore believes that strong yin energy at midnight may affect the health and spirit of the household.

• Do not place the hungry ghost offering tray indoors: The outdoor tray must be set in the yard or at the gate, never inside the house, to avoid inviting wandering spirits in.

• Avoid extravagance and waste: Offerings should be sufficient but not excessive; the essence lies in sincerity, not in display.

Tips to Make the Ritual More Meaningful

• Use high-quality worship items: Durable incense burners, candle holders, and flower vases enhance the solemnity and longevity of the altar.

• Personalize prayers and wishes: Along with traditional chants, families may add their own prayers that reflect their heartfelt hopes and blessings.

• Maintain solemnity: During the ritual, all members should stay calm, avoid noise or laughter, to preserve the sacred atmosphere and show respect to ancestors.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Ghost Festival Offering Tray

How many offering trays are needed for the Ghost Festival?

Traditionally, families prepare 2–3 trays: one for the Buddha, one for ancestors, and one for wandering souls. Non-Buddhist households may only prepare the ancestor and hungry ghost trays.

What is the difference between the Northern and Southern Ghost Festival offering trays?

In Northern Vietnam, the tray focuses on simple, traditional dishes, while in the South it is more elaborate, featuring a wider variety of regional specialties.

Can the Ghost Festival offering tray be completely vegetarian?

Yes. Buddhist families often prepare an all-vegetarian tray. The key element is sincerity rather than the type of food.

When is the best time to perform the Ghost Festival offering to avoid crowds?

Families can hold the ritual on the 14th day of the seventh lunar month or early in the morning of the 15th, as many regions have the custom of “dựt cô hồn” (grabbing ghost offerings) in the evening.

What should be done with the offerings after the ritual?

Food from the Buddha and ancestor trays may be shared among family members. Offerings to wandering souls, however, should not be consumed; they are solely meant as charity for restless spirits.