Double Ninth (Tết Trùng cửu): climbing high and chrysanthemum wine
The 9th day of the ninth lunar month is Tết Trùng cửu, the day two nines meet. Its link with long life, the old custom of climbing high and drinking chrysanthemum wine, and the next three dates.
A few days in the lunar year have a day number that matches the month. The 9th of the ninth month is one of them: Tết Trùng cửu, “double nine”.
When it falls
Tết Trùng cửu is the 9th day of the ninth lunar month. The next three dates, in Vietnam time:
| Lunar year | Lunar date | Solar date |
|---|---|---|
| Đinh Mùi | 9/9 | Friday, 8 October 2027 |
| Mậu Thân | 9/9 | Thursday, 26 October 2028 |
| Kỷ Dậu | 9/9 | Tuesday, 16 October 2029 |
The Vietnamese lunar calendar is worked out in Vietnam time (UTC+7), so it is sometimes one day off from calendars printed elsewhere. The post Rằm and mùng một explains why.
Meaning
The number nine is associated with long life, so the day when two nines meet carries a wish for longevity.
Origin and old customs
Tết Trùng cửu comes from China. According to old tradition, on this day people climbed to a high place and drank chrysanthemum wine.
The sources we compared do not describe a set of offerings or a specific rite for Trùng cửu in Vietnam, so this post does not list any.
The “double” days
Trùng cửu belongs with the 5th of the fifth month (Tết Đoan ngọ), the 7th of the seventh (Thất tịch) and the 10th of the tenth (Tết Trùng thập).
Festivals in Qelunai
The month view in Qelunai shows the lunar date and solar term of every day, worked out in Vietnam time right on your phone. In the next update, the calendar will mark traditional festivals, with a Festival section in Day details and an optional reminder one day before (off by default). To look up the lunar date of any day, use the Lunar calendar page.
Sources
Articles are cultural reference, not professional advice. Illustrations drawn by AI.