Qingming (Thanh minh): tomb sweeping, meaning and upcoming dates
Thanh minh is one of the 24 solar terms and usually starts around 4 or 5 April. Its meaning, tomb sweeping, how places differ and the start dates for the next three years.
Unlike most festivals, Thanh minh (Qingming) has no fixed lunar date: it is a solar term, set by the position of the Sun.
When it falls
The Thanh minh term begins when the Sun reaches ecliptic longitude 15°, usually around 4 or 5 April, and lasts about 15 days. Because it follows the Sun, its lunar date changes every year. The start dates for the next three years, in Vietnam time:
| Year | Solar date | Lunar date |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Monday, 5 April 2027 | 29/2 Đinh Mùi |
| 2028 | Tuesday, 4 April 2028 | 10/3 Mậu Thân |
| 2029 | Wednesday, 4 April 2029 | 21/2 Kỷ Dậu |
In 2028, the start of Thanh minh falls on the same day as Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day. For how solar terms are worked out, see The 24 solar terms.
Meaning
“Thanh minh” means clear and bright. For Vietnamese people, it is mainly a time to remember the ancestors and look after family graves.
Common customs
- Tomb sweeping. Families visit the graves, clear the grass, add fresh earth and light incense.
- Offerings at home. Afterwards the family goes home and cooks a meal to offer to the ancestors.
The sources do not agree on offerings for this occasion, so this post does not list them.
Different places, different times
Tomb sweeping does not happen at the same time everywhere: some places do it during Thanh minh, others in the days before Lunar New Year.
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.