Every late October, a festive atmosphere appears in many entertainment and community spaces. Halloween is also an opportunity to enjoy distinctive experiences with friends and family. This article answers the question what date is Halloween in 2026, while exploring the holiday’s origins, meaning, activities and traditional foods.
Halloween takes place on October 31 every year, immediately before the Christian observance of All Saints’ Day on November 1. The name Halloween comes from “All Hallows’ Eve”, meaning the evening before All Saints’ Day. In 2026, Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31.
Halloween originated from a blend of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and Christian observances commemorating saints and the deceased. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the transition to winter; according to folk beliefs, the boundary between the living and the spirit world became thin at this time. Over the years, Halloween developed into a popular cultural celebration featuring costumes, trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorations and parties.
Halloween is not included in the list of paid public holidays under Article 112 of Vietnam’s 2019 Labor Code. Therefore, if it falls on a scheduled working day, employees still work as usual unless they have a scheduled day off, take leave or are covered by their organization’s own policy.
An October calendar marks Halloween alongside familiar symbols of the celebration. (Source: Internet)
Halloween is often associated with spooky-themed activities, but each family or group of friends can celebrate in a way that suits their ages, interests and chosen venue.
Participants often dress as witches, vampires, skeletons, zombies, movie characters or humorous figures. Groups of friends can choose a shared theme for photos, costume parties or parades. Games such as guessing characters, scavenger hunts, ghost stories and pumpkin-decorating contests also add to the excitement.
A variety of costumed characters creates a lively atmosphere at a Halloween event. (Source: Internet)
You can use pumpkins, artificial spiderwebs, bats, skeletons and lanterns to give your home or party table a Halloween touch. Orange, black and purple are often used for photo backdrops, doorways and dining areas. If children are present, choose lightweight materials without sharp edges and arrange string lights neatly to reduce the risk of tripping.
Pumpkins, artificial spiderwebs and orange lights give the space a distinctly Halloween feel. (Source: Internet)
A Jack-o’-lantern is a hollowed-out pumpkin carved with a face and lit from within. According to an Irish legend about Stingy Jack, the lantern was originally made from a turnip. When the custom spread to the United States, people used pumpkins because they were more common and easier to carve.
To make one, cut around the pumpkin’s stem, remove the seeds and pulp, draw a design on the outside and carve along the lines. Adults should handle the knife, while children can help choose a design or decorate the outside. An LED light can be placed inside instead of a candle to reduce the risk of fire.
Participants hollow out a pumpkin and carve a face to make a Jack-o’-lantern. (Source: Internet)
“Trick or Treat” can be understood as asking for candy with a playful threat of a trick. Children wear Halloween costumes and visit participating homes with an adult to collect candy. The custom is linked to the European practice of asking for “soul cakes” and later developed into the trick-or-treating activity popular in North America.
When organizing this activity, families should choose a safe route, have an adult accompany the children and visit only places that have agreed to participate. Candy recipients should also check packaging, expiration dates and ingredients to avoid unsuitable treats.
Children in costume carry baskets to collect candy while trick-or-treating. (Source: Internet)
A Halloween party can include costumes, photos, games and light refreshments. Hosts can decorate the dining table with themed accessories and label food ingredients so guests with allergies or dietary restrictions can choose suitable dishes.
A Halloween party table is decorated with cakes and spooky-themed food. (Source: Internet)
Watching a movie is a fitting activity for Halloween night, whether at home or in a cinema. Families with young children can choose lighthearted animated or fantasy films such as Hocus Pocus or The Nightmare Before Christmas; groups of adults can choose a horror film at their preferred level of suspense. Before starting the movie, check its age rating to make sure it is suitable for the viewers.
A group of friends enjoys a horror movie in a Halloween-decorated space. (Source: Internet)
Halloween menus vary by culture and by how each family celebrates. Pumpkins, apples, candy and cakes are common choices because they are associated with autumn or can easily be decorated with pumpkins, bats and spiderwebs. Dishes you could prepare for a party include:
Pumpkin pie, caramel apples and decorated cupcakes are foods commonly served at Halloween parties. (Source: Internet)
A highlight of Halloween 2026 at AEON MALL Tân Phú Celadon is the “Ghost Bride” themed haunted house. This mysterious space is a place for groups of friends to test their courage, take photos and immerse themselves in the Halloween atmosphere. Families with young children should consider their children’s ages and whether the experience is suitable before taking part.
Before visiting the haunted house, you can choose witch, vampire or ghost bride-style clothing and accessories at stores such as UNIQLO and MINISO. FAHASA offers books and school supplies, while AEON Supermarket is a place to find candy and food for a Halloween party at home; specific products vary over time.
After the activities, you can dine at Haidilao, Hachiban Ramen, Bonchon or Yoshinoya. You can also stop by Highlands Coffee, Starbucks, Phúc Long or Gong Cha for a drink; IGELATO offers ice cream for dessert. To extend the outing, groups of friends and couples can watch a movie at CGV.
The “Ghost Bride” themed haunted house offers a mysterious Halloween experience at AEON MALL Tân Phú Celadon. (Source: Internet)
Halloween is not an official public holiday in Vietnam, but many schools, shopping malls, cafés and groups of friends organize activities such as dressing up, decorating and attending parties.
Halloween is the common name for the evening before the Christian observance of All Saints’ Day. It does not commemorate one specific person; today’s customs combine elements of religious belief, folklore and entertainment.
Pumpkins are associated with the Jack-o’-lantern, a lantern carved from a pumpkin. Irish people once carved faces into turnips, but pumpkins became the more common choice after immigrants brought the tradition to the United States.
If you are wondering what date Halloween is in 2026, it falls on Saturday, October 31. It is an opportunity to dress up with family and friends, enjoy themed food and take part in fun activities. At AEON MALL Tân Phú Celadon, you can experience the “Ghost Bride” haunted house and combine your visit with dining, shopping or a movie.