Every year, on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam comes alive more vibrantly than ever, set against the cool breeze of autumn. As the full moon rises, its gentle light not only illuminates the streets but also ignites a sense of joy in the hearts of everyone. Children joyfully play, holding colorful lanterns in various shapes, their laughter blending with the lively sounds of lion dances echoing from every corner, creating a Mid-Autumn night that feels like a vivid, festive painting. It’s a time when children revel in play, adults relive childhood memories, and everyone comes together to cherish meaningful moments with family.
But when did the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam originate, and why has it become an inseparable part of Vietnamese culture? Of course, every cultural festival has its origins, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is no exception. The story behind it will help you understand why the childhood of every Vietnamese person is forever intertwined with the three words “Mid-Autumn Festival.”
The Story Behind the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival
It is said that the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam has a long history, with many legends surrounding its origin. One of the most famous stories, which is told to every child, is about Chú Cuội and Chị Hằng Nga. The tale goes that, in ancient times, there was a beautiful fairy named Hằng Nga, who loved children dearly. She often sneaked down to Earth to play with them, despite the strict prohibition from the heavenly realm.
One day, the Jade Emperor held a baking competition on the 15th of the 8th lunar month, offering a grand prize for the most delicious cake. Hearing about the competition, Hằng Nga decided to descend to Earth and search for the best and most unique recipe to enter the contest.
While wandering, Hằng Nga met Chú Cuội, and when she asked him about a special cake, Cuội had an ingenious idea. He suggested that she mix all the ingredients together and bake them. The cake, with its fragrant golden crust had attracted many children, who loved it and begged her to make more. Thanks to Cuội’s “homemade” cake, Hằng Nga won the competition, and the cake was named “mooncake”.
Not long after, Chú Cuội was pulled up to the moon by the banyan tree, feeling sad and homesick. Seeing his sorrow, Hằng Nga pleaded with the Jade Emperor to allow Cuội to visit Earth once every year during the 8th lunar month to reunite with his family. She also asked to descend to Earth on that day to bring mooncakes for the children to enjoy.
From then on, every year, on the full moon of the 8th lunar month, Hằng Nga and Chú Cuội are allowed to descend to Earth to celebrate with children and reunite with their families. The Jade Emperor named this day “Tết Trung Thu” (Mid-Autumn Festival), a time of family reunions and children’s joy, marking the beginning of the tradition.
The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is “Festival of Togetherness”
Today, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a time for families to reunite, share joyful moments, and create lasting memories together. It’s not only a time for children to play with their star-shaped lanterns, but also an opportunity for grandparents and parents to gather around, enjoy a meal, and savor mooncakes with hot tea. The round shape of the mooncake, along with the full moon on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, symbolizes unity and completeness, representing love and togetherness across generations within the family.
The bright moon, shining in a starry sky, feels like a warm embrace, bringing a sense of peace and nostalgia. It’s a time to reflect on cherished memories and family reunions. Thus, every Mid-Autumn Festival provides a special reason to return home and offer gifts to younger siblings, strengthening the bonds of family.
How Do Vietnamese People Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?
Countdown to the Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
As the 15th day of the 8th lunar month approaches, excitement and anticipation fill the air. By the beginning of the 8th lunar month, markets are bustling with mooncake stalls, and the streets are vibrant with lanterns in a wide array of shapes and colors, from the dazzling star-shaped lanterns to cute animal designs like carp, the Jade Rabbit, and even flowers and leaves. Each lantern is a work of art, crafted with creativity and precision by skilled artisans, adding to the lively atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam.
Even more exciting, lion dance troupes are eagerly preparing for impressive performances to mark the arrival of the festival. The lively beat of drums, combined with the graceful movements of the lion dancers, not only brings festive energy to the streets but also sends wishes of luck and prosperity to everyone. Lion dances are typically performed in neighborhoods, shopping centers, or local communities, captivating both children and adults alike. It can be said that the bustling atmosphere and the countdown to the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most eagerly awaited and joyful moments of the year.
We say “Happy Mid Autumn Festival”!
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
In Vietnam, we say “Chúc Trung Thu Vui Vẻ,” which is a heartfelt wish for a meaningful and warm reunion during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This phrase is commonly shared in conversations, written on greeting cards, and printed on the packaging of mooncake boxes, becoming an essential part of the atmosphere during the festival. It’s more than just a greeting; it symbolizes togetherness, love, and the hope for good things in life. When strolling through the streets and seeing children joyfully playing with their lanterns, don’t hesitate to share this wish with them—they will be delighted!
Mooncake Brings Sweet Joy to the Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
Mooncakes have become an inseparable part of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. When enjoyed, a mooncake is often divided into several pieces and shared among family members. This sweet treat not only brings people together but also creates warm and affectionate moments. Each piece of mooncake holds not only the traditional flavors but also symbolizes the love and sharing between grandparents, parents, and children.
As the cake is shared, family members often exchange joyful stories and fond memories, making the Mid-Autumn Festival even more meaningful. Thus, despite the passage of time, mooncakes remain a traditional delicacy during this festival, symbolizing reunion, happiness, and togetherness.
If you visit Vietnam during the Mid-Autumn season, you will find countless stalls selling mooncakes, from small shops in local streets to large stands in shopping malls, especially famous brands like Kinh Do Mooncakes. These stalls are always bustling with various types of mooncakes, from the fragrant, golden-brown baked mooncakes filled with a rich mix of flavors to soft, delicate snow skin mooncakes with fillings such as mung bean, lotus seeds, or unique flavors. Stop by and treat yourself to a mooncake or gift one to a friend—it will surely be a meaningful gesture.
Illuminated Festivities Under the Moon’s Embrace
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the full moon rises high, casting its gentle light across the streets. The soft glow of the moonlight spreads like a golden carpet, illuminating every corner and filling the atmosphere with warmth. It is the moment when children are at their happiest, holding lit lanterns, arranged in a circle, and singing the traditional song “Đêm Trung Thu” (Mid-Autumn Night). The children’s voices blend with the rhythmic beats of the lion dance drums, and the shimmering lanterns together create a festival bathed in the embrace of the moonlight.
Special Gift for Children
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
Additionally, some families present children with small toys or figurines—often handmade or culturally significant. Children eagerly await the festival, not only for the delicious mooncakes and the vibrant lanterns but also for the sense of belonging and joy they feel during this time. The lanterns, in particular, are a favorite, with their bright, shimmering lights lighting up the night and guiding the way for the children as they take part in processions or play in the streets.
The Rhythm and Roar of Lion Dancing
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
Children love to touch the lion and are often scared of the “earth god” (Ông Địa), running excitedly to watch the performance. However, when they come face to face with the earth god, they’re terrified and burst into tears, thinking it’s a monster. These innocent moments add laughter and warmth, making the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival even more lively and cheerful.
Heartwarming Family Gatherings
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
Mid-autumn festival in Vietnam is a time when loved ones come together, putting aside the hustle and bustle of daily life to share meaningful moments. The festival offers a chance for families to reconnect, celebrate, and create lasting memories under the gentle glow of the full moon.
As the night deepens and the moon rises higher in the sky, families sit together around a table filled with delicious mooncakes, freshly brewed tea, and seasonal fruits, while the children enjoy playing with their lanterns and listening to stories. In these moments, everything else fades away—there is no rush, no worries—only the warmth of shared time and the comfort of family.
Best Places to Experience the Joy of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
Hoi An Ancient Town
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Hoi An takes on an even more magical quality. The town is beautifully adorned with thousands of colorful lanterns, creating a stunning display that lights up the streets and rivers. Lanterns of all shapes, sizes, and colors are hung everywhere, making it feel like a dreamlike world under the gentle light of the full moon.
Lantern-making workshops are popular with visitors during the festival, where you can learn about the traditional craft and even make your own lantern to take home. The riverside is particularly picturesque during the festival, with floating lanterns placed on the water by locals and visitors, symbolizing wishes for health, prosperity, and good luck.
Hanoi Old Quarter
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the streets of Hanoi Old Quarter are transformed into a dazzling spectacle. The iconic Hang Ma Street becomes the epicenter of the celebration, lined with brightly colored lanterns, toys, and decorations. You’ll find traditional star-shaped lanterns, mooncakes, and a variety of festival trinkets hanging from the shop fronts. The street, which is known for its lantern shops year-round, is particularly enchanting during the festival, with stalls overflowing with the most beautiful and creative lanterns.
In addition to the regular street activities, the Old Quarter often hosts special cultural events during the Mid-Autumn Festival. These may include traditional performances, puppet shows, and folk art exhibitions that highlight the customs and history of the festival. The performances take place in key spots around the Old Quarter, such as in St. Joseph’s Cathedral Square or at public parks, making the celebration feel communal and inclusive.
Ho Chi Minh City
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
A key highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Ho Chi Minh City is the lion dance, which is performed in various public spaces. In busy areas like Nguyen Hue Street or near shopping malls, lion dance troupes, accompanied by the sounds of drums and cymbals, perform to bring good luck and fortune to businesses and families. The energetic lion dancers weave through the streets, while the crowd cheers and hands out red envelopes (lì xì) as a sign of good luck. The lion dance is an essential part of the festival, filling the streets with excitement and joy.
Countryside Bliss During the Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
While the bustling cities of Vietnam come alive with the vibrant celebrations of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the countryside offers a completely different yet equally enchanting experience. In rural areas, the festival is a time for families to reunite, for children to play under the moonlight, and for communities to come together in a peaceful, heartwarming celebration of tradition. With homemade lanterns, simple but delicious mooncakes, and a deep sense of connection to the land and community, the festival in the countryside offers a quiet and peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life, allowing families and communities to come together and create cherished memories under the glow of the full moon.
Immerse Yourself in Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations Today!
The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a celebration filled with joy, tradition, and togetherness, inviting everyone to immerse themselves in its vibrant atmosphere. As the full moon rises, the streets come alive with colorful lanterns and the sounds of lion dances, symbolizing good fortune. Families gather to share delicious mooncakes and seasonal treats, creating lasting memories under the moonlit sky. Whether in lively cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City or the peaceful countryside, the festival brings people together to enjoy time with loved ones, experience cultural traditions, and celebrate the beauty of unity and family.
It’s a time to embrace the warmth of Vietnamese culture and the joy of reconnecting with those around you and immerse yourself in Saigon Foodie Night Ride with us. As you explore the lively streets of Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll experience the festival’s vibrant energy while indulging in the city’s best street food. From delicious mooncakes to local specialties, this tour will take you on a culinary journey, allowing you to taste the essence of Vietnam’s food culture under the glow of the full moon. Join us for a unique and unforgettable experience, blending tradition, food, and fun during the Mid-Autumn Festival!
