Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with Vietnam Package Tours

Hanoi: The Capital of Lanterns and Nostalgia

Hang Ma Street: The Iconic Lantern Market

• Location: Hang Ma Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
• Best Time to Visit: One week before the festival until the festival night (5:00 PM – 10:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • The whole street is converted into a sea of lanterns in every colour, with classic star-shaped lanterns, animal-shaped lanterns, and LED lanterns.
  • Traditional Mid-Autumn toys such as paper masks, lion heads, and manual drums are sold by vendors.
  • It is an ideal location to procure souvenirs, take pictures, and indulge in the lively carnival ambience.
    
• Traveler Tip: Get there early in the afternoon to beat the tourists and take the perfect shots of the lantern-lined street.

Hoan Kiem Lake: A Scenic Spot for Moon-Watching in Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

• Location: Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival night (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • The placid lake mirrors the radiance of lanterns and produces a peaceful atmosphere ideal for moon-gazing.
  • Various live performances surround the lake and feature traditional music and folk dances as well as lion dance shows.
  • Families congregate here with mooncakes and reminisce about stories under the full moon.
• Traveler Tip: Take a walk along Dinh Tien Hoang Street for optimal views and a less crowded place to enjoy watching the moon.

Phung Hung Street: A Lantern-Lit Art Gallery

• Location: Phung Hung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
• Best Time to Visit: One week before the festival (5:00 PM – 10:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • An impressive array of hanging lanterns and murals depicting Hanoi’s past and traditional Vietnamese culture.
  • A popular location for families and photographers who wish to get into the holiday spirit.
  • Street performers and food vendors contribute to making the atmosphere lively.
• Traveler Tip: Stop by in early evening to watch lanterns get lit up, and try some local snacks nearby.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel: A Festival of History and Fun with Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

• Location: 19C Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival day (8:00 AM – 9:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  • A UNESCO World Heritage Site where the past and festivity go together.
  • Old-fashioned activities such as tug-of-war, hopscotch, and folk dancing
  • Children and visitors alike make their star-shaped lanterns during lantern-making workshops.
  • Traditional songs and dances from Vietnam’s northern region, as well as cultural performances
• Traveler Tip: Participate in the lantern-making workshop for an interactive cultural experience.

Temple of Literature (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam): A Cultural Celebration

• Location: 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival day (8:00 AM – 6:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • Cultural events for families, including storytelling, traditional music performances, and calligraphy demonstrations.
  • A serene retreat from the crowded city roads, ideal for discovering local traditional Vietnamese culture.
  • Children can take part in mask-painting and traditional toy-making sessions.
• Traveler Tip: Come in the early morning for a peaceful, immersive visit before sundown crowds.

Tips for Travelers in Hanoi (Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam)

• Plan Ahead: The areas surrounding Hang Ma and Hoan Kiem Lake get extremely packed. Get an early start to maximize your visit.
• Capture the Magic: Take a good camera to record the magnificent lantern displays and the moon’s reflection on Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Try Authentic Mooncakes: For truly authentic flavors, try Ninh Huong Mooncake (22 Hang Ga Street) or Bao Phuong Bakery (201A Thuy Khue Street), offering lotus seed paste and egg yolks with salt as choices.
• Respect Local Customs: The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is an occasion for family reunions and expressing gratitude. When visiting a local family, take fruit or mooncakes as a symbol of respect.

Hoi An: A Fairy Tale City Illuminated by Lanterns

Ancient Town: A Lantern Wonderland

• Location: Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam Province.
• Best Time to Visit: The night of the full moon (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • The town is filled with all varieties and colors of lanterns and is full of a dreamlike feel.
  • The roads remain blocked to traffic, so tourists walk openly under the illumination of lanterns.
  • The local temples and shops each show their lanterns, each with its own story about traditional Vietnamese culture.
• Traveler Tip: Stroll along Bach Dang Street to experience the best lantern-reflection views on the river.

Thu Bon River Lantern Festival: Floating Wishes of Peace in Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

• Location: Thu Bon River, near the Japanese Covered Bridge.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival night (7:00 PM – 10:30 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • However, be part of the lantern release ritual, during which you can float a small paper lantern onto the waters of the river. 
  • Every lantern comes with a hope for happiness, wellness, or good fortune. 
  • The river becomes a luminescent path to dreams, a view that you’ll never forget.
    
• Traveler Tip: Lanterns cost 10,000 – 20,000 VND each. Buy them from local sellers to support the community.

Traditional Games and Crafts: A Celebration of Heritage

• Location: Various locations in the Ancient Town (Japanese Bridge, Hoi An Museum).
• Best Time to Visit: Daytime (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM).
• Highlights
  • Lantern workshops in which you design and build star-shaped or animal-shaped lanterns yourself.
  • Calligraphy demonstrations in which you can get your wishes written out in beautiful Vietnamese script on paper.
  • Examples of traditional children’s games are a folk singing game called bai choi and a pot-smashing game played blindfolded.
• Traveler Tip: Take a lantern-making class for a unique hands-on experience.

Unique Food Experience: Mooncakes and More

• Location: Ancient Tea Houses in Hoi An (Reaching Out Tea House, Cocobox).
• Best Time to Visit: Afternoon to evening (3:00 PM – 9:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • Enjoy classic mooncakes filled with traditional fillings of lotus seed paste, mung bean, and egg yolks with added salt.
  • Indulge in local pastries such as sticky rice cakes (banh it la gai) and herbal tea.
  • The tranquility of old tea houses is an ideal respite from the holiday crowds.
• Traveler Tip: For a genuine Hoi An experience, indulge in the subtle lotus tea served with a slice of mooncake.

Ho Chi Minh City: The Dynamic Urban Celebration

Cholon (District 5): The Heart of Mid-Autumn Festival

• Location: Cholon (District 5), the largest Chinatown in Vietnam.
• Best Time to Visit: One week before the festival until the night of the full moon.
• Highlights:
  
  • Walk along Luong Nhu Hoc Street as star-shaped lanterns, masks, and old-fashioned toys line the sidewalk.
  • Be entertained by lion dance performances outside old temples as well as business districts.
  • Find local sellers offering all varieties of mooncakes, ranging from traditional lotus seed with egg yolk and salt to more creative varieties such as chocolate, matcha, and even durian.
• Traveler Tip: Visit in the late afternoon (6:00 – 10:00 PM) for the most enchanting atmosphere, with lanterns lighting up on a full moon night.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street: A Grand Public Celebration

• Location: Nguyen Hue Walking Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival night (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • Celebrate with a grand public celebration with lighting displays and performances, and street food vendors.
  • Enjoy live music, traditional dances, and even a grand lion dance parade complete with drumming and acrobatics.
  • Families come here to take their photos, appreciate the beautiful lanterns, and celebrate at night under the spotlight in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

Traveler Tip: Get there early to secure a good viewing position for the performances, particularly close to President Ho Chi Minh’s statue.

Luong Nhu Hoc Street: A Lantern Wonderland

• Location: Luong Nhu Hoc Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Best Time to Visit: One week before the festival until the night of the full moon.
• Highlights:
  
  • Well-known for its spectacular display of colorful lanterns, ranging from classical star-shaped ones to contemporary LED designs.
  • Purchase traditional mooncakes, dragon masks, and homemade lanterns as souvenirs.
  • See children play with lanterns and revel in a festive and cheerful atmosphere.
    
• Traveler Tip: Stop by late at night when the lanterns illuminate and take the finest photographs of the luminescent street.

Special Mid-Autumn Foods: A Culinary Adventure

• Location: Mooncake shops across Ho Chi Minh City (Brodard Bakery, Givral Bakery, ABC Bakery).
• Best Time to Taste: One week before the festival (8:00 AM – 10:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • Discover a diverse array of traditional mooncakes such as baked mooncakes (banh nuong), filled with lotus seed paste and salted egg yolk, and snow skin mooncakes (banh deo), with their soft and chewy texture.
  • Experiment with novel modern flavors such as green tea, chocolate lava, and even durian mooncakes.
  • To be shared with friends and family alike, mooncakes represent unity and harmony.
    
• Traveler Tip: For a superior mooncake experience, go for Brodard Bakery’s luxury mooncakes or visit Bao Phuong Bakery for its classic flavors.

Traveler Tips in Ho Chi Minh City

• Best Locations for Night Photography: Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Luong Nhu Hoc Street, and Bui Vien Walking Street for a combination of lantern illuminations and city vibes.
• Avoid Crowds: Go to Cholon in early evening (5:00 PM) when the main celebratory crowd hasn’t arrived yet.
• Local Souvenirs: Collect traditional lanterns, lion dance masks, and mooncakes at local stores throughout Cholon.

Tuyen Quang: The Largest Lantern Parade in Vietnam

Thanh Tuyen Festival: The Grand Lantern Parade

• Location: Tuyen Quang City, Tuyen Quang Province.
• Festival Dates: September 20 – September 27, 2025 (subject to annual change).
• Highlights:
  
  • The country’s largest lantern parade with massive, handmade lanterns in animal and fairy tale figure shapes, as well as symbols representing its culture. 
  • Every lantern is an art piece, crafted by local artisans with painstaking attention to detail. 
  • Residents and local schools produce their lanterns and participate in the spectacular parade as part of a genuine community celebration.
    
• Traveler Tip: Get there early to get a good vantage point along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street’s main parade route.

Traditional Activities: A Celebration of Culture

• Location: City Center, Tuyen Quang.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival evenings (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM).
• Highlights
  • Local folk performances consist of traditional music, dances, and singing. 
  • Cultural floats depicting stories about Vietnamese legends and local history. 
  • An impressive fireworks display to end the festival with a flourish and a flash of color and light. 
• Traveler Tip: Carry a decent night mode camera to take pictures of beautiful lanterns and shows.

Cultural Significance: The Land of Lanterns

• Why Tuyen Quang is Special: Known as “Land of Lanterns," the city turns the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam into a gigantic celebration that draws thousands of tourists.
• Community Spirit: Is fostered as families, schools, and businesses all unite to design and create the parade lanterns, making it an accurate representation of local talent and harmony.
• Traditional Vietnamese Culture: The celebration upholds the practice of lantern crafting and telling stories, preserving intergenerational cultural heritage.
  

Travel Tips for Tuyen Quang

• Best Viewing Spots: The primary parade route along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street.
• Where to Stay: Select hotels close to the city center, including Muong Thanh Tuyen Quang Hotel.
• How to Join the Festivities: Join lantern-making workshops and indulge in food from local food stands throughout the parading route.

Phan Thiet: Coastal Joy with Lantern Parades in Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

 Lantern Parades: A Coastal Spectacle

• Location: Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival night (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • Enormous lantern floats are designed in the form of ocean animals – turtles, fish, and dragons.
  • Local communities and schools compete to design and build the most beautiful and innovative lanterns.
  • The parade winds its way along the coastline, providing a spectacular sight of lanterns lighting up above the ocean.
• Traveler Tip: The optimal place to view is from Nguyen Tat Thanh Boulevard, close to the beach.

Lion Dance Extravaganza: Energy and Excitement

• Location: Various streets in Phan Thiet City.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival night (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • Energetic lion and dragon dance performances by expert acrobatic artists.
  • The energetic drumbeats fill the air, creating a lively atmosphere.
  • Impressive stunts by dancers help to bring mythical beings to life.
• Traveler Tip: Observe the lion dances opposite Phan Thiet Market for an optimal view.

 Traditional Food and Snacks: Coastal Delights in Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

• Location: Seafood restaurants along Doi Duong Beach, Phan Thiet.
• Best Time to Taste: Evening (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • Seafood-based mooncakes with fillings ranging from shrimp paste to fish roe and tropical fruits.
  • Grilled seafood, spring rolls made fresh, and local dishes including mini rice pancakes (banh can).
• Traveler Tip: For the best fresh seafood possible, try Cay Bang Restaurant or Co Ba Vung Tau.

Hue: Traditional Lantern Rituals in the Ancient Capital

Imperial City Celebrations: A Royal Festival Experience Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

• Location: Hue Imperial City (Dai Noi), Thua Thien Hue Province.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival night (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • The Imperial City’s ancient temples and palaces shine with multicolored lanterns to form an enchanted atmosphere.
  • Families and children congregate for age-old games characterized by blindfold pot-smashing and tug-of-war.
  • Folk singing and poetry reading events are held in courtyards as a testament to the strong cultural background of Vietnam.

Traveler Tip: Head to Imperial City early in the evening to see the sunset over the citadel and remain to admire the courtyards’ lanterns lighting up at night.

Perfume River Lantern Release: Floating Wishes of Peace in Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

• Location: Perfume River, Hue City.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival night (7:00 PM – 9:30 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • Be enchanted by the magical view of floating lanterns gliding on the Perfume River.
  • Every lantern bears a wish for peacefulness, good health, and joy, a custom based on traditional Vietnamese culture.
  • You can do as the locals do and buy a lantern and make a personal wish.
  • The river becomes a glowing pathway of light under the full moon, creating an unforgettable scene.
    
• Traveler Tip: The optimal observation spots are either from Truong Tien Bridge or going on a boat ride along the Perfume River for a closer view.

Lion and Dragon Dances: A Festive Spectacle in Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

• Location: Major pagodas, public squares, and the streets of Hue.
• Best Time to Visit: Festival night (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM).
• Highlights:
  
  • Impressive lion and dragon dances at prominent spots such as Tu Dam Pagoda and Thien Mu Pagoda.
  • They do acrobatic stunts to drum and cymbal beats, making the celebration all the more thrilling.
  • Kids cluster together, laughing and applauding as multicolored lions jump and spin.
• Traveler Tip: Get to Tu Dam Pagoda early to catch the best views since the most spectacular performances happen here.

Traveler Tips for Hue with Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

• Best Viewing Spots: Truong Tien Bridge for lantern release and Imperial City for performances based on art and culture. 
• Cultural Tours: Take a tour of Hue’s Imperial City to understand the royal past of Hue and the origins behind the festival. 
• Must-Try Mooncakes: Head to 11 Dinh Tien Hoang Street’s Huong Lan Bakery for authentic mooncakes with fillings ranging from lotus seed to green bean and salted egg yolk.  

Conclusion

The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam celebrates light, family, and traditional Vietnamese culture. From Hanoi’s lamp-post-lined roads to Hoi An’s riverside illumination, the excitement of Ho Chi Minh City, and Ha Giang’s mountain villages in all their peaceful majesty, it is an adventure through joy and custom. Whether sampling traditional mooncake flavors, witnessing dynamic lion dances, and releasing star-shaped lanterns into the night under a full moon, Vietnam calls to you to experience its heart and heritage. Book now and get caught up in the charm of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. 

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

1. What is the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is celebrated as the Tet Trung Thu and is an age-old celebration held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The celebration is full of bright-colored lanterns, energetic lion dances, and yummy traditional mooncakes, and is a time when families unite under the radiance of the full moon.

2. What is the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated for?

Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a celebration of family reunions, gratitude, and the full moon season. Historically, it used to be a season when farmers expressed their thanks for a good harvest. Gradually, it evolved into a children’s festival and is now celebrated with children’s favorite activities such as parades with lanterns, mooncakes, and performances. 

3. What is the Mid-Year Festival in Vietnam?

Mid-Year Festival in Vietnam, also referred to as Tet Doan Ngo, is an independent holiday observed on the 5th day in the 5th lunar month. People celebrate it as an occasion to purify their bodies, ward off evil spirits, and indulge in sticky rice and fermented rice as well as fruits and other food traditionally served during this time.

4. What is the Mid-Autumn Festival legend?

The most popular legend associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is that of Cuoi and the Banyan Tree. In the legend, Cuoi is said to be a youth who drifted onto the moon while clinging to a magical banyan tree. He is visible on the face of the moon, and children hold up lanterns to guide Cuoi back to earth during the celebration.