2019. 10. 30. · Mid-Autumn Vietnam Festival time. The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the full moon of the 8th lunar month every year. Not only is Tet for children, but this is also an opportunity for people to gather and reunite after. The Mid-autumn Festival (or Zhong Qiu Jie in Mandarin), also known as the Mooncake Festival, falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is called the Mid-autumn Festival because the 15th day is the middle of a month, and the eighth lunar month is in the middle of autumn. 1 In Singapore, mooncakes and lanterns are offered for sale as early as a month before the festival. 2 These days Things you should know about Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam It is not a public holiday, but in many parts of the country there are events activities and decorations to mark this special day on the annual calendar September 21, 2021 The lantern-lit night street markets are magical. The lantern-lit night street markets are magical. The film is about the love story of Rose Dewitt Bukater and Jack Dawson. Jack was a free-spirited poor young man but he got a ticket for a luxurious ship, Titanic. Rose was from the American upper class and was engaged to a man. She was reluctant to marry him. Carrying on my discussion of white foods from Taki's Magazine, I have to admit to not really liking the kind of traditional expensive steak house fare that's heavily advertised in airline magazines: Ruth's Chris Steak House and the like. To my taste, a giant slab of steak gets repetitious compared to taking a smaller amount of beef and chopping it up and stir-frying it with vegetables like the If you hold curiosity about the kinds of festivals in Vietnam, here is the brief guide for you: Lunar New Year, Vu Lan Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival The Sky Lantern Festival Thailand will also take place over 8 th and 9 th November, 2022 , at Chiang Mai. The Yi Peng Lantern Festival will be one of the biggest release events for lanterns throughout the world. The festival is also known as Yee Peng and came from the Northern Thailand > Lanna culture. A mid-autumn festival in a sense is very similar to the format of Christmas, a reunion of the family with the present (mooncakes) exchanging. The importance of the festival is about the reunion and the reason the date was chosen is because the ancients think the moon is the roundest on that day in the lunar calendar. . Mid-Autumn Festival also called Moon Festival is a traditional festival of Asian people for family reunions or thanksgiving. Every country in Asia will have its own way to celebrate this festival. This is also the time for children to enjoy and join in a lot of traditional activities in their hometown. Therefore, if you want to know more about Asian culture, you might need to take time to take part in this wonderful festival. Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival Nowadays, this traditional Asian festival has become really popular in other areas of the world. Many foreigners are willing to spend their time going to Vietnam or China to participate in the Moon Festival because of its interesting activities. However, few foreigners really know the origin and meaning of this festival. Let’s go back in time to better understand this traditional festival. Story & Legend There are many ancient stories about the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Vietnam, the story that we probably hear the most about this festival is “The story of Hang and Cuoi”. The story tells that a man whose name is Cuoi had a magical banyan tree. Unfortunately, because of some incident, the banyan tree floated up to the moon and made Mr. Cuoi fly with it. Therefore, Vietnamese people often see the shadow of a man sitting under a tree on the full-moon. And children often make and parade lanterns on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival to help light the way for Mr. Cuoi to come back home. In addition, some historical evidence proves that the Vietnamese held the Mid-Autumn Festival as a festival to give thanksgiving for the end of the harvest, when farmers relax, enjoy life after a crop, and prepare for the next harvest. Time for Family Reunion Not only bringing joy to children, but the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a time for a family reunion. Many families often bring their children back to their hometown to visit grandparents and relatives along with traditional gifts such as moon cakes, food, lanterns, etc. Some other families choose to go out to enjoy Mooncake Festival’s activities such as lion dance, lantern procession, eating, and watching the moon together. When is the Mid-Autumn Festival? In Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival for children and teenagers. This festival will be held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. That means this festival will be often celebrated in mid-September every year. On this occasion, children will learn how to make traditional toys such as lanterns, masks, drums, etc. Some families even teach their children how to make moon cakes and some other traditional foods. How to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam? – Top Activities & Traditions In Vietnam, there are a lot of interesting activities when you join the Mooncake Festival. This festival is not only for children, but also for families, friends, or loves to stay together. What will people do during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam? Eat Moon Cakes Mooncake is the main food that many Vietnamese people eat during the Mid-Autumn Festival. These dishes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy on this occasion. Mooncakes can be used as a gift for friends or at family gatherings while celebrating the festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important festivals in Vietnam and China. Typical mooncakes are round pastries made from red bean paste or lotus seed paste surrounded by a thin crust and may contain yolks from salted duck eggs Mooncakes are usually enjoyed with tea. Today, people often use mooncake as a gift to their clients, friends, or relatives. Appreciate the Full Moon Full-moon is also known as the symbol of family reunion. In traditional Chinese culture, the moon on the festival night is believed to be the fullest and brightest of the whole year, so many families often choose this time to stay together. Nevertheless, in some cases, a family member is too busy to come back home, he or she will appreciate the full moon in another place to remember their family. Worship the Moon Worship the Moon also called Lady Moon used to be an important part of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Vietnamese people will prepare a lot of food to worship the Moon so as to pray for a good harvest, peaceful life, and career advancement. However, there are not many families keeping this traditional activity nowadays because of their busy work in the big city. That means if you want to join in this great activity, you may need to go to an old town or tourist cities. People in those places will prepare mooncakes, fruit, traditional food, and candlesticks on the table, facing towards the full moon and pray. Enjoy family reunion dinner In the time of full-moon, people often look at the moon to enjoy its beauty. The moon also reminds them of their families and homeland. Nowadays, Vietnamese people still love appreciating the moon together during the Mid-Autumn Festival. All members of a family often have dinner together in the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival and talk about their work, own life, study, children, and their future plans. Make and parade festival lanterns For children, making lanterns might be the most wonderful activity. They will learn how to make masks, monk lights, star lights, and lion heads, which are the most popular toys during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Most families often make their own toys for children in the family. There are also toy ship models. The masks are usually made of paperboard, wood, or plastic with popular images of children’s favorite characters. After that, children will carry lanterns around villages, hamlets, and neighborhoods with some traditional songs on the Mid-Autumn Festival night. In some places like small towns or tourist cities, lion dances will be performed on the street in this festival. “Phá cỗ” During the Mid-Autumn Festival, families will prepare a mid-autumn tray consisting of baked goods, flexible cakes and attractive cakes that are loved by children, fresh seasonal fruits or exotic species, and all kinds of lanterns such as star lights, carp lights, etc. shimmering colors. Flowers are elaborately trimmed with many different shapes, neatly arranged, and beautiful. After the worship is finished, when the full moon is highest and brightest, everyone will gather and chant in unison, “Phá cỗ”. The way to break the Mid-Autumn Festival is that adults will bring the cake and divide it evenly for everyone to enjoy. Delicious cakes will be cut and divided equally so that everyone can feel the taste of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Children are eating cakes while holding lanterns and singing fun Mid-Autumn songs. Adults enjoy cake, drink tea, watch the moon and talk together. “Phá cỗ” in the Mid-Autumn Festival is when everyone enjoys the full moon, talks, and sings in the peaceful atmosphere of the Lunar’s reunion. Which Cities in China Do People Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival? Each place will have its own way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with many different activities. So, if you want to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival to the fullest, you should visit the following cities in China ●Moon Festival in Beijing ●Moon Festival in Shanghai ●Moon Festival in Hong Kong ●Moon Festival in Hangzhou ●Moon Festival in Guangzhou The Mid-Autumn Festival is considered one of the most important traditional New Year holidays for Chinese people, second only to the Lunar New Year. On the brightest full moon night of this year, they have many exciting and unique activities such as having family reunions with a reunion meal and then watching the moon together, carrying lights, watching a lion dance, and enjoying moon cakes. In addition, there are quite interesting activities that have appeared since ancient times such as sacrificing to the moon, releasing lanterns, enjoying wine and solving puzzles. How to Greet Each Other for the Mid-Autumn Festival? There are a lot of greetings you can use when joining the Mid-Autumn Festival of China. Let’s read some examples below. 1. Pray the brightness of the moon and stars to fill your life with positivity and happiness…. Wishing you a happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. 2. Pray the round moon brings a brighter, happier, and more successful future for your life….. Sending best wishes for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival to you. 3. Have a Happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. 4. The full moon is a signal that it is the time to reunite, enjoy the festivities and happy times with loved ones…. Happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. 5. Sending the best warm wishes on the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. 6. Wishing you a perfect life, perfect work like the perfectly round shape of the moon in the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. 7. Hope your professional and personal life is blessed with moments of joy and happiness…. Happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. 8. On the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, sending you the warmest greetings and full of love, happiness, and blessings. 9. Hope the Mid-Autumn Festival brings along lots of happiness in your life, in your heart, and in your home…. Enjoy this festival to the fullest. 10. Hope you enjoy the bright and happy Mid-Autumn Festival with your family to create beautiful memories for life. The Long-lived Origin and History of the Mid-Autumn Festival 3,000 Years Ago The Mid-Autumn Festival has become a traditional cultural feature of Vietnamese people because it has very interesting and unique origins and meanings. For thousands of years, people have celebrated the Mid-Autumn to watch the moon together and pray for health and happiness for their families and relatives. But perhaps not many people know well about the mysterious legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is the time when the moon is the brightest and roundest of the year and people often enjoy mooncakes, break the feast and watch the moon. According to Chinese legends, the couple Hau Nghe and Hang Nga both lived on the moon. The beauty of Hang Nga and the immortality of Hau Nghe made some other gods jealous, and they slandered Hau Nghe in front of King Yao. Since then, the couple was kicked out of the palace and had to live a civilian life. But the life of working and hunting has made Hau Nghe a famous gunner in folklore. At that time, 10 suns existed at the same time, and one day all 10 suns appeared and burned most of the living things on the earth. King Yao ordered Hau Nghe to shoot down 9 suns, leaving only one. Hou Nghe completed his mission and in return, King Yao gave him a pill of immortality and told him, “For the time being, don’t drink this, or start praying and fasting for a year. That’s what you can drink.” Hou Nghe followed suit, he took the pill home and hid it in a raft on the roof. After about half a year, King Yao invited him to the capital to “play”. Hang Nga at home suddenly discovered the spiritual medicine and she immediately drank it, so she had to fly to the moon. Since then, although she misses her husband very much, Hang Nga still has to stay on the moon and can’t come back. In the world, longing and regret ravaged Hau Nghe day and night. In the end, he built a castle in the sun and named it “Yang”, while Hang Nga built a similar castle named “Yin”. Once a year, on the full moon day of August, the two are reunited in joy and happiness. That is why the moon is always so full and bright on this day as to the joy and joy of meeting people. However, in Vietnam, there is a legend about Ms. Hang – Uncle Cuoi said that, in the past, there was a fairy in heaven named Hang Nga, she was very beautiful and diligently governed a shimmering Moon. She loves children very much, so her dream is to come down to earth to play with them, but because the rules of the fairy world do not allow it. One day, Ngoc Hoang held a contest “Make cakes on the full moon day” on the full moon day of August – the day when the moon is the brightest and fullest of the year, whoever can make the most delicious, most beautiful, and most fancy cakes will be honored – reward whatever you want. Hang Nga enjoys joining in the contest right away. When she came to earth to find the cakes, she met “Cuoi” – a man who specializes in lying. Every night Cuoi gathers children under the banyan tree at the top of the village to gossip. In addition to “lie” talent, Cuoi is very good at cooking, he often makes cakes for the children in the village to eat, so the children love Cuoi. Hang Nga was very happy and asked Cuoi to make a new kind of cake with her, so Cuoi came up with an idea to just put all the ingredients together and bake it, which are eggs, melon seeds, meat, sesame, lotus seeds, sausages… And strangely enough, the cakes came out of the oven with a rich aroma, and the children who ate them all praised it very well, although it was not very beautiful, it was the best cake that the children enjoyed. When it was time to return to heaven, Hang Nga brought delicious unnamed cakes to heaven to compete and bid farewell to her lovely friends on earth, goodbye to the lying but talented and kind man – Cuoi. But Cuoi didn’t want to leave her, so he held her hand tightly and strangely, and there was a supernatural force that pulled him and the banyan tree to the moon. Climbing up the banyan tree he could see the children playing in the world. Sometimes, when he misses home and misses his children, Cuoi can only sit and cry and be sad. However, in Vietnam, there is a legend about Ms. Hang – Uncle Cuoi said that, in the past, there was a fairy in heaven named Hang Nga, she was very beautiful and diligently governed a shimmering Moon. . She loves children very much, so her dream is to come down to earth to play with them, but because the rules of the fairy world do not allow it. One day, Ngoc Hoang held a contest “Make cakes on the full moon day” on the full moon day of August – the day when the moon is the brightest and fullest of the year, whoever can make the most delicious, most beautiful, and most fancy cakes will be honored. Reward whatever you want. Hang Nga is very interested, eager to join the contest right away. When she came to earth to consult, she met “Cuoi” – a man who specializes in lying, every night Cuoi gathers children under the banyan tree at the top of the village to gossip. In addition to “lie” talent, Cuoi is very good at cooking, he often makes cakes for the children in the village to eat, so the children love Cuoi. Hang Nga knew that was very happy and asked Cuoi to make a new kind of cake with her, so Cuoi came up with an idea to just put all the ingredients together and bake it, which are eggs, melon seeds, meat, sesame, lotus seeds, sausages… And strangely enough, the cakes came out of the oven with a rich aroma, and the children who ate them all praised it very well, although it was not very beautiful, it was the best cake that the children enjoyed. When it was time to return to heaven, Hang Nga brought delicious unnamed cakes to heaven to compete and bid farewell to her lovely friends on earth, goodbye to the lying but talented and kind Cuoi. But Cuoi, because he was attached to her, didn’t want to leave her, so he held her hand tightly and strangely, there was a supernatural force that pulled him and the banyan tree to the moon. Climbing up the banyan tree he could see the children playing in the world. Sometimes, when he misses home and misses his children, Cuoi can only sit and cry and be sad. As for Hang Nga, her unique cake won the first prize and was named “moon cake” by the Jade Emperor and granted her a wish. She wishes that every year on the full moon day of August, she will be with Cuoi Canoe on earth to spread joy and play with children. The wish was accepted and Ngoc Hoang named the full moon day of August “Mid-Autumn Festival” – a fun festival for children. Since then, every Mid-Autumn Festival, Ms. Hang and Uncle Cuoi come down to earth to bring joy to the children. Moon cake has since become an indispensable special dish on this day. From then on, on the full moon day of August, when the moon is brightest and roundest, people organize a lantern procession, dragon dance, and lion dance in the moonlight to celebrate the day Uncle Cuoi, Hang, and the Rabbits came down to earth in order to play. Mooncakes are made into the shape of the moon to commemorate the fun night party under the moon that children used to call “Phá cỗ”. Where is the Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrated outside China? Japan Unlike Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival also called Otsukimi in Japan is celebrated twice a year around 1 month later – the 15th day of the 8th lunar month and the 13th day of the 9th lunar month. The first time was called Zyuyoga associated with the custom of watching the moon Otsukimi. The second time it was held was Zyusanya known as the “night of the 13th” or the “after moon”. The Japanese believe that once you see the moon on the 15th night, you must definitely look at the moon on the 13th night. Because if you only look at the moon on the 15th night, you will definitely have bad luck or disaster! This taboo is called “Kata-tsukimi” in Japanese. This is also a distinctive feature of Japanese Otsukimi. Japanese people often enjoy Otsukimi with some traditional foods such as Susuki grass, Tsukimi Dango,… Korea The Mid-Autumn Festival in Korean is also called Chuseok which means Autumn Night. On Chuseok Day, Koreans will prepare and put on the most beautiful and new traditional Hanbok to participate in ancestral memorial ceremonies or attend parties. Hanboks for this occasion are called Chuseokbim. Korean families will gather in their big house and do the Charye ceremony to give thanks to their ancestors. Charye is usually held twice a year on the 1st day of the Lunar New Year and Chuseok day. However, on Lunar New Year, the main dish on the ancestral altar is Tteokguk rice cake soup. During Chuseok, the main dishes will be made from freshly harvested agricultural products such as Seongpyeon cake or Baekju wine. Sri Lanka Unlike other Asian countries, Sri Lanka celebrates the “Full Moon Festival” once a month, with the most respectful ceremonies. On this day, the whole country is on holiday. People prepare fresh offerings and bring them to the temple to pray. After listening to the sermon in the temple, everyone sat down to enjoy the fruit cake and appreciate the moon as well as dance and sing. Cambodia In Cambodia, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the 10th lunar month. On this occasion, the Cambodian people hold the Ok Om Bok festival with offerings including nuggets, bananas, sugar cane, cassava soup… In the early morning of the holiday, Cambodians hold a festival to bow to the moon, also known as the moon festival, to show respect to the moon god. In the evening, they spread out a large mat, put offerings on it, and together wait for the moon to rise. When the moon rises above the top of the tree, everyone sincerely bows and prays for blessings. Then, the elders will take the rice and stuff it into the children’s mouths, to pray for their health and well-being. Laos In Laos, That Luang festival is a big festival related to the full moon day. This festival takes place during a full moon in the middle of the 12th week of the Buddhist calendar falling in November or sometimes October of the solar calendar. The center of the festival is Pha That Luang, the most beautiful and sacred stupa of the country of Million Elephants. On festival days, the roads leading to Pha That Luang are lit by candlelight, and the tower is brightly decorated, forming a magical and sacred space. Besides the ceremony, there is a festival that lasts up to a week, mainly fun and amazing activities in many forms. At the same time, an international exhibition was also held in Buon That Luong at this time. Myanmar The Mid-Autumn Festival in Myanmar is also known as the “Full Moon Festival ” or “Light of the Moon”. On the full moon night, every house will light up lanterns to brighten up the city. People also often watch drama performances, dance, watch movies, and many other exciting activities on this festival night. Singapore As we’ve known in many countries, people consider the Mid-Autumn Festival to be an ideal time for people to give the most beautiful presents and wish the best luck to relatives, friends, and business partners. One of the most used gifts is the moon cake. Things go on the same here in SIngapore. Mooncakes in Singapore look quite similar to moon cakes in Vietnam, but the taste is completely different. Singapore has a lot of strange moon cakes such as green tea sticky rice cakes or pumpkin and durian pies. The flexible cake no longer keeps the traditional white color but is varied with all kinds of colors. The Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore is full of Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival colors. Chinatown in Singapore every year is the place where people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Here, people sell lanterns and items related to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Usually, this activity is held months in advance. Thailand The Mid-Autumn Festival in Thailand is called the “moon festival”, held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. In the Mid-Autumn Festival in Thailand, all young and old must participate in the moon worshiping ceremony. And everyone will sit around the altar of Bodhisattva and Bat Tien to pray for the best. Above the altar will display peaches and moon cakes. Thai people believe that doing so Bat Tien will help bring peaches to the moon to wish Guan Yin a long life, and the gods will bless everyone. Therefore, the moon cake in Thailand is shaped like a peach. On this day, Thai people also often eat grapefruit – a fruit that symbolizes fullness, conviviality, and sweetness. FAQ You might need to focus on the answers to the questions below. They will help you understand more about the Moon Festival. Why do we celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the traditional festivals in Vietnam. It is also recognized as “Children’s Tet”, and children are extremely excited on this day as they would get the prettiest gifts from their families. On this occasion, people often make a lot of lanterns, star lanterns, drums, masks, etc. for children. Besides, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a reunion festival, a traditional culture of the Vietnamese people because it brings with it an interesting origin and meaning. How long is the Mid-Autumn Festival? In Vietnam, the Moon Festival will last in three days, while this time will be longer in China – about five to eight days. In other countries, the time for the Moon Festival might last up to one or two weeks. What is the legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival? In China, the legend of the Mooncake Festival might be from “The story of Hau Nghe and Hang Nga”. However, in Vietnam, the story about Ms. Hang and Uncle Cuoi is related to this traditional festival. When will the Mid-Autumn Festival take place in 2021? In 2021, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam will take place on Tuesday, September 21. Remember the time to enjoy this traditional festival. When will the Mid-Autumn Festival take place in 2022? In 2022, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam will take place on Tuesday, September 22. Although a bit long, the festival in 2022 can be more fun and interesting. Remember to schedule a time and join it. How can you enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival In Hanoi? Hang Ma Street is one of the famous streets in Hanoi during the Mid-Autumn Festival. In every Mid-Autumn Festival, this place is really exciting and happy with many stalls displaying a lot of Mid-Autumn decorations from traditional items such as star lights, carp lights, unicorn heads, drums, face masks… Royal City and Time City are famous as one of the addresses with the most investment and decoration for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi. Everywhere in the outdoor and indoor halls are decorated with lanterns as well as models related to the Mid-Autumn Festival. In particular, there are also many mooncake stalls of famous brands for sale, attractive activities, and exciting programs that not only attract families with young children but also attract couples or groups of friends to attend. How can you enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival In Ho Chi Minh City? If you are in Ho Chi Minh City, you cannot ignore Dam Sen, Fairy Stream. These are the destinations chosen by many people during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is an ideal destination to attract families with young children to the Mid-Autumn Festival. These two famous parks of Ho Chi Minh City are decorated prominently with shimmering lights. Le Thi Rieng Park, also known as White Rabbit Park, is a festival paradise in the city center. Every year, the Mid-Autumn Festival at the White Rabbit Park will have circus performances, magic, exciting music, and spectacular performances of lions and dragons. Ms. Hang Nga, Uncle Cuoi, and Mascot White Rabbit will welcome children and customers in the central area of the amusement park to exchange, take pictures and especially give gifts to the children. Related Tet Trung Thu, as it is known in Vietnamese, or the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam as we refer to in foreign countries, is a wonderful, ancient festival that revolves around children. Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam or Vietnamese Full moon Festival takes place on the full moon night 15th of the Lunar August, the most charming and picturesque night of the year. The festival involves the customs of moon contemplating, procession of star & moon shaped lanterns, lion dance, as well as holding parties with moon cakes and fruits. Do you know why we have this special festival? How Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam was Originated? Photo danangz,vn The Full Moon Festival in Vietnam dates back as far as 15-20,000 years ago in Southeast Asia, and is traditionally held on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month. Looking at the moon on this day, you will see that its orbit is at the lowest angle to the horizon, making the moon appear brighter and larger than at any other time of the year. Thus, accordingly, there came a festival with a series of entertainment activities in honor of the beautiful full moon. There are several explanations for that phenomenon as well as the tradition of celebrating the Mid-autumn Festival. Some said that it began since the reign of King Duong Minh Hoang in China, at the beginning of the 8th century. According to ancient manuscripts, the Emperor often wished to visit the Palace on the Moon. Then, with the help of a magician, he was taken to the Moon and welcomed by a lot of beautiful fairies. He expressed his admiration for their dance, which was called Nghe Thuong Vu Y, and tried to memorize. Later, he accidentally found that there were similarities between Nghe Thuong Vu Y and Ba La Mon styles. After combining the two songs and dances styles into one, he gradually introduced it to everyone in their far ruling countries. The tradition of watching the moon, the dance and songs later became a traditional event in the Mid-Autumn celebration. What is Full Moon Festival in Vietnam Like? 1. Celebration on Animated Streets The festival is very much like a combination of Halloween and Thanksgiving. On the night of Lunar August 15th, the streets are full of people buying festival stuff and wandering. Besides the assorted paper lanterns, cakes, candies, the toy animals made of rice dough, the dragon heads and faces of the Earth God made of paper are displayed everywhere in the markets. Children parade on the streets, singing and carrying colorful lanterns of different sizes and shapes, such as fishes, stars, butterflies, which spin when candles are inserted, representing the earth circling the sun. In well-off families, the mid-autumn banquet is to show up their nubile girls’ cooking abilities. This festival is mostly geared to children, thus, to help children get ready for the Festival, parents can help them make their lanterns and costumes for the lantern procession and discuss the history and culture of Vietnam. Showing our love for our children and teaching of Vietnam’s love for their children is a wonderful reason to celebrate! 2. Lion Dances and Moon Cake One important event before and during Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival is lion dancing. Both non-professional and professional children groups perform dances on the streets or go to houses. If accepted by the host, “the lion” will come in and start dancing as a wish of luck. People enjoy lion dancing at the festival Photo Beside the lion dance, it is customary to offer Banh Trung Thu, boxes of moon cakes, which are traditionally very rich in taste. The cakes are filled with lotus seeds, ground beans and orange peels and have a bright yoke in the center to represent the moon. Banh Nuong Photo “Banh deo” is the white cake, made of sticky rice and filled with sweet mixture of lotus seeds, pumpkin seeds or green bean while “Banh nuong” is the brown cake and has salty taste with a mixture of egg, pork fat, fried onion, peanut and lemon leaves inside. Both can be in round or square shapes. Where to Join This Event in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City? In Ha Noi, you can come to Ho Tay Water Park, Van Ho Exhibition Centre and Giang Vo Exhibition Centre to have musical performances for children in these two days. In Ho Chi Minh city. Between 10th and 15th of August, Ho Chi Minh City government holds “Full Moon Festival” parties for children. Are you interested in the disadvantage children? On this occasion, the city arranges for some children to participate in lantern processions along the main streets. Today, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, together with the encouraging affection for children, promotes education, poetry, dance, arts and crafts. Most overseas Vietnamese family, though far away from their home country, would like to bring their kids back to the home country right in Full moon festival time, one amongst the most important ones in Vietnam. Otherwise, most of them hold a distant festival on their own in the country where they live to remind the kids of their origin and national culture. Not only locals, but also foreign tourists are warmly welcomed you to join in this special festival. Surely, you will have much fun when taking part in the crowds, seeing children carrying the lanterns, eating cakes and receiving gifts of celebration during the Mid-Autumn Festival! Most Popular Vietnamese Silk Painting Vietnamese Wedding Ceremony Tradition “Banh Chung” Chung Cake – The Soul of Vietnamese New Year! Mid-autumn Festival in Vietnam Full Moon Festive Vietnamese Traditional Family Values! The Mid-Autumn Festival is named "Têt Trung Thu" in Vietnamese. Similarly in China, Mid-Autumn Festival is about a reunion, a wish for an abundance of joy and happiness. However, in Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival mainly for children, and it's also known as the "Children's Festival". When Is Mid-Autumn Festival 2023 in Vietnam? This year, the Mid-autumn Festival will be held on September 29th, 2023, in the middle of the eighth lunar month. The festival is not a public holiday, but in many parts of the country, there are events activities, and decorations to mark this special day on the annual calendar. See How the Date of Mid-Autumn Festival Is Determined. How Do the Vietnamese Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? Various activities are held to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. The main activities include worshiping the God of Earth, carrying carp-shaped lanterns and watching a lion dance parade. 1. Carrying Carp-Shaped Lanterns Carp-shaped Lanterns It's a tradition for the Vietnamese to make and carry lanterns during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is a happy time for children. Parents will spend time making lanterns for their children or buying them from the stores. A legend states that a carp spirit once killed many people during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, so that no household dared to go outside during that night. Later, a wise man thought of an idea he made a carp-shaped lantern with a stick in its belly, and then advised people to walk at night holding a carp-shape lantern. The carp spirit was terrified by the light from these lanterns, and has not dared to go out to kill anyone during the Mid-Autumn Festival since then. Nowadays, children hold various kinds of paper lanterns and play in the moonlight, while eating mooncakes during the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival. See more about Mid-Autumn Festival Lanterns. 2. Eating Mooncakes Mooncake is the symbol of the Mid-autumn festival in Vietnam. Nibbling on mooncakes and sipping tea with loved ones is an essential part of the Mid-autumn Festival. Before Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncake stalls appear on every other corner, pop-ups with elaborately decorated boxes filled with a variety of mystery cakes and fillings. There is a wide range of mooncakes in Vietnam with different kinds of crust and fillings. They also come in different shapes and sizes. People buy mooncakes to worship ancestors, share with families and give them to their loved ones as gifts. 3. Worshiping the God of Earth Usually, a worshiping platform is set up in the yard during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, on which mooncakes, fruit, and snacks are laid. Later, family members sit together to eat the food while appreciating the moon. The platform is not taken down until midnight when the food has been completely eaten. Most families also set up a special platform for children, so that they can enjoy food at any time during the evening. 4. Watching the Lion Dance Parade At night, groups of children parade through the streets, going from door to door and asking the owners for their permission to perform the lion dance. If it is agreed, then the children will put on a show, which is believed to bring luck and fortune. Afterward, the owners will give the children 'lucky' money for their gratitude. These lion dances are fascinating, and huge numbers of children, ranging from little kids to teenagers, participate in this activity. As a result of having so many groups of children marching around, the streets of the cities echo with the sound of drums, as dozens of lions roam about. Check out Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations in China. Recommended Articles Top Places to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam in 2023 1. The Hoi An Full Moon Lantern Festival The Hoi An Lantern Festival celebrates the full moon, and it is also known as the full moon lantern festival. It usually takes place every month, on the 14th day of the lunar month. As the name suggests, the biggest feature of this festival is the lanterns. Lanterns are beautifully lit in and around the old town. You can walk around the wonderful ancient town, and not only can you enjoy colorful lanterns, but also see locals playing Chinese chess, folk performances, and live music. You can also take a Sampan ride on the Hoai River, which is perhaps the best way to take in Hoi An Lantern Festival's magical atmosphere. 2. Old Quarter in Hanoi As the Mid-Autumn Festival is nearing, Hanoi Old Quarter become super exciting and colorful. Many streets in the Old Quarter are filled with brilliant colors of lanterns, star-shaped lanterns, paper masks, traditional toys, and decorative items. During Mid-Autumn Festival, many activities will be taken place in Hang Ma street and Hanoi Old Quarter like the opening ceremony of the Mid-Autumn Festival, singing, dancing, outdoor games, and many other traditional activities. 3. Tuyen Quang City Tuyen Quang City is not a popular destination for foreign tourists. Interestingly, it holds the biggest Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in Vietnam. In Tuyen Quang, the whole city will celebrate this together. Thousands of people of all ages and genders will walk on the street along with huge lanterns of all unique shapes and colors like the parade. There are several huge lanterns that are bigger than a whole bus. 4. Luong Nhu Hoc Lantern Street in Saigon In Saigon, there is a variety of places to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Luong Nhu Hoc Lantern Street is a great place to go. The whole area is lighted up by countless beautiful lanterns in uncounted different shapes. You Might Also Like 10 Popular Mid-Autumn Festival Greetings Top 3 Mid-Autumn Festival Stories Top 10 Mid-Autumn Festival Traditions and Activities April 10, 2023August 24, 2021 Mid-Autumn Festival or Tết Trung Thu falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, when the moon and its beauty is celebrated. Believed to be the one day in the year that the moon shines the brightest and looks the biggest, families, especially those with children, across Vietnam gather to light lanterns, sip tea, and share mooncakes – all in honour of the moon and the autumn harvest. Why do We Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? The Mid-Autumn Festival originates from China and is celebrated in many countries across Asia, including in Vietnam. Over time, the different asian cultures have evolved to celebrate the festival of the 8th lunar month in various ways. In Vietnam, where the Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated for over 400 years, it traditionally has been a celebration of the autumn harvest. The rice harvest, especially in North Vietnam, is reaped in September, and Mid-Autumn Festival usually falls in the same month, occasionally in early October. As the full moon is a symbol of prosperity and a full life, the Vietnamese give thanks to the moon for the successful harvest season. Mid-autumn mooncake chinaview / Getty Images Pro The modern Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival focuses on children and is known also as Children’s Festival. Every child dreams of a fun Mid-Autumn Festival filled with colourful lanterns, games with cousins, and endless mooncakes! This special emphasis of children in the Mid-Autumn Festival also has links to the harvest. Many parents and family members involved in tending the fields would be very busy right up till harvest, unable to spend time with their children. Thus, Mid-Autumn Festival is used to shower special attention and love on children after the hard work in the fields. How Do the Vietnamese Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? In the weeks running up to Tết Trung Thu, mooncake stalls pop up everywhere, markets burst with the sales of toys, lanterns and masks. Lanterns for mid-autumn festival in Vietnam CharlieTong / Getty Images On the night of the full moon, it is time for a family reunion. Vietnamese families will gaze at the moon and appreciate its beauty while enjoying mooncakes and tea. Children will be given lanterns to play with. Traditionally, the most popular is the carp shaped lantern, but they now come in various shapes, sizes, and colours. The soundtrack of the Mid-Autumn Festival has to be that of lion and dragon dances. Colourful teams of dances take to the streets to loudly celebrate this festival in Vietnam. Myths and Legends of the Mid-Autumn Festival There are many myths and legends that adds to the mystery of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. Children are entertained with tales and make up the fantastical Vietnamese culture. Here are two common ones 1. Cuoi and the Banyan Tree The legend started with a hardworking man named Chu Cuoi Cuội who made a living by gathering firewood in the forest. One day, Cuoi found a magic Banyan tree that had leaves with healing powers, and he took it home. Cuoi and the Banyan Tree Internet While harvesting the plant, the tree started to uproot itself and float away. Cuoi could not bear to see the magical Banyan tree disappear and grabbed on to it for dear life. Up and up they went, leaving the earth and eventually landing on the moon. It is said that you can see Cuoi’s and the Banyan tree’s shadow on the full moon. 2. The Harvest Monster In ancient times, every eighth month in the lunar calendar, a monster called Lân would appear. The monster came to steal the harvest of the hardworking people and wrecked havoc wherever it went, causing people to lose their homes and livelihood. A clever monk and his students decided it was time to stand up to the monster. Some students wore red and leapt up and down to scare the monster, while others joined in the effort by beating drums and making loud noises. They were successful and the frightened monster left, never to return again! The lion and the students, dancing and making merry Internet To celebrate this success, every year after that, people dressed as both the lion and the students, dancing and making merry. This is the legendary origins of lion dance or mua lan, and why the aforementioned lion and dragon dances have become a big part of the moon festival celebrations till today in Vietnam. The Fascination with Mooncakes What are mooncakes? Mooncakes, for many, are the most loved part of the Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam. Sweet, savoury, round, square, baked, mocha-style – they come in various forms, but mostly with a thin crust and a filling, with intricate designs on the top. Mooncakes are the most beautiful traditional food and are only eaten during the Mid Autumn Festival. Mooncakes from famous Givral brand Givral Fanpage The story of mooncakes Mooncakes in Vietnam have a shared cultural history with China. According to legend, the Chinese military used mooncakes to pass on secret messages in order to organise a revolt against the Mongols in the Yuan Dynasty 1271 to 1368 AD. The Mongol rulers watched the Chinese generals closely, so the Chinese had to devise a clever way to communicate. They took the opportunity of the Mid-Autumn Festival the Chinese have been celebrating the festival since the Song Dynasty, 420 AD to distribute secret messages through the the gifting of mooncakes. Little pieces of paper were buried in the heart of the mooncakes which were then innocently dispersed. Another variation of the legend has it that the mooncake surface design itself contained the messages and the mooncakes had to be arranged like a puzzle to reveal its secret. Thus till today, mooncakes in China and Vietnam have beautiful intricate designs embossed on them. Mooncakes and tea Wacky Benedicto / Getty Images What do mooncakes taste like? Mooncakes no longer contain little bits of paper inside. Instead, the classic mooncake has a single duck egg yolk, representing the full, rich, moon. The egg yolk is encased by sweet lotus paste and covered with a light pastry. The cakes are traditionally shaped in wooden moulds and then placed in ovens. Baked mooncake nowadays have more variety, some of them contain up to as many as four egg yolks! Popular cake paste flavours in Vietnam include green tea, red bean, and mung bean. The mooncakes might also contain candied fruit, coconut shavings, mixed nuts, and cooked meat. Some common ingredients of a mooncake Givral Fanpage Some people prefer the modern versions of the mooncake, which are non-baked, the outer layer is made with rice flour mocha-style. They are often called snow skin or snowy mooncakes for the soft, light, delicate outer layer reminiscent of snow. The snowy moon cake has even more variety in flavour. They can be made out of chocolate, ice cream, jelly and more. The importance of mooncakes In Vietnam, square mooncakes represent the earth and round mooncakes represent. They are the perfect symbol of Tết Trung Thu. The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated with plenty of mooncakes. Throughout the eight lunar month, Vietnamese families gather to share mooncakes and enjoy each other’s company. Especially on the 15th day, they are eaten at night under the bright moonlight. Brodard mooncakes with different flavors Brodard Fanpage Gifting of mooncakes are a large part of the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Vietnam, boxes and boxes of cakes are given to relatives, family friends, business contacts, bosses, colleagues, and more. This thoughtful gesture is well received by everyone. Where to buy mooncakes? Mooncakes can be found everywhere! From luxury hotels to neighbourhood bakeries, mooncakes are ubiquitous during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. Some popular brands include Givral Brodard Kinh Do Annam Gourmet Nhu Lan Hy Lam Mon Intercontinental Hotel New World Hotel Saigon The Marriott Hotel D’Art Chocolate Givral mooncakes set Givral Fanpage Mooncakes are such an essential part of the food eaten during Tết Trung Thu Festival, be sure not to miss out. A fun mid autumn activity to do at home, especially with children, this lockdown would be to make your own mooncakes. Try your hand at it here! Now that you know the history and legends of the Mid-Autumn Festival as well as where to purchase mooncakes, be sure to also get some lanterns for your night time celebration. Although the festivities on the streets may be smaller this year, the Mid-Autumn Festival traditions can still be observed at home. After all, at its heart, the festival is celebrated with loved ones. We wish you all a delightful Mid-Autumn festival! Be sure to keep updated about festivals and what’s ongoing in Ho Chi Minh city here There are hundreds of beautiful festivals in Vietnam each year. Among them, the Mid Autumn festival, also known as Full Moon Festival, is one of the most famous and is a traditional celebration for Vietnamese is the Mid Autumn festival?Although the Mid Autumn festival originated in China and is celebrated in many Asian countries such as Korea and Japan, the Vietnamese people have their own way to celebrate the festival. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month usually in late September or early October and it is celebrated for a whole day. This is an opportunity for members of the family to gather and share everything together. Also, because this time of the year is usually after harvest, the festival is also a celebration of a successful Autumn festival is a children festivalIn the weeks before Mid Autumn, groups of lion and unicorn dancers start to practice on the streets. Mooncake stalls appear on every other corner, city districts are full with preparations of toys, lanterns and colourful masks. On the day, the adults and the parents prepare many different foods such as mooncakes, candy and fruit. All the fruits are designed with fun symbols, such as dogs, cats, buffaloes, etc..How do Vietnamese people celebrate Mid Autumn festival?Mid Autumn festival seems to be one of the most fascinating and colorful festivals in Vietnam. This is a chance for parents to remind themselves of their childhood and give their children great memories of this occasion through special foods and – The mooncake is a great symbolThe mooncake is the symbol of the festivalThe mooncake is a specific cake that you can only find during this festival. This cake is made from different flavours usually eggs, dried fruit, pumpkin seeds and green beans. It is a very sweet dish. Therefore, the best way to enjoy it is with green tea. Mooncakes symbolise luck, happiness, wealth and health. All members of the family will gather around for a feast to celebrate under the moonlight. Grapefruits can’t be missed in the feast because it is the seasonal food at the time, and can easily be shaped into a small parade – lots of fun for the kids!Mid Autumn is also the festival of lanternAs a special performance in the evening of the full moon, the children are provided with many nice lanterns and funny masks with animals such as monkeys, lions and tigers. Lanterns were a symbol of fertility in the past but in recent times have functioned more as decorations. It has been a tradition to have a lantern parade under the full moon. The spirit of the parade is that children use the beautiful lanterns, wear funny masks while performing lion dances, and sing folk songs in the activites – lion dances, moon watchingUsually the kids will participate in the lion dance, and the parents eat mooncake whilst watching the moon rising. It is said that the moon will be very big and bright on the night of the Mid Autumn festival. During the festival, the streets in Vietnam will be packed with families shopping for a variety of toys, lanterns and mooncakes. The kids are always very excited as it is a celebration specifically for them.

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