English
French
Spanish
Italian
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most meaningful celebrations in Vietnam. Since being adopted by the Vietnamese community, it has been developed and imbued with local cultural identity. If you’re traveling in Vietnam during this time, let Asia King Travel show you some of the best places to join in this joyful event!
.jpg)
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a reunion occasion for families
The Mid-Autumn Festival got its name because of the time when the event takes place: in the middle of autumn, as well as the 8th lunar month. This festival originated in China around 3000 years ago. Farmers believed that worshipping the Moon in the harvest season would ensure a good harvest in the following year.
Over time, this custom developed and became one of the most important festivals of the Chinese people. It spread and was adopted by other Asian countries, including Vietnam. However, the Vietnamese culture has adopted and localized the festival to make it fit the local beliefs and traditions.
Among Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is perhaps the only and most vibrant example of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Others, such as Malaysia and Cambodia, have their own moon-related celebrations, but not really associated with the Chinese-originated moon celebration.
The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam also falls on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. However, instead of referring to the legend of Chang’e and Houyi like China, the festival in Vietnam is tied to the folklore of “Chu Cuoi and Chi Hang” (the Moon Boy and the Moon Lady).
.jpg)
Mooncakes are a signature sweet food for the full moon celebration
In Vietnamese culture, mooncakes, lanterns, and lion dances are 3 indispensable features when mentioning the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mooncakes’ circular shape represents fullness and reunion, lanterns carry the light of fortune and blessing, and lion dances get rid of bad luck and pray for a bountiful crop. All express a part of the underlying message of this traditional custom.
Besides being an occasion for reunion, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is widely considered a joyful event for children. They can join lantern walks, watch spectacular art performances, and take part in interesting workshops often held by their schools or neighborhoods.
.jpg)
Special fruit tray to display in the Mid-Autumn Festival
You may like: What could you enjoy at the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam?
This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi will be held at the Vietnam Exhibition Center for Culture and Arts (at No. 2 Hoa Lu, Hai Ba Trung Ward). This event will take place from October 2 to 5 under the theme “The Full Moon Party Night”.
The festival promises a series of interesting activities for both locals and tourists who want to immerse themselves in the joyful atmosphere of a Vietnamese cultural space and learn about the traditional customs associated with full moon celebrations. If you’re traveling in Vietnam during this time, don’t forget to stop by Hoa Lu Street, Hanoi, to cheer with the locals.
According to the planned event, visitors can expect lion dances, lantern parades, and participate in exciting workshops. Here, you can have hands-on experience to make a paper lantern or a papier-mache mask under the warm guidance of event mentors. Besides, some themed photobooths with seasonal decorations will be set up so that you can capture your memorable moments.
In addition to this event, this Vietnam travel guide suggests visiting Hang Ma Street or Luong Van Can Street to have a different view of the mid-autumn festival in Vietnam. These streets will be packed with a variety of toys and lanterns, and you can watch local artisans preparing festival crafts. At this time of the year, many Vietnamese youngsters visit these places to shop for decorative items and take some beautiful pictures for their social updates.
.jpg)
Lion Dances are an indispensable part of the festival
Around 135 km from Hanoi, Tuyen Quang proudly holds the largest-scale Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. Although there are 2 weeks more before the lunar August 15th, the festival atmosphere has already filled the city.
The 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival’s theme is “Tuyen Quang’s Night Party”, with the highlight being its special lantern parade. This year, the event displays 60 giant lantern models on Friday and Saturday nights, each carrying a different symbolic meaning and showcasing the elaborate craftsmanship of the local artisans. Here, you can admire the lanterns of Hai Ba Trung, Eastern Dragon and Phoenix, Carp jumping the Dragon Gate, and more.
The event also contains other entertainment and sports activities, for example, the "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival Remembering Uncle Ho" program, Tuyen Quang Marathon 2025, along with performances of driving cars, off-road motorbikes, etc. These aim to create a multi-experience event, meeting the enjoyment of people and tourists.
.jpg)
Giant lantern models are the highlight of Tuyen Quang’s Party Night
Hoi An is a familiar destination for many tourists, partly thanks to its mesmerizing scene of the monthly lantern festival. Mid-Autumn Festival, however, is the largest-scale lantern festival here - a special event that you should not miss if you’re traveling in Vietnam during the 8th lunar month (around early October, 2025).
During this occasion, Hoi An Ancient Town is lit up by thousands of paper lanterns, varying in size and shape. As you walk on the stone-paved streets shone by lantern light, you can head to the Museum of Folklore (at No. 33 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street) and participate in interesting folk games and workshops: solving riddles in lanterns, hunting treasure, preparing fruit trays, and more.
Another highlight here is the “Celestial Dog Dances” (Mua Thien Cau), a long-lasting feature in Hoi An. This traditional dance is believed to bring about fortune, get rid of bad luck, and pray for a bright moon night and a bountiful crop. At the end of the night, you can wander to the Hoai River to release lotus lanterns. This scene of the river sparkling from afar, thanks to hundreds of flower lanterns, is very eye-catching, resembling a magical scene in a Disney movie.
.jpg)
Mid-Autumn Festival in Hoi An Ancient Town
You may like: Hoi An Tours
The joyful atmosphere of the full moon celebration is also getting close to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). If you want to enjoy the most complete vibe of the Mid-Autumn Festival, we recommend Luong Nhu Hoc Street, the lantern paradise in Saigon. This 300-meter-long street sells various lantern models and toys for children, creating an extremely vibrant scene at a festival in Vietnam.
Another suggested place is Nguyen Hue Walking Street. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, this place is decorated with beautiful lanterns and selling booths from famous brands. While taking a stroll here, you can also watch street performances like lantern parades, lion dances, and street circuses.
If you have more time on your trip to Vietnam, check out the AEON Mall Tan Phu, Le Thi Rieng Park, and Ho Chi Minh City Children’s House to attend more entertainment activities and explore the local customs in the full moon celebration.
.jpg)
There are many kinds of lanterns to choose from
The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a chance to feel the warmth of community, savor local flavors, and witness centuries-old traditions come alive. No matter where you join, you’ll find the same joyful spirit of family, friendship, and cultural pride. If you’re interested in exploring this festival, contact Asia King Travel now to schedule your Vietnam tour - the festival is coming really close!
You may like: Classic Highlights Vietnam
