It's almost September 17th, and we know what that means… it's almost Mid-Autumn Festival 2024!
Mid Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu) is one of Vietnam's most celebrated and cherished traditions. Every year, under the glow of the full moon, families come together to honor a tradition that dates back thousands of years.
Known for its colorful lanterns, mouth-watering mooncakes, and lively lion dances, the festival brings joy to children and adults.
In this article, we will take a deeper dive into the origins of the festival, how it developed in Vietnam, and how you can experience this magical event while traveling, including the option of celebrating on a cruise with Bong Hostel in Northern Vietnam.
When is the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024?
The festival, traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, corresponds with the time when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This special time of year was seen as a symbol of prosperity, harvest, and reunion.
In 2024, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam will fall on September 17th. However, the festival typically begins a few days prior, with markets and streets becoming busier as the full moon approaches.
The Origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival
The Festival’s Ancient Beginnings
The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Full Moon Festival, originated around 20,000 years ago across East Asia. In ancient societies, the full moon signaled the end of the harvest season, a time to give thanks for the year’s bounty and offer prayers for future prosperity.
Across Oriental Asia, from Japan (where it is known as Tsukimi) to Korea (Chuseok), the mid-autumn period has long been observed. The festival also has connections with Chinese culture. Legend has it that Emperor Duong Minh Hoang in the 8th century was taken to the moon by a magician, where he witnessed a dance performed by moon fairies.
Upon returning, the emperor introduced this dance to his people, blending it with local traditions. Over time, the event became not just about moon-watching but also about reconnecting with loved ones and celebrating the harvest.
The Story of Cuoi: Folklore and Symbolism
In Vietnam, the festival's early roots can be traced back to the Ly Dynasty (11th century), where it was officially celebrated in the imperial capital of Thang Long (now Hanoi) with boat races, water puppet shows, and lantern processions.
The festival is deeply symbolic. In Vietnamese culture, the full moon represents peace, prosperity, and familial harmony. Perhaps the most famous Vietnamese legend associated with the festival is the story of Cuội, a boy who was swept away to the moon by a magical banyan tree.
His tale is deeply embedded in Vietnamese folklore, and children gather each year under the full moon, believing that they can spot Cuội and his banyan tree in the lunar shadows.
How the Mid-Autumn Festival Developed in Vietnam?
Over centuries, Vietnam has woven its own identity into the Mid-Autumn Festival. While it continues to honor the full moon, the focus gradually shifted towards children during the reign of the Nguyễn Dynasty, earning it the nickname "Children’s Festival."
As the festival was transformed children became the center of the festivities. Today, families give them gifts and organise special activities such as lantern-making workshops, folk games, and toy-making.
Mid-Autumn Festival: Traditional Foods and Offerings
Mooncakes: The Centerpiece of the Festival
Food plays an essential role in the Mid-Autumn Festival, with mooncakes (bánh trung thu) being the most iconic dish.
Mooncakes are not only a delicious treat but also a symbol of unity and completeness. Traditionally, the cakes are made with fillings such as lotus seeds, red bean paste, salted egg yolk, dried fruits, and nuts. Some regions also make savory meat-filled varieties.
In Vietnam, there are two main types of mooncakes: bánh nướng (baked mooncakes) and bánh dẻo (soft, glutinous mooncakes). Both are popular during the festival, and you’ll find them at markets and street vendors in every city.
Other Traditional Foods
But the Mid-Autumn Festival isn't just about mooncakes. In northern Vietnam, families also enjoy cốm (green rice), a fragrant dish made from young rice grains, often paired with lotus seeds or served in a sweet soup.
Another common treat is chè trôi nước, a dessert made from glutinous rice balls filled with mung bean paste, floating in a ginger syrup.
Must Read: Local Foods to Try in Vietnam.
Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 in North Vietnam
1. Lantern Making
Lanterns are a major part of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. These lanterns, symbolic of the Earth circling the sun, illuminate the night as the streets turn into a lively and animated display of tradition.
In the days leading up to the festival, Vietnamese families make or purchase lanterns to carry in parades or display in their homes. Made from materials like paper, fabric, and bamboo, they come in all shapes and sizes, often depicting animals, flowers, moons, stars, and mythical creatures.
On the night of the festival, children parade these glowing lanterns through the streets, creating a magical atmosphere, as they sing traditional Mid-Autumn songs like “Ông Đèn Lồng” and “Trăng Rằm.”
2. Lion Dances
Dragon and lion dances are another highlight of the festivities. These dynamic and theatrical performances are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the coming year.
Lion dance troupes travel through neighborhoods, bringing joy and laughter to onlookers with their lively performances. The energy of the lion dancers, combined with the rhythmic drumbeats, creates an atmosphere of celebration and excitement. You’ll often see large crowds gathering in public squares or temples to enjoy the spectacle.
3. Ancestral Worship
Vietnamese families also use the Mid-Autumn Festival as an opportunity to honor their ancestors and deities.
On the night of the 15th lunar day, families prepare offerings of fruits like pomelo, which are intricately carved into shapes, symbolizing wealth and happiness. These are placed on family altars along with tea, incense, and mooncakes.
This practice emphasizes the festival’s deeper meaning: family unity and the passing of tradition from one generation to the next.
4. Other Traditional Celebrations
The streets come alive with energy during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
On the night of the full moon, Vietnamese cities are filled with people wandering through markets, purchasing festival essentials like paper lanterns, mooncakes, and toys. Among the most popular items are the toy animals made of rice dough, as well as dragon masks and Earth God figurines made from paper.
In wealthier households, the Mid-Autumn banquet showcases the culinary talents of young women, with beautiful spreads of food laid out for family and guests.
Regional Variations
The way the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated varies across Vietnam’s different regions:
In Central Vietnam: The festival is characterized by performances of bài chòi (a folk game) and hát bội (traditional opera).
In the South: In addition to mooncakes, locals celebrate with a greater emphasis on seafood dishes, reflecting the coastal region’s culinary influence.
Despite these regional differences, the overarching themes of family, gratitude, and celebration are present throughout the country.
Modern-Day Celebrations: Urban vs. Rural
While the core of the Mid-Autumn Festival remains the same, modernization has introduced new elements to the celebration, particularly in urban areas like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The festival has become more commercialized, with elaborate street decorations, large-scale parades, and promotional events. Stores sell a wide variety of mooncakes, ranging from traditional to luxury versions filled with imported ingredients like chocolate or matcha.
In contrast, rural areas like Ha Giang tend to preserve a more traditional celebration, with families gathering to make homemade mooncakes, light handmade lanterns, and participate in folk games.
The festival remains a time for close-knit community gatherings and simpler, more personal celebrations.
Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 in Hanoi
Hanoi is a wonderful place to experience the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The city's Old Quarter, in particular, shines with lantern displays, lion dances, and busy night markets. Streets like Hang Ma and Hang Luoc are transformed into lively lanes of glowing lanterns and festival decorations, making them perfect for a night stroll.
You can also join in on traditional folk games such as Danh Du (a Vietnamese game played with bamboo sticks) or watch water puppet shows, which are common during the festival.
Hoan Kiem Lake hosts some of the city’s biggest gatherings, where families come to picnic, sing, and admire the moon's reflection on the water. Lanterns are also floated on the lake, reminiscent of Hoi An and the Hoai River.
P.S. If you choose to stay with us at Bong Hanoi Hostel during the Mid-Autumn Festival, we promise to share our homemade mooncakes with you!
Must Read: Best Things to do in Hanoi.
Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 in Ha Long Bay
Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Ha Long Bay offers a more serene yet equally festive experience. Many travelers opt for a cruise, where they can take in the breathtaking landscapes of limestone islands under the glow of the full moon.
Lanterns are often hung on the cruise ships, and visitors can join a lantern parade on the water, adding a mystical ambiance to the bay.
Lion dance performances also take place on the boats, along with special Mid-Autumn feasts. Traditional mooncakes, floating rice cakes, and other Vietnamese delicacies are served, offering a delightful blend of food and culture.
It’s a perfect way to experience both the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay and the cultural richness of the festival.
Must Read: Discover the Magic of Ha Long Bay.
Enjoy Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 Onboard a Bong Hostel Cruise
Imagine watching the full moon rise over the stunning outline of Ha Long Bay while enjoying an outdoor BBQ or tasting fine wines and Vietnamese delicacies?
Bong Hostel provides several cruise options, for those looking to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Ha Long Bay. They include the following options:
All cruises are 2 days and 1 night but there is also a full-day trip cruise option, if you wish to enjoy a cruise before or after celebrating the festival on land in the evening.
Why Experience the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam?
Whether you choose to experience it on the busy streets of Hanoi, in a quiet village in the mountains of Ha Giang, or aboard a luxury cruise in Halong Bay, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a wonderful glimpse into Vietnam’s culture.
For travelers, the festival provides an opportunity to observe and engage with local culture in an authentic and meaningful way. From sampling mooncakes to joining lantern processions, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an unforgettable experience, made even better when celebrated in North Vietnam.
Contact us here, for more information about joining a Bong Hostel Ha Long Bay cruise for this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival: Ha Giang loop tour | best Hà Giang hostel motorbike tour | Bong Hostel Hà Giang.
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