Alongside Lunar New Year, Vietnam celebrates Tết Trung Thu, the Mid-Autumn Festival, on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Usually falling in September or October, it brings families together for mooncakes, lanterns and lively performances, with children at the heart of the festivities.
The stories behind Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn celebrations are shared across several Asian cultures, with Vietnam’s own stories and customs giving the festival a distinctive character. One familiar legend tells of Cuoi, who was carried to the moon while holding on to a magical banyan tree. Children’s lantern processions are often linked to the idea of lighting his way home.
The festival is also associated with the harvest and time spent together after a busy agricultural season. Today, family gatherings and children’s celebrations are central to the occasion.
How Vietnam celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival
Share mooncakes
Mooncakes are among the festival’s best-known treats. Their round shape is associated with togetherness, and they are often exchanged as gifts between relatives, friends and colleagues.
Shops sell many flavours and fillings. Two traditional types are bánh dẻo, with a soft, sticky outer layer, and bánh nướng, with a golden baked crust. Families often cut the cakes into small pieces to share with green or lotus tea.
Watch lion dances
In the weeks leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, drums and cymbals announce rehearsals and performances in streets and neighbourhood courtyards. Teams of dancers bring the colourful lion costumes to life, delighting children and gathering a crowd. Stand back from the performers and follow local arrangements for viewing.
Enjoy the lanterns
Star-shaped lanterns made with colourful cellophane are a familiar symbol of Tết Trung Thu. Children carry them in evening processions, and stalls fill with lanterns, toys and decorations in the weeks before the festival.
In Hanoi, Hang Ma Street is a popular place to see the decorations and enjoy the festive atmosphere. It can be very crowded, so keep children close and allow time to move through the streets.
Hoi An’s lantern-lit streets are another lovely setting for an evening walk. Festival events and traffic arrangements vary, so check the local programme for your visit.
If your trip falls around Mid-Autumn Festival, leave an evening free to enjoy the neighbourhood celebrations. Your guide can suggest suitable places to watch without interrupting family or community activities.
Discover more ideas in the Vietnam Tour Fun travel blog
To include more local encounters in your holiday, explore Sustainable Vietnam: Villages and Local Life - 12 Days. Tell our team which traditions, places and everyday experiences interest you most.
