Mid Autumn Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Vietnam, taking place on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Full Moon night. This is a time of unity, gratitude and family bonding and sharing the effective sceneries to your loved ones. In this guide, we will introduce the Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam.
Introduce about Mid Autumn Festival
Mid Autumn Festival occurs in many countries in Eastern Asia like China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, and is the most popular cultural event. The festival is mainly for children, in contrast you think the Full moon Festival is for family gatherings.
In the 8th lunar month, parents are quite busy with the rice harvest season. So, they don't have much time for their kids. Each full moon this month is a time that parents spend with their children. According to the story of local people, the Full Moon Festival is a chance to offer to deities the precious product after a bountiful harvest.
Enjoy Vietnam's Mid Autumn Festival , you can explore many fascinating cultural activities. You can witness several families prepare a tray of offerings such as mooncake, fruits, food, joss paper.
Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi Old Quarter
Mid Autumn Festival is a time for family members to gather for a heartfelt reunion. There are many children down the streets with colorful paper lanterns. They wear masks with different mythical figures.
The atmosphere became noisy with singing and laughter of the kids immersed in the sounds of the drums, creating an interesting evening.
What to do during the Mid Autumn Festival?
Admire colorful lanterns
On the 15th night of lunar August, the festival mainly occurs. However, you can feel the bustling atmosphere of the festival before the night.
There are many lanterns to sell on the street with various styles from traditional stars. You can make a lantern yourself from simple things such as bamboo sticks and colored paper. There is a candle inside the lantern, replaced by LED lights.
Besides, you can see some lanterns made from soft drink bottles, milk cartoons,...
Worship ancestors
In this festival, many families make offerings to their ancestors, worship the God of Earth by an offering tray including mooncakes, fruits, food, and joss paper. After all, members will gather to enjoy these offerings.
Enjoy mooncakes
Mooncakes is a well-known cake during the Mid Autumn Festival. There are two types of mooncakes like "banh nuong" and "banh deo".
The shape of the mooncake is round, a symbol for luck, happiness, good health, and prosperity . " Banh nuong" has many ingredients such as pid fat, lemon leaves, sausages, lotus seeds, and wine. "Banh deo" are made from mung beans, lotus seeds, and pumpkin seeds.
Moon cake
Besides, you can add more ingredients such as coconut meat, black sesame, chocolate, jelly...
Carry lanterns
Don't forget to enjoy carrying lanterns on the 15th night of the lunar month. People will light up their lanterns and start to parade on the streets. They both come and sing the traditional Mid Autumn Festival songs.
Admire the lion dancing in Mid Autumn Festival
Lion dance is the most popular activity in Vietnam during the Full Moon Festival. The dancers put on a giant lion costume on the cheerful drum. Tourist have an opportunity to admire the lion dance. Besides, you can see the fire blowing and acrobatics.
Mid Autumn Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Vietnam that you can learn more about Vietnamese culture. With information above, you can prepare anything for your trip. Remember to enjoy the memorable event.
>>> See more: All Things To Know About Hoian Lantern Festival