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The Tet Trung Thu Vietnam, also known as the Full Moon Festival, or the Vietnamese Mooncake Festival, is celebrated annually on the 15th of August in the lunar calendar (typically between September and early October of the solar calendar). The Vietnamese moon festival is regarded as the festival of children in Vietnam (because children love it!). On this day, families assemble to pay their respects to their ancestors by baking and offering cakes, sweets, and fruits on a tray, and then feasting on the offerings while gazing at the full moon. The kids are excited to take part in the lantern procession, munch on moon cakes and fruits, see a lion dance and hang out with their peers.
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1. The origin of the Vietnamese Full Moon Festival?
Vietnamese Full Moon Festival, often called Tet Trung Thu (Mid-autumn Festival), has a long and rich history. While its exact origins are unclear, historical records reveal that moon-worshiping ceremonies first appeared in China, during 1600-1046 BC. However, it wasn't until the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) that the festival was officially observed, when emperors would throw a banquet to honor the moon and deities in honor of the year's crop. After that, the emperor would also use the Mid-Autumn Festival to give gifts to his officials in recognition of their service and efforts throughout the year. Over time, it developed into a multi-day celebration when people gathered to honor the moon, pray for good fortune and fertility, and spend time with family and friends while gazing in awe at the full moon.
This festival was later introduced to Vietnam, where it developed its own unique customs and myths. The most well-known story from Vietnamese culture is about a guy named Cuoi who, by clinging to a supernatural banyan tree, was carried to the moon. Vietnamese people claim that a guy may be seen seated behind a tree in the full moon's shadow if you look at it just right. On the eve of the Mid-autumn Festival, little ones carry lit lanterns around the streets to guide Cuoi back to Earth.
Many Vietnamese people once lived in the rural area, therefore, the celebration of the harvest is also an important part of Vietnamese Trung Thu. At the start of the eighth lunar month, Vietnamese farmers began reaping their rice crops. Parents who work in agriculture frequently have limited opportunities to spend time with their children. Therefore, they may make amends for missed time and spend quality time with their kids during this month's full moon. After a successful harvest, this Full Moon is also a good time to honor the gods by presenting sacrifices to them.
2. Unique traditions of the Moon Festival in Vietnam
2.1. Pre-festival
During the weeks leading up to Vietnamese Mooncake festival, the streets will fill with the sounds of lion dance rehearsals. Mooncake stands spring up on every block, selling exotic cakes and fillings in beautifully packaged boxes. In preparation, neighborhoods around the city stock up on toys, lanterns, and brightly colored masks. The red cellophane star lanterns used for Trung Thu celebrations are very well-liked. For many days before the celebration, you may see these lanterns for sale on streets all around Vietnam. In preparation for the event, parents can assist their children in making lanterns and costumes for the lantern parade.
2.2. During the festival actually takes place
What are the streets like at the Vietnamese Moon Festival?
If you can't not imagine, this celebration is like Thanksgiving and Halloween rolled into one. People go to the streets to shop for festival goods and walk around on the evening of Lunar August 15th. A man will dance while wearing a moon mask, which is a spherical, happy-looking mask. The crowd loves his antics as he encourages the lion dancers. This is “Ong Dia”, the Earth God, who stands for the wealth of the planet and urges observers to be grateful.
During the festival, you can find a wide range of mid autumn festival crafts. Dragon heads, faces of the Earth God, lanterns created from colorful paper, along with toy animals made from rice dough called “to he" are displayed on the street, making an iconic atmosphere of Vietnamese Trung Thu.
In this festival, children march through the streets with spinning lanterns reflecting Earth's orbit around the Sun. These lanterns can come in a variety of sizes and forms, including fish, stars, and butterflies.
Lion Dance at the Vietnamese Moon Festival
Though there are several activities on the Vietnamese Moon Festival, it would not be complete without the lion dances, also known as “múa lân”. Children congregate in groups, each holding a glowing red lantern. The celebratory songs for the Mid-autumn Festival are sung by everyone, many of whom have known them since they were little. When drums start beating along the street at night, people are getting more excited . The young children hurry forward as a mythological lion, its enormous head and sinuous body carried by a troupe of acrobatic dancers, breaks into their courtyard.
The lion's wide, open mouth and bulging eyes give it an appearance that is at once amusing and intimidating. Children in the audience yell and giggle as the dancers leap closer to them. The lion's crimson sequined body shines in the light of the full moon. Nothing else can compare to this breathtaking performance on Trung Thu night for Vietnamese children.
Vietnamese moon festival food: mooncake, fruits and tea time
For those who don't enjoy the crowd, having a high tea experience at home is one of the Vietnamese Mid-autumn festival traditions. Every family in Vietnam celebrates the day by bringing out the five fruits on a plate and the mooncakes from the ancestral altar. They pray to their ancestors and then eat mooncakes beneath the moonlight after making offerings to them. These cakes, whether they're round or square, are shaped into complex designs like flowers, carp, and geometric patterns.
“Bánh dẻo” (mochi-like sticky cakes) and “bánh nướng” (baked cakes with a thick wheat crust) are the two most popular kinds. Vietnamese mooncakes are available in an astounding variety of sweet and savory fillings such as candied fruits, nuts, pork fat, chicken floss, salted egg, minced mung bean paste, lotus seed paste... Get a box of mooncakes for yourself or your Vietnamese friends and hosts to enjoy. Don't forget to brew a nice pot of green tea, it is a perfect match with the mooncake.
3. Best places to celebrate the Full Moon Festival in Vietnam
3.1. Hanoi
During the mid-autumn holiday, local Hanoians go to Hanoi's Old Quarter. Here, you may take part in a variety of exciting events while experiencing the festive atmosphere of a typical Vietnamese celebration.
Decorations for the Full Moon Festival may be seen all around the Old Quarter, but mainly in the Walking Street district, on Hang Ma street, Phung Hung street, and at the Dong Xuan market. The stroll through these neighborhoods, complete with stops at toy stands, traditional art performances, and folk games, is a blast.
Before the big night, you may also stop by 87 Ma May Street, another Hanoi address, to see locals working on their festival crafts. Children's musical performances take place in many places: from theaters to local community houses around the city.
3.2. Hoi An
When thinking of lanterns in Vietnam, you probably shout out to Hoi An Ancient Town immediately. In Hoi An, the Mid Autumn Festival spans a longer period of time, from the 12th to the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
This historic settlement celebrates each new moon with a lantern celebration. The celebration makes the town seem beautiful with lanterns in every window.
In the evening, villagers would line the riverbank, light lanterns, and cast them into the water with prayers for good fortune. This causes the river to appear incredibly twinkling, providing sightseers with a breathtaking and unique experience.
During the Mid Autumn Festival in Hoi An, a number of fascinating traditional games are played, including "Bài Chòi," blind man's bluff, bamboo jacks, mandarin square capture, and so on.
>> Read more about Hoi An full moon
3.3. Ho Chi Minh City
During the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival, you may experience the captivating cultural beauty of contemporary Ho Chi Minh City.
During this time of year, numerous streets, including Luong Nhu Hoc, Nguyen Trai, Tran Hung Dao, and Nguyen An streets, are adorned with lovely lanterns and other ornamental things in the shape of carp. Tourists may navigate these streets with ease because the local government will turn them into a pedestrian-only zone three days before the Mid Autumn Festival. You may also find local food sellers and engage in folk games on these streets.
Even more so, if you're looking for a change of pace, head to Chinatown (Cho Lon) to see the full moon festival as it is celebrated by the Cantonese-Vietnamese.
4. FAQs about Vietnam's Full Moon Festival
4.1. Is the Full Moon Festival a public holiday in Vietnam?
No, while it's a widely celebrated and beloved festival, the Full Moon Festival in Vietnam is not an official public holiday in Vietnam. However, many schools and some companies may hold special events on this day.
4.2. Where can I buy mooncakes?
You can easily find mooncakes everywhere during the festival season. Major brands like Kinh Do, Huu Nghi, Thu Huong, or Givral set up stands in shopping centers and supermarkets. You can also find artisanal cakes at small local bakeries or even street stalls.
4.3. What are good souvenirs to buy on this occasion?
Besides mooncakes, traditional toys are a great choice. Look for paper lanterns, papier-mâché masks, or "tò he" (toy figurines made from glutinous rice powder). These items are not only beautiful but also carry deep cultural meaning.
4.4. Who is the "Ong Dia" in the lion dance?
"Ong Dia" (the Earth God) is the cheerful, pot-bellied character with a round mask who follows the lion. According to legend, he is the deity who tamed the mythical lion, bringing it back to the human world. His presence in the dance symbolizes prosperity, good fortune, and happiness.
4.5. What is the significance of the lanterns?
Lanterns are a key symbol of the festival, especially for children. The tradition of parading with lanterns represents a wish for a brighter future and, according to a famous Vietnamese folktale, helps light the way for the mythological figure of Cuoi to return to Earth.
4.6. When is the exact date of the Vietnamese Moon Festival?
The festival takes place on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month each year. This date corresponds to a day between September and early October on the Gregorian calendar and changes annually.
- 2025: Vietnamese Moon Festival falls on Monday, September 6th.
- 2026: Vietnamese Moon Festival falls on Friday, September 25th.
- 2027: Vietnamese Moon Festival falls on Wednesday, September 15th.
Vietnam is beautiful with its plethora of cultural activities that you cannot find anywhere. The Vietnamese Full Moon Festival is one of them and since it appeared, it has always been the favorite celebration to all Vietnamese, especially young children. If you stay in Vietnam around the time, don't miss out on this special occasion.
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