How to Celebrate the Full-Moon Festival?

There will be a lot going on the 14th and especially 15th nights. Everything is abundant from the roistering drum noise on the streets to the foods each family prepares for the gathering under the moonlight.

Though this fascinating Vietnamese festival only takes place within one day, it’s a delightful time with several interesting activities to attend. Each family would prepare a tray of sacrifices to offer to the Moon, including Moon Cakes – a special cake in Vietnamese cuisine, fruits, joss papers, etc. After the incenses have burnt out, all the family will gather together to enjoy the food together.


When the moon is on, the streets are lightened by paper lanterns of different colors. Kids parade down the streets, wearing masks of different characters and holding lanterns in their hands. In the past, the star lantern is the only item that kids can have but nowadays, several interesting and beautifully-designed lanterns, from the paper lanterns using candles to modern stuff using battery, are full on streets. The night has become much more delightful with the lion dances, the sounds from the drums, the laughter of the kids, and their singing also. The whole city is hence in an exceptionally festive mood.

It’s a memorable experience in childhood of every Vietnamese child.

Moon-gaze from Halong Bay

Many travelers use the Mid-Autumn Festival as a chance to spend some low-key time with small groups of family and friends in Halong Bay cruises. Feel free to opt out of the more raucous festivities; instead, you can enjoy the landscape of the bay at night up on the top deck for a late-night onboard as you gaze up at the full moon, relax with romantic ballad music, enjoy drinks from the bar. Moon watching on the festival’s night relates to the legend of Chu Cuoi. The ideas of the folktale started with the shapes of the moon’s craters which, to Vietnamese people, looked like a huge banyan tree.