Log in
Travel

Lantern – the soul of Mid-Autumn festival in Vietnam

Lanterns are indispensable for the festival thanks to its colorful and diversified shapes, and its role of sparking the night of the full-moon occasion.

Among things featured in the Mid-Autumn festival in Vietnam, lanterns are indispensable thanks to its colorful appearance, diversified shapes, and its role of sparking the night of the full-moon occasion. 

For that reason, every part of Vietnam has lighted up lanterns on that day with shapes and animals described in the long-lasting tradition. 

The Mid-Autumn festival or "Tết Trung Thu" in Vietnamese is also known as Children's Festival because of the event's emphasis on children. 


The celebration also came to symbolize a reverence for fertility, with prayers given for bountiful harvests, increase in livestock, and human babies. 

In Vietnam, the celebrations are usually held one or two weeks before the due date in big cities with several cultural and traditional activities inclduing watch lion and Lykon dance, join in lantern parading, enjoying mooncake and tea with family members among others. 

Massive lanterns with various shapes, sizes, and colors modeled after historical figures, animals, and fables, among others, have become a “specialty” of the northern province of Tuyen Quang during the mid-Autumn Festival for decades. 
 
Giant lantern brights up the streets in Tuyen Quang city. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
Giant lantern brights up the streets in Tuyen Quang city. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
These days as the mid-Autumn festival is drawing nearer, Tuyen Quang city is busy and bustling with several giant lanterns across the streets. The Thanh Tuyen (Tuyen Quang citadel) Festival, which is held on the occasion of the mid-Autumn Festival, will see the attendance of over 70 giant lanterns in a parade. Meanwhile,  giant lanterns on Tuyen Quang streets have already numbered in hundreds.

In the old times, this festival in Tuyen Quang used to be simple and thrifty which was held separately in neighborhoods for children. Today, it has grown into a unique feature of Tuyen Quang on every mid-Autumn festival which is held with much fanfare with large turnout of locals and visitors. 

 The giant lanterns are made up of every day materials including bamboo sticks, sponges and paper, among others. Every one could become a lantern creators adding the colors and lights to make their lanterns the real artworks. 

Some lanterns, when rotating make a succession of pictures painted in its sides and creating animations of the dragon spitting out the gems or of fish swimming, among others. 


Some photos of Tuyen Quang streets lighted up with super big lanterns: 
 
Lanterns are made sophisticatedly. Photo: Zingnews.
Lanterns are made sophisticatedly. Photo: Zingnews.
The lantern creates animation of dragon. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
The lantern creates animation of dragon. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
Children are excited when seeing the giant lanterns parading on the streets. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
Children are excited when seeing the giant lanterns parading on the streets. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
Tuyen Quang streets gathers lots of people as mid-Autumn festival is coming nearer. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
Tuyen Quang streets gathers lots of people as mid-Autumn festival is coming nearer. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
Some people take photos with the giant lanterns. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
Some people take photos with the giant lanterns. Photo: Tuoitrenews.
Reactions:
Share:
Trending
Most Viewed
Trekking: excursion into nature

Trekking: excursion into nature

Caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, more and more Vietnamese are seeking long treks into the deep forest for novel experiences.

Top picks of Vietnam’s must-visit destinations in 2025

Top picks of Vietnam’s must-visit destinations in 2025

In 2025, domestic tourism is gaining popularity among Vietnamese travelers, driven by the desire for new experiences close to nature and cultural diversity.

Hanoi to develop creative tourism based on inherent advantages

Hanoi to develop creative tourism based on inherent advantages

By participating in creative tourism activities, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of local customs, art and culture through hands-on, meaningful interactions with local people.

New milestone in Hanoi's night tourism development

New milestone in Hanoi's night tourism development

The 'Truc Bach Night' tourism promotion program is important in furthering Hanoi's efforts to develop the night-time economy.

Two Vietnamese cities in Asia's top five destinations for digital nomads

Two Vietnamese cities in Asia's top five destinations for digital nomads

The recognition was made by US-based travel website Travel Off Path, affirming Vietnam's most ideal and affordable destinations for digital nomads in Asia for 2025.

City for Peace designation boosts tourism in Hanoi

City for Peace designation boosts tourism in Hanoi

By capitalizing on the advantages of its millennia-old culture and products with a strong local flavor, tourism in Hanoi is expected to take off.

24 hours in Hanoi: Learning to love the city

24 hours in Hanoi: Learning to love the city

Spending a full day in Hanoi to experience the pace of life can be an emotional and unforgettable experience for people who are just passing through, but for those who are devoted to the city, years of exploration are not enough.

Nostalgia for rice noodles with fried tofu from Hanoi's Old Quarter

Nostalgia for rice noodles with fried tofu from Hanoi's Old Quarter

Bun dau mam tom (fermented shrimp paste with fried tofu and rice noodles) is one of Hanoi's signature dishes and is favored by many visitors, including foreigners.