Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam 2026: Where to Celebrate, Eat, and Experience Lantern Magic

One of the most captivating cultural festivals in the Southeast region of Asia is the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam (Tet Trung Thu). It is a magical combination of folk, food and family that makes any street, whether it is Hanoi in Hàng Mã or Hoi An in lantern-lit rivers, come alive as a theatre of light and delight. Every 15th day of the 8th lunar month (around September or October), Vietnam pauses for reflection, reunion, and revelry. The beauty of Tet Trung Thu Vietnam is in its casualness, where a child cries behind the lantern (lồng đèn), a family cuts bánh trung thu (mooncake) under the full moon, and communities reunite with each other with the help of a ritual. Vietnam Mid-Autumn Festival is not a sightseeing event only, but a deep sense of identity and belonging to the Vietnamese people.

Origins and Meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam: Legends of Cuội and Chị Hằng

Every Vietnamese festival tells a story, and Tet Trung Thu tells two: that of Cuoi, the man who floated to the moon with his banyan tree, and Chi Hang, the ethereal moon goddess whose glow watches over children below.

The Mid-Autumn Festival Vietnam has a long history and tradition of harvest and family thankfulness, which transformed into a night of wealth and gratitude, where mooncakes, fruits, and tea are offered to signify the unity and the rebirth. Children reign supreme during this festival. They walk down streets with lanterns of star shape, and put on colourful masks, sing at lion and dragon dances, and get sweets. Families reunite to pay tribute to their ancestors, drink tea, and see the full moon as a sign of wholeness and optimism.

Vietnamese Mooncakes Guide: Types, Fillings, and Where to Buy Banh Trung Thu

Main Types of Vietnamese Mooncakes

• Baked Mooncakes (Banh nieu) -Traditional mooncakes with thick, dense crust, served regularly during Tet Trung Thu Vietnam.
• Bánh dú (Sticky/Glutinous Mooncakes) – Sticky or Glutinous rice flour; sticky, tender, and delicious; children and families are fond of it too.
• Snow-Skin Mooncakes (Modern) – Chilled mochi-like mooncakes, popular among young people and bakery artists in urban areas. Represent family reunion, respect and love at Tết Trung Thu.

Popular Mooncake Fillings in Vietnam

• Lotus Seed Paste – Smooth, mildly sweet, and classic.
• Mung Bean Paste – Sweet, silky, and soft texture.
• Coconut – Fragrant tropical flavour that pairs well with baked crusts.
• Mixed Nuts – Crunchy, hearty, and texturally rich.
• Salted Egg Yolk – Adds a savoury-sweet balance to traditional fillings.
• Modern Fusion Flavours – Matcha, chocolate, durian, taro, or coffee are increasingly popular in Vietnamese bakeries.

Regional Vietnamese Mooncake Varieties

• Hanoi Mooncakes – Handmade in the Old Quarter, preserving classic recipes and traditional artistry.
• Hoi An Mooncakes – Artisanal creations with local ingredients and inventive flavours, perfect for food enthusiasts.
• Saigon (Cho Lon) Mooncakes – Influenced by Chinese culinary traditions, often featuring ornate designs and bold flavours.

Mooncake Shelf Life

• Banh nuong – Can last several days if sealed properly.
• Banh deo – Best eaten fresh within 1–2 days.
• Snow-Skin – Must be refrigerated and consumed quickly for optimal texture.

Cultural Significance of Mooncakes in Vietnam

• Symbolise family reunion, respect, and affection during Tết Trung Thu Vietnam.
• Gift boxes vary: luxurious sets for elders or business partners; simple packs for casual sharing with friends

Where to Buy Vietnamese Mooncakes

• Hanoi: Hang Mekong bakery, Old Quarter.
• Hoi An: Central Market, patisseries.
• Saigot: Cho Lon, hotel bakeries, and seasonal pop-up stalls around the festival season.

Dietary Options for Mooncakes

• In the large Vietnamese cities, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free versions have become more and more widespread.
• Always have a look at the ingredients to eliminate allergens.

Traveller Tips for Experiencing Vietnamese Mooncakes

• Attend a mooncake tasting or making in Hanoi, Hoi An, or Saigon to get a feel of the culture.
• Most of the Tet Trung Thu festival packages involve mooncake making, which is ideal for those tourists who want to immerse themselves.

Mooncakes are not just desserts in Vietnam, but an assertion of culture and affiliation. The artistry of a box, the golden crust, and the balance of sweet and salty fillings reflect the care that defines Vietnamese traditions..

Vietnam Lantern Festival Highlights: Symbolism, Craft, and Night Parades

Popular Types of Lanterns in Vietnam

The lanterns are the pulse of Tết Trung Thu – the radiant elements of optimism and imagination.

Types of Lanterns –

• Star lanterns (long den ngoi sao): Bamboo and paper, traditional and popular among children.
• Hoi An silk lanterns: It is graceful and in vibrant colours, which characterise the Hoi An lantern festival nights.
• LED lanterns: An environmentally friendly new option.
• Dragon and animal lanterns: Grand, sculptural and community parades.

Lantern-Making Workshops in Vietnam (Hoi An & Hanoi)

Hoi An Lantern workshops are open to both young and old tourists to make their own souvenirs. The sessions take 1-2 hours and cost $16 – $50. Vietnamese craft workshops are fun and also a learning experience in terms of culture, and can easily be booked by Vietnam tour operators such as Pickyourtrail.

Safety Tip: LED lanterns should be used when making processions or floats- safer than candles to the family and the environment.

Top Places to Experience the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

City/ Region	Highlights	Activities and tips
Hoi An Mid-Autumn Festival	Magical riverside with thousands of lanterns glowing along the Thu Bồn River	Join lantern workshops, take evening boat rides, or attend local parades. Arrive before dusk for photos and peace.
Hanoi’s Hang Ma Street	A festival street alive with mooncakes, lanterns, and lion dances	Visit stalls, shop for Vietnamese mooncakes, and capture the energy of Vietnam’s full-moon festivities
Ho Chi Minh City’s Cho Lon	Chinatown’s dragon and lion performances	Indulge in mooncake-hopping tours, photography walks, and cultural parades.
Rural and Temple Celebrations Across Vietnam	Pagodas, rural fairs, and local rituals	Join temple offerings and village celebrations for an authentic Vietnamese cultural experience.

How to Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam Like a Local

To fully appreciate the Vietnam Mid-Autumn Festival,  immerse yourself rather than observe from afar.

• Participate in a lantern festival or a Hoi An river festival.
• Go for a regional mooncakes tasting.
• Attend a Vietnamese lantern-making workshop.
• Contribute to the benefits of the artisans by purchasing handcrafted lanterns and green gifts.
• Go on a Vietnam festival tour and experience the history and traditions with the professionals.

Travel Tips for Experiencing Tết Trung Thu Vietnam

• Arrive before sunset for better visibility and fewer crowds.
• Bring cash, as not all vendors in the market in Vietnam accept credit cards.
• Stay hydrated and wear comfortable shoes.
• Use LED lanterns for safety.
• Prebook Hoi An lantern workshops -they fill fast around full moon nights.

The Spirit and Significance of Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival Vietnam is not unique because of its size but because of its purity. It can be the gentle crackle of bamboo frames, the laughter of children, or the flavour of banh nuong and tea, but all this shows the essence of Vietnam’s core family, society and light in the darkness. It is an enduring festival as it is helpful, it teaches to share, be creative and grateful, which is not age or time-dependent.

Conclusion: Experience the Magic with Pickyourtrail

If you’ve ever dreamt of a festival that glows from within, the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival is it. From Hoi An’s riverside lanterns to Hanoi’s mooncake markets, every moment feels poetic. Need to know how to celebrate it? Pickyourtrail’s Vietnam tour packages that feature customised Mid-Autumn Festival trips, including mooncake tasting, Lantern-making classes, boat tours of the Hoi An river, and guided tours of cultural sites. Book now Tet trung thu tour packages Vietnam and treat Tet trung thu like locals do with light, laughter and love. Explore more with Pickyourtrail’s Vietnam tour Packages.

FAQs About Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu)

When is the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in Vietnam?

The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually held in September or early October every year.

What are the best places to experience Tet Trung Thu?

The best places to enjoy the authentic Mid-Autumn festival in Vietnam include Hoi An, Hanoi, Hang Ma, and Ho Chi Minh City, Cho Lon.

Can tourists join lantern or mooncake workshops?

Yes! There are a few lantern and mooncake-making workshops in Hoi An and Hanoi. They are available as Pickyourtrail Vietnam festival packages.

Are vegan or gluten-free mooncakes available?

Absolutely. Vegan and gluten-free Vietnamese mooncakes are available in numerous bakeries and hotels throughout the Vietnamese festival season, and in large urban areas especially.

What are the top things to do during the festival?

Participate in mooncake tastings, participate in lantern parades, ride Hoi An river lanterns, and watch lion and dragon dances in Saigon or Hanoi