Lantern street in Ho Chi Minh City is bustling before Mid-Autumn Festival

Luong Nhu Hoc lantern street in Ho Chi Minh City attracts many tourists near the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Luong Nhu Hoc area, the intersection of Nguyen Trai and Tran Hung Dao streets, Ho Chi Minh City, is known as the "lantern street" because of the bustling scene of tourists visiting and shopping.

Luong Nhu Hoc lantern street has a history of more than 50 years, associated with the Chinese community in Cho Lon area. This place is famous for its tradition of lantern production and trading that has been preserved through many generations.

Coming here in the beginning of the 8th lunar month, Phan Quoc Khanh (25 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) was surprised and excited by the crowded and joyful atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival. "Mid-Autumn Festival is a Children's Day. When I come to Luong Nhu Hoc street, I feel like I am a child again, reliving the joy of childhood once again," said Mr. Quoc Khanh.

What impressed Quoc Khanh the most were the thousands of lanterns of all colors, shapes, and materials: from paper lanterns, fabric lanterns, LED lanterns, bamboo frame lanterns, etc., creating a sparkling and interesting space.

Visitors here are of all ages, from middle-aged people to young families bringing their children to check-in and take photos. Many foreign visitors especially consider Luong Nhu Hoc Street a destination not to be missed when coming to Ho Chi Minh City at this time.

The lantern street is bustling from the beginning of the 8th lunar month until the 15th day. The busiest time on the street is around 7pm - 9pm. "Seeing children being taken by their parents to walk around the streets and buy toys, my childhood memories come flooding back. When I was little, my parents took me here almost every year to buy moon cakes and see all kinds of colorful lanterns," Quoc Khanh said.

The prices of lanterns here are also extremely diverse, depending on the material and size. Small, simple paper lanterns cost from 25,000 - 30,000 VND, medium ones range from 30,000 - 80,000 VND, elaborate models with LED lights, larger ones or "hot trend" models can cost up to several hundred thousand VND. What makes Luong Nhu Hoc street especially attractive is the combination of traditional culture and modern life. Adults rediscover their childhood memories in the red glass paper lights, children enjoy holding musical lanterns, and foreign tourists are passionate about taking photos, immersing themselves in the festive atmosphere imbued with Vietnamese culture.

Not only stopping at shopping and sightseeing, visitors can also enjoy diverse dishes such as moon cakes, taffy... Quoc Khanh believes that when coming here, visitors should pay attention to keeping their belongings safe, avoiding pickpockets in crowded places. In addition, you should bring a hand fan to avoid getting hot.

“Everyone should buy something to support the shop, even if it’s just a small, cheap lantern because this is still a business area. If you want to take photos at the booth, you should ask permission first to be discreet and avoid disturbing other vendors,” Quoc Khanh said.

Besides Luong Nhu Hoc street, Quoc Khanh suggests that visitors can go along Hai Thuong Lan Ong street, which is also an area selling lanterns, suitable for taking colorful, sparkling Mid-Autumn photos.

Laodong.vn

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/kham-pha/pho-long-den-tai-tphcm-tap-nap-truoc-dip-trung-thu-1580539.html