Rediscovering old memories through traditional toys

The traditional values ​​in traditional Mid-Autumn Festival toys, which seemed to have been forgotten for a long time, have suddenly returned and are welcomed by many people. In the days approaching the Mid-Autumn Festival, on the streets of Hanoi, especially in the Old Quarter, many shops have begun to display Mid-Autumn Festival toys with bright colors, all kinds of traditional toys, weaving a full moon season that is both nostalgic and fresh.

Relive childhood memories

Hang Ma Street puts on a splendid coat, signaling the coming of a bustling Mid-Autumn Festival.

The innocence and playfulness of the old Mid-Autumn Festival are present on the masks of Uncle Teu.

Mr. Tran Duc Minh is happy to see that traditional Vietnamese toys are gradually regaining their position on Hang Ma Street.

It is still nearly a month until the Mid-Autumn Festival, but Hang Ma Street, Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi is already filled with colorful Mid-Autumn Festival toys. Amidst the hustle and bustle of work, Mr. Tran Duc Minh (28 years old) from Ninh Binh also took the opportunity to come here to immerse himself in the early festival atmosphere. Mr. Minh happily noticed a welcome change, when traditional Vietnamese toys are gradually regaining their position. Instead of industrial, mass-produced toys, the booths prioritize displaying star lanterns, drums, lion heads, lanterns, especially papier-mâché masks with a strong folk character...

Childhood memories come flooding back through the colorful cellophane lanterns.

Star lanterns are an indispensable symbol in the full moon festival.

Carine Hubert and her husband enjoy choosing Vietnamese handmade toys to bring back to France to decorate their home and as gifts.

The appeal of Vietnamese toys not only conquers domestic customers, but also attracts international tourists. Ms. Carine Hubert, a tourist from France, could not hide her admiration for the ingenuity and talent of Hanoi craftsmen. She and her husband were fascinated by the colorful animal-shaped glass paper lanterns and decided to buy a few unique lanterns to bring back home to decorate their house or as gifts. For her and her husband, the traditional toys of the capital Hanoi, imbued with Vietnamese culture, are the most wonderful souvenir after a long trip.

Carp lanterns of all sizes are hung along Hang Ma Street.

Bamboo drums are a favorite toy of children during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Artisan Dang Van Hau proudly introduces the dough animals - traditional toys that he has dedicatedly restored.

The appreciation of Hanoians and the admiration of international friends are adding a strong vitality to traditional toys, turning folk toys from nostalgic items into a proud cultural trend...

Passion for preserving the soul of Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival

The Dong Ho folk painting "The buffalo herder plays the flute" is vividly recreated through powdered animals.

Hanoi youth are excited to find toys imbued with national cultural identity.

Crab lamp, artwork by craftsman Doan Thai Cuc Huong.

Behind the return of traditional toys is the unceasing dedication of artisans, who silently keep the spirit of national culture alive. Mr. Dang Van Hau, who has painstakingly restored the craft of making dough animals, a lost Mid-Autumn toy for children in Hanoi, is a living proof. He shared that the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival is special because it is a children's festival. Therefore, toys like dough animals are not only for fun, but also contain meaningful cultural and historical lessons passed down from their ancestors. He is proud to see that after many years of being overshadowed, Vietnamese toys are gradually regaining the affection of consumers.

Ms. Luong Thanh Nga next to the giant butterfly lamp.

The rustic, delicate beauty of ancient Mid-Autumn lanterns is recreated through the talented hands of craftsman Cuc Huong.

Bamboo dragonfly, a simple and charming gift from the countryside.

Sharing the same love and concern, Ms. Doan Thai Cuc Huong, the craftsman who has turned childhood memories into works of art that forever recall the magical lantern parade nights from her childhood, has nurtured the idea of ​​recreating ancient Mid-Autumn lanterns, inheriting the old shapes of lanterns such as carp, shrimp, mantis... and breathing into them a unique new spirit.

Fish lanterns are ready to follow the children to enjoy the moonlit night party.

Instead of using industrial colors, she turned to completely natural materials such as earth colors to create rustic, warm, and environmentally friendly colors. The materials were also carefully processed by Ms. Huong to create a unique visual effect, conveying a cultural story into each product.

Tourists capture beautiful moments of Hanoi's Mid-Autumn Festival.

The familiar cellophane rabbit lantern evokes memories of the old Mid-Autumn Festival.

The ancient Mid-Autumn lanterns of craftsman Cuc Huong conquered Ms. Luong Thanh Nga (32 years old) when she came to Hang Ma street to visit and admire. As a lover of beauty, Ms. Nga believes that Vietnamese handmade toys are more unique and valuable than mass-produced industrial products, both aesthetically beautiful, sophisticated in shaping, creative and containing highly educational folk cultural stories, which need to be preserved and passed down sustainably.

A full moon season full of pride and hope is approaching. This year, Hanoi seems to be more beautiful and meaningful. That beauty comes not only from the colorful Mid-Autumn lights, but also from the cultural values ​​that deserve to be cherished, from the passion of craftsmen with the desire to keep the fire of the profession and from the love of those who return to old values.

Minh Ngoc/News and Ethnic Newspaper

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/van-hoa/tim-lai-ky-uc-xua-qua-do-choi-truyen-thong-20250911162019512.htm