This Mid-Autumn Festival, where do Vietnamese tourists go to eat well and have fun?

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, all over Asia, the full moon and sparkling lanterns are shining brightly. Not only is it a time for family reunions, the Mid-Autumn Festival has also become a short-term tourist season chosen by many families and groups of friends to enjoy the festive atmosphere. According to a survey by Booking.com, up to 73% of Vietnamese tourists said they will travel with the main purpose of attending a cultural event in 2025. So, where do Vietnamese people want to go this Mid-Autumn Festival to both "eat well" and "have fun"?

Where to go in the country?

If Hanoi has Hang Ma Street, Ho Chi Minh City has Cho Lon, Hoi An is famous for the "Old Quarter Full Moon Night". Since 1998, every full moon, the whole neighborhood turns off the lights, leaving only the light of thousands of lanterns hanging along the Thu Bon River. Visitors can stroll under the shimmering lights and release flower lanterns to pray for good luck. In addition, green bean moon cakes, corn sweet soup or Cao Lau are dishes that cannot be missed to fully experience the full moon season.

Hoi An ancient town lights up on full moon night

Ho Chi Minh City - brilliant Cho Lon

In Ho Chi Minh City, Luong Nhu Hoc Street (District 5) is always a meeting place during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This place is called "lantern street" with hundreds of stalls selling cellophane, lanterns, carp lanterns, etc. lighting up the whole neighborhood. On weekends, the street is even more vibrant with lion dances and the sound of drums, attracting thousands of families and young people to take photos and shop.

The festival specialty here is traditional Chinese mooncakes, from salted egg yolk to white lotus paste. When tired from walking, visitors can stop by to enjoy dim sum or shark fin soup - familiar dishes of the Cho Lon area.

Tuyen Quang : the biggest Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

PHOTO: TRUNG HIEU

Few people know that Tuyen Quang is the place where the biggest Mid-Autumn Festival in the country is held: Thanh Tuyen Festival. On the full moon day of the 8th lunar month, the whole city becomes a parade stage with hundreds of giant lantern models simulating fairy tale characters and funny animals. The bustling atmosphere with music, dances and highland markets makes visitors feel both strange and familiar.

In addition to the festival, visitors can combine exploring Na Hang, known as "Ha Long Bay on the mountain" with its emerald green lake and towering limestone mountains. Recommended dishes here are grilled Pa Pinh Top fish and armpit pig, specialties of the Northwest region.

PàiBjooc Homestay in the middle of quiet mountains and forests, suitable for those who want to rest after a brilliant festival.

Where should foreigners go to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival?

Not only staying in the country, many Vietnamese also choose Thailand, Taiwan or Korea to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival combined with tourism.

Chiang Mai (Thailand): In addition to the lantern street during the Mid-Autumn Festival, this city is also famous for the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals in November, where thousands of sky lanterns fly up, creating a magical scene. Must-try dishes: khao soi (curry noodles) and mango sticky rice with coconut milk.

Tamarind Village features ancient tamarind trees, exquisite brocade-inspired rooms, a spa, an outdoor swimming pool and a location right in the old town, convenient for visiting Wat Chedi Luang and Tha Pae Gate.

Taipei (Taiwan): Mid-Autumn Festival here is associated with the custom of grilling meat outdoors, eating while watching the moon. Children wear pomelo peel hats for good luck, an interesting cultural feature. Night markets are where tourists enjoy pearl milk tea, pineapple cakes and Taiwanese fried chicken.

Seoul (South Korea): The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Chuseok, is an occasion for families to gather, make songpyeon rice cakes, and eat persimmons and chestnuts. Visitors to Seoul during this time can also enjoy the lantern festival on the Cheonggyecheon Stream or watch the talchum mask dance in Andong.

A survey by Booking.com shows that 51% of Vietnamese people choose experiencing new cultures as an important reason for traveling; 47% spend the entire trip learning about local history. These numbers show that Mid-Autumn Festival is not only an occasion to "eat cakes and drink tea" but also an opportunity for Vietnamese people to explore their heritage and connect with tradition.

This Mid-Autumn Festival, from ancient Hoi An, brilliant Cho Lon, vibrant Tuyen Quang to Chiang Mai, Taipei or Seoul, each destination brings a different cultural experience. Whether choosing domestic or international, the journey under the full moon will certainly leave unforgettable memories for Vietnamese tourists.