Bustling 2025 Hanoi’s Old Quarter Mid-Autumn Festival
Once a year, Hanoi’s Old Quarter comes alive with lanterns, laughter, and cultural pride, welcoming visitors to celebrate the timeless charm of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
THE HANOI TIMES — The 2025 Old Quarter Mid-Autumn Festival is expected to transform Hanoi’s historic streets into bustling spaces of Vietnamese tradition, artistic expression and community celebration from September 22 to October 12.
Hang Ma Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter Area comes alive with color and excitement in the lead-up to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Photos: Duy Khanh/ The Hanoi Times
According to the event's organizer - the Hoan Kiem Ward People’s Committee, the festival reimagines the timeless charm of the Mid-Autumn Festival, offering visitors an immersive cultural experience that bridges generations and breathes new life into cherished heritage.
Through experiential tourism and hands-on activities, the event strengthens the connection between past and present, locals and travelers.
The festival officially opens at 3 PM on September 25 at the Cultural and Artistic Center (No.22 Hang Buom Street). Visitors, especially families and children, can immerse themselves in the nostalgic charm of traditional Mid-Autumn toys, with hands-on workshops to craft star-shaped lanterns, paper doctors, bamboo dragonflies, and more.
On September 28, the Hanoi Fashion Design Association will host a children’s fashion show, infusing traditional aesthetics with modern creativity. Meanwhile, Kim Ngan Communal House at No. 42 Hang Bac Street will transform into a thematic cultural space titled “Trang Ta” (Moon descends), featuring exhibitions, scholarly discussions on heritage, and lion-head-making workshops for children.
Papier-mâché masks made from old newspapers, a nostalgic Mid-Autumn toy cherished by generations of Hanoi children.
Along Phung Hung Mural Painting Street, a fusion of art and technology comes to life with Mid-Autumn murals and immersive 3D projections under the theme “Fairy Moon Season”, turning the street into a magical meeting point for visitors. STEM games that blend science, art, and cultural storytelling offer a fresh approach to bringing heritage closer to younger audiences.
The grand finale, the “Full Moon Festival Night”, will take place on the evening of October 12, featuring a traditional lantern procession winding through Hanoi’s Old Quarter and around the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake. This spectacular parade revives the spirit of ancient Mid-Autumn celebrations within the city’s iconic heritage space.
Beyond its festive atmosphere, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi’s Old Quarter safeguards intangible cultural heritage, fosters community engagement, and promotes cultural tourism.
It shows local authorities’ and cultural institutions’ commitment to nurturing future generations and honoring traditions, while reflecting Hanoi’s identity as a creative, heritage-rich city where ancient festivals are preserved and reimagined to stay relevant in modern urban life.
