Vendors along Hang Ma Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter are busy gearing up for a frightening Halloween celebration with spooky toys, costumes and toys as the day draws close.
Originally a festival celebrated in the West, Halloween falls on October 31 each year. In recent years, both Halloween and Christmas have become popular festivals for young people in Vietnam.
Halloween (a contraction of All Hallows' Evening) is a day marking the end of a harvest and the beginning of winter, dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the departed. Halloween is a traditional and special festival in the West with the symbol of pumpkins carved with faces.
In Hanoi, before Halloween, decorative items and Halloween-themed toys are available at all Hang Ma Street shops and souvenir shops in the city's downtown. |
This year, the most popular Halloween decorations on Hang Ma Street are pumpkins, skeletons, skulls and ghost costumes. |
Pumpkin-shaped lanterns are the most purchased items, ranging from VND70,000 ($2.82) to VND150,000 ($6.04). Children carry them from house to house, asking for treats with the phrase "Trick or treat". |
Shops display various outfits, such as superhero characters, bone-printed clothes, and witches’ hats. Depending on style and size, the price of a witch costume can range from VND100,000-200,000 (US$4.2-8.4). |
According to one store owner, up to 95% of the Halloween products on Hang Ma Street come from China and are very popular with customers, and the scarier the toys, the more attractive they are. |
Among children, princess dresses, superman outfits, and witches’ costumes are the most popular items. |
Nguyen Nhat Anh, a businesswoman, said, "I want to buy some decorations for my store to attract customers this Halloween. This year's products are more diversified but slightly more expensive than last year's." |
Foreign tourists are interested in various designs that match Westerners' Halloween. |
