Where to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

The best places to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam are Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City. These cities host the largest lantern displays and street events around the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Hanoi focuses on traditional toys and crafts. Hoi An features floating paper lanterns on the river. Ho Chi Minh City has a dedicated lantern market. To avoid the biggest crowds, visit these locations two days before the actual festival night.

Hàng Mã Street in the Old Quarter is the center of Mid-Autumn celebrations in Hanoi. For weeks before the festival, shops sell paper lanterns, lion heads, and traditional toys. The street becomes a pedestrian-only zone on weekend evenings close to the festival. It is highly crowded, so walking is the only option. Visitors can buy simple star lanterns starting from $2 (approximate). For a quieter experience, visit during the daytime on weekdays. If you need help arranging a walking tour, ask a Trip2VN specialist to get a quote.

Hoi An Ancient Town holds its lantern festival on the 14th day of every lunar month, but the Mid-Autumn festival is the largest. Modern streetlights are turned off in the old town after dark. The streets are lit only by silk lanterns hung from historic wooden houses. Local children perform lion dances outside shops and homes. Visitors can take a wooden boat ride on the Thu Bồn River to release paper lanterns. Boat rides cost from $5 (approximate) per group. Lanterns cost from $0.50 (approximate) each.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the main celebration happens along Lương Nhữ Học Street in District 5. This area is the historic Chinatown, known locally as Chợ Lớn. Shopkeepers hang thousands of lanterns of all sizes, from traditional glass-paper designs to modern battery-operated toys. The street is narrow and gets extremely busy from 7:00 PM onwards. Parking nearby can be difficult, so taking a taxi is recommended. Most shops allow visitors to take photos if they purchase a small lantern, with prices starting from $3 (approximate).