Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City streets buzz as Mid-Autumn Festival nears

A traditional Mid-Autumn market takes shape along Hang Ma Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, stretching from the Hang Ma-Hang Duong intersection to the Hang Ma-Hang Cot intersection.

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Colourful ornaments fill shops along Hang Ma Street, drawing visitors eager to soak up the festive atmosphere.

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Shops display a vibrant array of traditional toys as people prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, or September 25 this year.

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Traditional toys are on display at shops along Hang Ma Street, with lion heads priced at between VND150,000 and VND500,000 each.

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The star-shaped lantern remains one of the most popular traditional toys for the festival. Made from a bamboo frame covered with coloured paper, the lanterns are priced at around VND15,000-200,000, depending on their size and design.

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These tò he (traditional toy figurines), crafted in the shape of lion heads, are priced at around VND500,000 each.

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Parents bring their children to Hang Ma Street to choose Mid-Autumn toys, turning a shopping trip into an opportunity to introduce them to a cherished Vietnamese cultural tradition.

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Meanwhile, in the days leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, Luong Nhu Hoc Street in Ho Chi Minh City enters its busiest trading period. From late afternoon, the street comes alive as shoppers arrive to buy lanterns and festive decorations.

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Alongside traditional star-shaped lanterns, horse-shaped lanterns are on sale, reflecting 2026’s zodiac sign, the Year of the Horse.

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Lanterns made from recycled beer and milk cans evoke childhood memories and are priced at around VND10,000 each.

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Traditional lanterns are sold alongside a wide range of electric models, with prices ranging from VND10,000 to VND500,000 depending on the type and size. Traders say prices have risen slightly from previous years.