Last guardians of traditional Mid-Autumn Festival toys on the outskirts of Hanoi

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, toys such as the star-shaped lantern, the paper mandarin scholar, the “two men fighting with sticks,” the fish lantern, the rabbit lantern, and the spinning lantern are indispensable to generations of Vietnamese children.

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The paper mandarin scholar and the “two men fighting with sticks” symbolise parents’ wishes for their children to excel in both academics and martial arts.

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Meanwhile, the five-pointed star lanterns shimmer with meanings of light, hope, and childhood dreams.

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The glowing lanterns, whether stars, rabbits, fish, spinning lanterns, or revolving lanterns, when carried alongside lion dances and the beat of festival drums, create the bustling atmosphere of Mid-Autumn nights in the childhood memories of countless generations of Vietnamese.

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Hau Ai village, on the outskirts of Hanoi, has been dubbed the “capital of Mid-Autumn Festival toys” in northern Vietnam.

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Yet, as high-tech toys gain dominance, local villagers’ traditional craft, like many others in Hanoi, has died out. Today, artisan Nguyen Thi Tuyen’s family remains the only household still producing handmade Mid-Autumn Festival toys in the village.

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Each year, beginning around late June or early July, the family starts preparing toy frames for children’s festive season.

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“These star lanterns or rabbit lanterns are not just commercial products or children’s playthings; they embody the soul of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the spirit of Vietnamese tradition,” shares artisan Nguyen Thi Tuyen.

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Bamboo, rattan, coloured paper, cellophane, and glitter are all processed entirely by hand, from material preparation to framing, gluing, and final decoration.

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Splitting bamboo, bending it, and assembling the frames require both dexterity and strength. A sturdy frame ensures the lantern keeps its shape and doesn’t warp during decoration.

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Covering the frames with paper and cellophane, then attaching decorative patterns, demands patience and precision. A single slip can wrinkle or tear the paper, ruining the lantern’s symmetry and beauty.

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“In recent years, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, our family is often invited to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or the Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Centre to demonstrate and teach visitors how to make traditional toys. The children especially love making their own colourful star lanterns,” recalls Khanh, who is Tuyen’s husband.

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For Khanh, these demonstrations and workshops bring joy by helping children understand and cherish the value of Vietnam’s traditional folk toys.

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On average, it takes two to three hours to make a medium-sized star lantern, which sells for only about VND30,000–60,000 (roughly US$1–2.5).

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Artisan Nguyen Thi Tuyen admits that profits from this craft are modest and the work only lasts two to three months each year. Yet, she refuses to abandon it, saying “This is part of my childhood memories and the very soul of Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival.”