Ho Chi Minh City’s lantern street bustling as Mid-Autumn fest nears
Though the Mid-Autumn Festival is still nearly a month away, Luong Nhu Hoc Street in Cho Lon Ward, known as a ‘lantern street’ in Ho Chi Minh City, has already transformed into a radiant hub of color and festivity, drawing large crowds of families and young people eager to shop, take photos, and soak in the early holiday atmosphere.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is observed annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. This year, it falls on October 6.
The street is adorned with thousands of lanterns in a variety of shapes and styles, from traditional designs like star-shaped lanterns, carp fish, and jade rabbits to modern, multicolored, LED-lit creations.
Stalls line the narrow street, with vendors enthusiastically presenting their goods and customers eagerly browsing, creating a vibrant and energetic scene that belies the festival’s upcoming date.
Students from Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted take a wefie on the Luong Nhu Hoc lantern street in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tri Duc / Tuoi Tre
Crowds peak on weekends, especially between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm, when the street is most alive with visitors.
Many parents bring their children not just to buy lanterns, but also to give them a deeper sense of the cultural traditions tied to the Mid-Autumn celebration.
“My child loves the star lantern and the rabbit one,” said Hang, 32.
“Every year I bring her here so she can fully experience the Mid-Autumn Festival."
The street has also become a hotspot for students and young creatives.
Quan Ngoc Kha Nhi, a student from Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted, visited with her classmates as part of a school project introducing must-see destinations in Ho Chi Minh City.
Nhi shared that to highlight both the traditional and modern sides of the city, her group filmed places like Ba Son Bridge, and then came to the lantern street.
“This is my first time visiting, and I’m really impressed by how festive and rich in tradition it is,” she said.
Lanterns of all shapes, sizes, and colors adorn Luong Nhu Hoc Street in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre
One of the most popular stalls belongs to Nguyen Van Duc, whose humorous sales style and wide selection of colorful lanterns have made his booth a favorite for photos and souvenirs.
Prices start as low as VND20,000 (US$0.75), offering accessibility to all visitors.
“I started stocking lanterns from the end of June in the lunar calendar,” Duc revealed.
“At first, business was slow. However, lately, especially on weekend nights, the crowds have picked up.
“Sometimes I can barely keep up with all the customers."
Children browse for traditional lanterns at a shop on Luong Nhu Hoc Street in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre
Visitors are mesmerized by colorful lanterns. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre
Two young people pose for a photo with eye-catching lanterns. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre
A stall owned by Nguyen Van Duc draws crowds of visitors. Photo: Tri Duc / Tuoi Tre
Tieu Bac - Thanh Hiep - Tri Duc / Tuoi Tre News
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