With only a few days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival, Hang Ma and the surrounding streets are colorful with a variety of toys, lanterns, and decorations on display. Hang Ma is considered the place with the most unique Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere in Hanoi and attracts many young people to check-in, have fun, and shop.
Lanterns of all kinds, designs and brilliant colors are sold to serve people during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Traditional lanterns occupy the most prominent position in the booths. Besides the familiar star lantern, the most popular are carp, butterfly, rabbit, round lanterns… This year, traditional lanterns are favored by consumers and consumed in large quantities. Traditional and handmade toys also account for a larger portion than modern items.
Hang Ma Street these days makes people overwhelmed by the colors of various traditional lanterns. In many shops, toys are stacked higher than people's heads. The stalls are all beautifully displayed, becoming an attractive film set for all visitors, especially young people. Lanterns and Mid-Autumn toys are the highlight props for young people to freely pose for beautiful pictures.
Previously, there were many concerns about modern toys overwhelming traditional items, but this year, handmade Mid-Autumn toys take the lead.
A trader on Hang Ma Street also said: "The market for toys and decorations for the Mid-Autumn Festival is increasingly diverse. Customers are also gradually preferring traditional, hand-made folk items over modern toys. Grasping such tastes, this year we also imported affordable items. The most attractive item is still the rabbit lantern, suitable for all ages."
Compared to previous years, the new thing on Hang Ma Street this year is that some shops have created miniature landscapes with the Mid-Autumn Festival theme to serve visitors. Visitors to Hang Ma Street often shop while sightseeing and taking photos. The prices of the items are very diverse, from toys that cost tens of thousands of dong to high-end items such as large lion heads, which can cost up to millions of dong.
Star lanterns are a familiar toy that is indispensable during every Mid-Autumn Festival and are sold for 15,000 - 60,000 VND/piece depending on size.
From late afternoon onwards, Hang Ma Street becomes brilliant when shops light up all kinds of lanterns. From around 7pm to after 9pm, Hang Ma Street and the surrounding streets are often congested due to the large number of visitors.
This year, Mid-Autumn Festival toys and decorations are sold in a variety of designs, colors, and eye-catching styles. Among them, star lanterns are still a familiar toy indispensable during the Mid-Autumn Festival, sold at 15,000 - 60,000 VND/piece depending on size. In addition, there are papier-mâché masks priced from 50,000 - 100,000 VND/piece... Red carp lanterns are the main color, standing out among the stalls.
The hottest product this year, popular with young people, is the rabbit lantern woven from bamboo strips, creating a lovely basket shape.
Among them, the hottest product this year, which is popular with young people, is the rabbit lantern woven from bamboo strips, creating a lovely basket shape. On top of the lantern is attached a tiny pink or white stuffed rabbit. Inside is equipped with a string of multi-colored, sparkling LED lights. The price for this item is also quite reasonable, about 30,000 VND.
Strolling along Hang Ma Street to take beautiful photos as souvenirs. Nhu Quynh (Cau Giay, Hanoi) shared: "Every year, near the Mid-Autumn Festival, I often come here to take souvenir photos. Besides, walking around the street to buy some decorations for the Mid-Autumn Festival also makes me excited."
Toys and decorations made from natural materials such as rattan and bamboo, handmade, are popularly sold on Hang Ma Street this year.
Young people enjoy "checking in" before the sparkling, brilliant scene of the street.
Mid-Autumn Festival is an occasion for family members to gather around the full moon tray, enjoy the best autumn products of the year, and enjoy the very special atmosphere of the 8th lunar month.
According to annual tradition, from the beginning of the 8th lunar month until the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District often organizes the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Old Quarter. In particular, Hang Ma is the center of cultural and artistic activities. Therefore, every time you come to Hanoi in August, you will be immersed in the bustling atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival on Hang Ma Street. This is also considered one of the experiences that attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.
Previously, the Hanoi Department of Transport announced road closures, traffic diversions, and arrangements of static traffic points to serve the 2023 Old Quarter Mid-Autumn Festival in Hoan Kiem District. Accordingly, road vehicles are prohibited from entering Hang Ma Street (from Hang Cot - Hang Ga to Hang Duong - Dong Xuan intersection), Hang Luoc, Hang Ruoi, Hang Chai, Hang Khoai Street (from Dong Xuan - Hang Giay intersection to Hang Khoai - Hang Luoc intersection) and Phung Hung Street (from Le Van Linh - Phung Hung intersection to Hang Cot - Phung Hung. The road closures and traffic diversions are from 7am to 10pm from September 15 to September 29, 2023 (ie August 1 to August 15 of the lunar calendar).
Hang Ma is considered the place with the most unique Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere in Hanoi and attracts many young people to check-in, have fun, and shop.
