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With only a few days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival, Hang Ma Street and its surrounding areas are ablaze with the vibrant colors of various toys, lanterns, and decorations on display. Hang Ma Street is considered the place with the most distinctive Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere in Hanoi and attracts a large number of young people to check in, have fun, and shop.
Lanterns of all kinds, styles, and vibrant colors are on display and for sale to serve people during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Traditional lanterns took center stage at the stalls. Besides the familiar star-shaped lantern, the most popular were carp-shaped, butterfly-shaped, rabbit-shaped, and round lanterns. This year, traditional lanterns were favored by consumers and sold in large quantities. Traditional and handcrafted toys also accounted for a larger share compared to modern items.
These days, Hang Ma Street is overwhelming with the vibrant colors of its diverse traditional lanterns. In many shops, stacks of these toys are piled higher than a person's head. The stalls are beautifully displayed, creating an attractive photo set for all visitors, especially young people. The lanterns and Mid-Autumn Festival toys serve as props, allowing young people to pose and take beautiful pictures.
Previously, there were concerns about modern toys overshadowing traditional ones, but this year, handcrafted Mid-Autumn Festival toys are taking center stage.
Small business owners on Hang Ma Street also said: "The market for toys and decorations for the Mid-Autumn Festival is becoming increasingly diverse. Customers are gradually preferring traditional, handcrafted items over modern toys. Understanding this trend, this year we have imported affordable items. The most popular item remains the rabbit lantern, suitable for all ages."
Compared to previous years, a new feature on Hang Ma Street this year is that some shops have created miniature scenes with a Mid-Autumn Festival theme to attract visitors. Visitors to Hang Ma Street often combine shopping with sightseeing and taking photos. Prices vary widely, from toys costing a few tens of thousands of dong to high-end items like large lion heads, which can cost millions of dong.
Star-shaped lanterns are a familiar and indispensable toy during every Mid-Autumn Festival, sold at prices ranging from 15,000 to 60,000 VND per piece, depending on the size.
From late afternoon onwards, Hang Ma Street becomes vibrant as shops simultaneously light up their lanterns. From around 7 PM to over 9 PM, Hang Ma Street and surrounding streets are often congested due to the overwhelming number of visitors.
This year, Mid-Autumn Festival toys and decorations are on display in a wide variety of eye-catching designs, colors, and styles. Among them, star-shaped lanterns remain a familiar and indispensable item for the Mid-Autumn Festival, priced from 15,000 to 60,000 VND per piece depending on size. In addition, there are papier-mâché masks priced from 50,000 to 100,000 VND each... Red carp-shaped lanterns stand out prominently among the stalls.
The hottest product this year, favored by many young people, is the rabbit-shaped lantern woven from bamboo strips, creating a charming basket-like design.
Among them, the hottest product this year, favored by many young people, is the rabbit-shaped lantern woven from bamboo strips, creating a charming basket. A tiny pink or white plush rabbit is attached to the top of the lantern, and inside is a string of multicolored LED lights that sparkle brightly. The price for this item is also quite affordable, around 30,000 VND.
Strolling leisurely along Hang Ma Street to capture beautiful photos as souvenirs, Như Quỳnh (Cau Giay, Hanoi) shared: "Every year, around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival, I usually come here to take commemorative photos. Besides that, wandering around the street to buy some decorations for the Mid-Autumn Festival also gives me a lot of fun."
Toys and decorations made from natural materials such as rattan and bamboo, handcrafted items, are widely sold on Hang Ma Street this year.
Young people enjoy "checking in" and taking photos in front of the dazzling and vibrant scenery of the street.
Mid-Autumn Festival is an occasion when family members gather around a feast under the full moon, enjoying the finest autumn produce of the year and savoring the unique atmosphere of the eighth lunar month.
As is customary every year, from the beginning of August in the lunar calendar until the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee usually organizes the Old Quarter Mid-Autumn Festival. Hang Ma Street is the focal point of these cultural and artistic activities. Therefore, if you visit Hanoi in August, you will be immersed in the lively atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival on Hang Ma Street. This is also considered one of the most popular experiences attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists.
Previously, the Hanoi Department of Transport had announced road closures, traffic diversions, and the arrangement of parking areas to serve the 2023 Mid-Autumn Festival in the Old Quarter of Hoan Kiem District. Accordingly, road traffic is prohibited from entering the following streets: Hang Ma (from Hang Cot - Hang Ga to the intersection of Hang Duong - Dong Xuan), Hang Luoc, Hang Ruoi, Hang Chai, Hang Khoai (from the intersection of Dong Xuan - Hang Giay to the intersection of Hang Khoai - Hang Luoc), and Phung Hung Street (from the intersection of Le Van Linh - Phung Hung to Hang Cot - Phung Hung). The road closures and traffic diversions will be in effect from 7 AM to 10 PM from September 15th to September 29th, 2023 (corresponding to the 1st to 15th day of the 8th lunar month).
Hang Ma Street is considered the place with the most unique Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere in Hanoi and attracts a large number of young people to check in, have fun, and shop.
