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These days, the street selling Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns on Luong Nhu Hoc Street (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City) becomes even more dazzling with the colors emanating from thousands of lanterns, attracting many people to visit, shop, and take photos. It is known that lanterns have been sold on Luong Nhu Hoc Street for over 50 years, becoming a cherished memory for many residents. Therefore, every Mid-Autumn Festival, this place becomes an attractive destination not only for children and tourists but also for people in Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arriving at the lantern street, visitors can easily find stalls displaying lanterns in a variety of colors.
Besides being an office worker, Phan Thanh Dat (24 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) also has a passion for photography. He recently created a photo series capturing the bustling atmosphere of the lantern street.
Thanh Dat shared: "From what I've observed, this year the lantern street has more shops, and the variety is also more diverse. The familiar glossy paper lanterns now come in new shapes like cartoon characters and animals following current trends. In addition, this year there are also some stylized, modern lanterns like rabbit and duckling lanterns, which are very cute and have been trending on social media recently. Regarding prices, this year is not much different from last year; the products are very affordable, and the variety makes the atmosphere very lively."
We can find a wide variety of lanterns with different designs.
From the end of July to the beginning of August in the lunar calendar, Luong Nhu Hoc Street becomes bustling with goods for the Mid-Autumn Festival. What's special here is the impressive variety of lanterns. You can visit during this time to immerse yourself in the Mid-Autumn atmosphere of Saigon. During the day, the street retains its ancient charm, but when night falls, it becomes vibrant with adults and children visiting and shopping.
Luong Nhu Hoc Street is home to a long-standing Chinese community, and it was they who developed the unique craft of handmade lanterns. According to Chinese tradition, lanterns not only create a vibrant festive atmosphere but also symbolize reunion. Besides being used for lighting and creating a cheerful atmosphere for nighttime festivals, Chinese lanterns also carry symbolic meaning. Imperial lanterns often appear at weddings, symbolizing happiness and reunion. Conversely, white bamboo lanterns are commonly seen at funerals, expressing grief and sorrow.
The vibrant colors reflect the warmth of the approaching festive season.
Speaking to Travellive, Thanh Dat said that besides families bringing their children to shop, visitors to the lantern street also include young people and adults who come to take photos for social media or buy lanterns as gifts for friends and relatives. It seems that playing with lanterns is no longer just a children's game; adults also enjoy this unique folk game.
On the streets, the vibrant red and yellow of the lanterns, along with the laughter and chatter of visitors, further enhance the lively atmosphere of the upcoming festival season. Perhaps for the people of Ho Chi Minh City, visiting the lantern street has become a tradition every time the August full moon arrives, a beautiful cultural aspect passed down through generations.
The star-shaped lantern is a familiar sight to generations of Vietnamese people.
Additionally, they also sell lion dance heads in various shapes and sizes here.
"Every year, around the Mid-Autumn Festival, I always make time to come here to visit, take photos, and buy some of my favorite items. This year, I went early, but the atmosphere was already very crowded and lively. When the streetlights came on, everything became bright and sparkling. I felt like I had stepped into a fairytale world, like I was returning to my childhood with traditional lanterns: star lanterns, butterfly lanterns, swan lanterns, carp lanterns—all the familiar lanterns that appeared in the rhymes and songs I heard and knew by heart throughout my childhood."
Walking around the stalls, although crowded, visitors were very orderly, giving way to each other. The vendors were also friendly and welcoming, not trying to pressure or coerce customers into buying. The vendors even guided young people on how to take photos and choose good angles. In general, everyone was very lovely and approachable. Seeing families bringing their children to buy lanterns reminded me of my childhood, and I could feel the warm, family-friendly atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival," Thanh Dat shared.
A traditional Chinese cultural feature is candied hawthorn berries.
Another style of Mid-Autumn Festival lantern.
Besides admiring the colorful lanterns, visitors to Luong Nhu Hoc Lantern Street also get to enjoy the atmosphere of the annual festival. Luong Nhu Hoc Lantern Street stands as a witness to childhood memories, adorning itself with cherished recollections, allowing anyone who comes here to admire and savor the flavors, sounds, and colors of their youth. Furthermore, it's considered a unique tourist destination, and any visitor to Ho Chi Minh City during the Mid-Autumn Festival will want to experience the atmosphere of the lantern street in District 5 at least once.
For Thanh Dat, the lantern street is a distinctive cultural symbol of the Chinese quarter in Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City. The tradition of enjoying lanterns is also a beautiful cultural practice from ancient times, well worth preserving and passing on to future generations.
"Thanks to the lantern streets, both domestic and international tourists will remember Saigon more. Currently, I think only Hang Ma Street (Hanoi) and Luong Nhu Hoc Street (Ho Chi Minh City) are typical lantern streets. I think other places should also develop this model so that people have more places to have fun, entertain, and shop during the Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as a way to preserve and promote this beautiful traditional culture," Thanh Dat confided.
Rabbit-shaped lanterns - this year's "hot trend".
Many young people come here to visit, take photos, and check in.
