Traveller's Guide to Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival with Kids

If you’re visiting in Vietnam in September or early October, Tết Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival) is hard to miss. Lantern stalls fill old streets, mooncake boxes appear in bakeries, and the sound of lion dance drums carries through neighbourhoods after sunset.

Also known as the Moon Festival and Children’s Festival, Tết Trung Thu is especially centred on children, making it one of the best family-friendly activities to experience during your trip to Vietnam.

This guide covers where to go in Vietnam to best experience the moon festival with kids, what activities children can join, and how to plan an evening that’s fun for the whole family.

• When: The 15th day of the eighth lunar month, usually in September or early October. The date changes each year.
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• Best places to experience it: Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City.
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• Best for: Families with children, first-time visitors, and travellers who want a local festival that’s easy to join from the street.
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• Highlights for kids: Lantern shopping, short lantern walks, lion dances, mooncakes, masks, toy drums, and craft activities.
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• Good to know: The lead-up can be just as enjoyable as the festival night, so aim to arrive a few days early.

Tết Trung Thu, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or moon festival, is a children’s festival held annually in Vietnam. Streets fill with colourful lanterns shaped like stars (đèn ông sao), animals, and cartoon characters, carried proudly by children of all ages.

The festival is easily accessible for families. You can simply stroll through neighbourhoods, sample snacks, and watch performances without strict schedules or ticketed entry.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is not limited to one night. In many cities, lantern stalls, mooncake displays, and lion dance rehearsals start appearing one or two weeks before the full moon, which can be an easier experience for families than the main night. Here's where to go in each city.

Best for: traditional toys shopping and festive lantern displays.

Hàng Mã Street is the best place for Mid-Autumn decorations in Hanoi. In the weeks before the full moon, the street fills with lanterns, paper masks, and colourful festive displays. Nearby, Lương Văn Can is the city’s toy street, where you’ll find traditional folk items like tò he (dough figurines), star lanterns, and handmade drums to shop for.

Travel tip: Go earlier in the evening if you’re travelling with younger children. Hàng Mã is narrow and can become crowded after dark, especially close to the festival date.

Best for: organised family activities with more room to move.

If Hàng Mã feels too crowded, Hoàn Kiếm Lake is a great second stop. The pedestrian zone around the lake is more open, and during the festival period it hosts organised cultural activities like folk games, bamboo dancing, and tò he (dough figurine) demonstrations.

Families often gather here in the evening, and you may see children carrying lanterns or lion dance groups performing near the walking streets.

Travel tip: It’s a good option if you want some atmosphere without staying inside the tight Old Quarter lanes for too long. For convenient access, consider staying at Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha, where you’re close to Hanoi’s key attractions yet able to retreat to a quieter environment when needed.

Best for: the liveliest street festival atmosphere.

Hoi An’s Ancient Town is one of the most atmospheric places to experience Tết Trung Thu, especially if you’re staying in Da Nang or Hoi An. During the festival, the streets fill with lion dance troupes, drumming, children's lantern parades, and families walking along the Hoài River.

Hoi An also holds a monthly Full Moon Lantern Festival on the 14th of each lunar month, when electric lights are dimmed and the Ancient Town glows by silk lantern and candlelight. If your trip lines up, you may catch both events back-to-back.

Families can enjoy:

• Lantern-making workshops
• Boat rides with floating candles
• Street games and storytelling sessions

Travel tip: Keep your plan flexible. Choose one short walking route, stop if you see a performance, then leave before children get too tired. A stay at Novotel Danang Premier Han River, just a short drive away, gives you easy access to Hoi An while offering spacious rooms and river views perfect for winding down after an evening out.

Best for: Chinese-Vietnamese heritage and the most energetic atmosphere.

In Ho Chi Minh City, head to Chợ Lớn, Saigon's historic Chinatown in District 5. Lương Nhữ Học Street has been the city's main Mid-Autumn lantern street for decades, lined with handmade lanterns, paper masks, and lion dance costumes during the festival season.

District 5 also hosts public lion and dragon dance competitions around the festival period, drawing troupes from across the city. Visit the lantern street before the main festival night if you want a more manageable experience with kids.

Travel tip: For families wanting a comfortable base, Novotel Saigon Centre offers a central location with family-friendly facilities, including a pool for downtime between outings.

• Choose Hanoi if your children will enjoy browsing lantern stalls, masks, and toys before the main festival night.
• Choose Hoi An if you want a compact evening with lanterns and riverside walks.
• Choose Ho Chi Minh City if you want a brighter, busier street experience and your children are comfortable with crowds and loud drums.

The best moments to enjoy the festival often come from cultural immersion.

After sunset, streets come alive with glowing lanterns. Let your children choose their own lantern, then join an informal parade through the neighbourhood.

Short walks work best with younger kids. Many families simply circle a block or two, stopping for snacks and photos along the way.

Lion dances are a highlight of the moon festival in Vietnam. Performances are brief but frequent, making it easy to watch one without committing to a long programme.

Some hotels and cultural centres organise smaller shows tailored to families, providing a more relaxed environment than busy public streets.

Mooncakes are a central part of Tết Trung Thu. Fillings range from traditional lotus seed paste to more modern flavours like chocolate lava, matcha, cốm (green rice), and durian. For children, start with smaller portions or shared slices.

In parks and community spaces, you may find mask painting, lantern crafting, or traditional games like tug-of-war or bamboo dancing. These interactive activities are often free or very affordable, and they help children connect with local culture in a hands-on way.

Tết Trung Thu is joyful and public, but it’s still a local family festival. A few simple tips can ensure your family has an enjoyable experience.

• Let children join open public lantern walks, but don’t interrupt organised performances or private community events.
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• Ask before taking close-up photos of children, performers, or shopkeepers.
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• Stand back during lion dances, especially when performers are moving through a tight crowd.
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• Don’t block shop entrances, temple gates, or family groups for photos.
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• Buy a lantern, snack, or mooncake from local vendors if you’re enjoying the atmosphere around their stalls.
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• Explain to children that the festival is not just about lights and photos. It’s a celebration of family, childhood, the harvest season, and the full moon.

Choose one area: Choose one neighbourhood and one main activity. For example, lantern shopping in Hàng Mã, a riverside walk in Hoi An, or a short visit to Lương Nhữ Hộc Street in District 5.

Arrive early in the evening: Aim to arrive between 5:30pm and 6pm. You’ll still see decorations, stalls, and families arriving, but the streets are usually easier to move through than later at night.

Bring water, wipes, and a small snack: Mooncakes and festival sweets are part of the fun, but they’re not always enough for children who are hungry, hot, or tired. Bring water, wipes, and a snack you know your child will eat.

Think twice about strollers: Strollers can be useful in wider areas such as lakeside walking streets, but they’re difficult on narrow pavements and crowded lantern streets. For toddlers, a carrier may be easier in Hanoi’s Old Quarter or Ho Chi Minh City’s Chợ Lớn.

Use taxis or ride-hailing apps: In larger cities, taxis and ride-hailing apps are often easier than navigating public transport at night with children. During festival evenings, some streets may close or become too crowded for pick-ups, so choose a meeting point slightly away from the busiest area.

Festival evenings are easier when you have a comfortable base to return to. After lantern walks, lion dances, and mooncake tasting, Novotel gives families space to rest and recharge.

Book through Novotel.com or on the ALL Accor app to find Novotel hotels in Vietnam and access your exclusive member rate. The ALL Accor loyalty programme is free to join, and eligible stays can earn Reward points for benefits during future travel in Vietnam and at Accor hotels around the world.