Tết Trung Thu

Origins and folklore

Vietnamese mid-autumn traditions draw on ancient Chinese harvest celebrations as well as distinct local legends. A favorite Vietnamese tale tells of Uncle Cuội, who caught hold of a magical banyan tree as it flew up to the sky and remained stranded on the lunar surface. On festival nights, children search the dark patches of the full moon for his seated figure beneath the branches. Historical roots also tie the festival to imperial courts. One tradition credits Emperor Quang Trung with introducing trống quân singing to lift the spirits of homesick soldiers, while another legend claims street lantern parades began as a clever way to frighten away a mythical river monster shaped like a carp.

Lanterns and street parades

Lantern processions bring neighborhoods alive on the fourteenth and fifteenth evenings of the eighth lunar month. Children carry glowing paper lanterns shaped like stars, butterflies, carp, boats, and mythical beasts. In cities like Hội An, artisans craft lanterns using local Hà Đông silk stretched over bamboo frames, while Saigon's Phú Bình quarter has long supplied handmade designs across southern regions. Neighborhood youth and schools often organize grand parades, with towns like Phan Thiết and Tuyên Quang holding massive marches where communities showcase huge illuminated creations. Energetic lion dances accompany the children through the streets, beating drums and cymbals to bring good fortune and prosperity to households.

Traditional feast and mooncakes

At the heart of the home observance is a decorative feast laid out to welcome the rising moon. The centerpiece is often a playful dog figure sculpted from pomelo segments with black bean eyes, surrounded by fresh bananas, apricots, pickled persimmons, and sweets. Families share two primary kinds of bánh trung thu, or mid-autumn cakes. Bánh nướng are baked golden pastries filled with savory ingredients like sausage, melon seeds, and candied citrus, whereas bánh dẻo are soft, unbaked white cakes made of roasted sticky rice flour scented with pomelo blossoms. These treats, alongside tea and wine, are first offered to ancestors on household altars before everyone dines together.

Music, toys and play

Throughout the holiday, adults present children with colorful paperboard masks depicting figures like the earth spirit Ông Địa, alongside spinning shadow lamps and edible tò he figurines sculpted from dough. In northern communities, performers traditionally gathered for trống quân, a lively alternating song game. Men and women stood in opposing groups, singing improvised rhyming verses and witty puzzles to the steady rhythm of a wire struck against a hollow drum. Evenings pass with games of tag, rhythmic percussion music, and family gatherings where gifts of pastries, tea, and fruit are exchanged to honor elders, teachers, and close friends.

How Tết Trung Thu is kept

Preparations begin weeks ahead as families dry grapefruit seeds and purchase holiday treats. On the fourteenth and fifteenth evenings of the eighth lunar month, households set out offerings of mooncakes, tea, and wine for their ancestors. As the full moon climbs overhead, children put on masks and march through the streets in glowing lantern processions accompanied by drums and lion dancers. Families then assemble outdoors around feast tables laden with fruit displays and sweet cakes, watching the moon, singing folk songs, and sharing food into the night.

When and where

The festival occurs each year across the fourteenth and fifteenth nights of the eighth month on the traditional lunar calendar, known in Vietnam as Rằm tháng Tám. It aligns with the autumn full moon, typically falling between September and October.

Tết Trung Thu is observed throughout Vietnam in both cities and rural hamlets. Prominent regional lantern-making hubs include Hội An and Ho Chi Minh City, while towns such as Phan Thiết and Tuyên Quang are celebrated for their massive community lantern parades.

What Tết Trung Thu means

The festival symbolizes family unity, harvest gratitude, and the joy of childhood. Gathering beneath the bright full moon represents wholeness and togetherness. The mythical image of Uncle Cuội resting beneath his banyan tree sparks wonder for children, while noisy lion dances and bright lanterns are believed to dispel misfortune and invite auspicious blessings into every home for the coming year.

On the table

• Bánh nướng (baked mooncake)
• Bánh dẻo (sticky rice mooncake)
• Grapefruit (pomelo)
• Persimmon
• Banana
• Apricot
• Sugar cane
• Tea

Days Tết Trung Thu is marked

Tết Trung Thu dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

Questions people ask about Tết Trung Thu

See also

Mid-Autumn FestivalAn annual harvest festival celebrating family reunions, full moons and mooncakesBuddha's BirthdayA festival marking the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, observed across Asia with temple rituals and community gatherings.Hùng Kings' Temple FestivalA Vietnamese national festival honoring the legendary founding kings with temple worship and processions.Double Ninth FestivalAn autumn festival of mountain walks, chrysanthemum wine and ancestor remembrance

Good reading and sources

• Tết Trung Thu on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.