Vibrant Hues of Hanoi's Mid-Autumn Festival in Early 20th Century

In early 20th-century Vietnam, particularly in Hanoi, the Mid-Autumn Festival was the most eagerly anticipated occasion of the year for children. With a history dating back at least two thousand years, its origins are still explored by historians, whether rooted in Vietnam's ancient wet-rice farming culture or introduced through early exchanges with neighboring traditions. During the early decades of the twentieth century, the festive spirit arrived in Hanoi at the start of the eighth lunar month. Parents would take their children to Hang Gai and Hang Mã streets, historic guild streets in the heart of Hanoi, which served as the largest and most vibrant open-air marketplaces for handcrafted toys and festive papercrafts. The undisputed symbol of the traditional Vietnamese Mid-Autumn was the handcrafted five-pointed star lantern. Long before battery-powered plastic novelties existed, artisans crafted these lanterns by splitting and curving flexible bamboo strips into lightweight frames, stretching dyed cellophane across shapes inspired by swimming carp and gentle rabbits. Children also carried pleated accordion lanterns made from colorful paper. The most mesmerizing creation was the revolving shadow lantern (đèn kéo quân), powered entirely by convection currents from a small candle flame, causing an internal paper wheel to turn and cast silhouettes of folk heroes and animals onto translucent outer panels. Mechanical tinplate toys also captured children’s imaginations, becoming prized gifts. Away from the crowded market streets, local neighborhood dry-goods vendors set up small curbside displays, offering miniature lion heads, star lanterns, and papier-mâché masks of the jovial folk character Chu Teu, alongside festive firecrackers and everyday household wares. Vintage photographs from the era, such as a toy and lantern boutique on Hanoi's Hang Gai Street in 1915, children parading with oversized star lanterns in 1928, and the vibrant spirit of the lion dance, remain as valuable records. These images remind us that a century later, the heart of Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival has never been about extravagance or technology, but always about community warmth: the rustle of delicate paper, the soft golden flicker of a candle, and the shared excitement of a family gathered under the night sky. Source: Vietnam Insider