The Mid-Autumn Festival is an East Asian harvest festival celebrated notably by the Chinese and Vietnamese^[2][3] people. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar with full moon at night, corresponding to late September to early October of the Gregorian calendar with a full moon at night.^[2]

Mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean or lotus-seed paste, are traditionally eaten during the festival. By Wikipedia 

This festival is also observed in the Philippines. However, as a Filipino I have not noticed it that much except for the mooncakes being sold in supermarkets back in my home country. Yet, in Vietnam by the start of August, visitors and locals would notice stalls popping up like mushrooms everywhere in yellow base color and red prints for company names. As well as, bakeries and other stores selling their own kind of mooncakes especially in Saigon.

This is just one of the many.

Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as Tết Trung Thu in Vietnamese. This year, it will be on September 13, 2019 Friday. In Saigon, it is best to visit District 5 (Quận 5) especially the Lương Nhữ Học Street where you can see lion dance performances and different shapes and kinds of lanterns. Lanterns are also used to decorate the streets of this district.


Other activities in Saigon are for kids which are creating their own lanterns and the eating of mooncakes. Companies and families give away mooncakes to employees and relatives respectively. There are also mooncake fairs where you can taste test and decide whether you want to buy some or not.

Takashimaya or Saigon Center

But, if you want to enjoy a parade of lanterns, Phan Thiết City of Bình Thuận Province (where Mũi Né is located in case you don't know) is the go to place. A local friend whose hometown is Phan Thiết informed me that the city organizes the said activity. At the beginning of the event, there will be a lion dance performance and followed by the lantern parade.