In the mild autumn air of the Mid-Autumn full-moon night, hundreds of brightly colored lanterns were skillfully arranged, transforming the Imperial Treasury Residence’s courtyard into a sparkling, dreamlike world of the royal Mid-Autumn celebrations in the past. Under the golden moonlight, locals and tourists immersed themselves in the festive atmosphere, enjoying the artistic lantern displays and participating in traditional activities rich with the cultural essence of the Ancient Capital.
A special highlight of the “Royal Mid-Autumn Night” program was a series of unique court performances for visitors and children, including the dances “Unicorn Mother delivering her Child”, “Five Tigers Frolicking”, “Dragon-Tiger Gathering”, “Phoenix Dance”, the tuồng (classical drama) excerpt “Nezha Wrecking Havocs on the Ocean Palace”, and “Lục triệt hoa mã đăng” dance. These were performed by artists of Hue Royal Traditional Art Theater, alongside the Mid-Autumn lantern parade and festive treats for children, creating an emotionally rich artistic feast in the heart of the heritage site.
Bringing her family to Hue for the holiday, Ms. Minh Hang, a tourist from Da Nang, shared: “Celebrating Mid-Autumn right inside the ancient citadel is a special experience. My children were thrilled and impressed by the vibrant lanterns, the court dances, and learning more about Vietnamese traditional culture.”
Similarly, attending Hue Mid-Autumn Festival for the first time, Ms. Jewlan, a visitor from France, was excited: “Wonderful! This is such an authentically Eastern cultural activity. I have never seen anything like it elsewhere.”
In addition to Hue’s traditional lantern space, the program also featured displays of bamboo and rattan lanterns from Bao La village, folded lanterns by CAN Studio, and artistic lanterns crafted by artisans from Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Traditional court games such as Đầu hồ (throwing game), Bài vụ (Vietnamese version of Crown-and-Anchor game), Xăm hường (lot-drawing-esque game), and calligraphy writing also drew enthusiastic participation, offering moments both joyful and deeply cultural.
“Hue Royal Mid-Autumn Festival 2025” was open to the public free of charge on October 6th and 7th (the 15th and 16th days of the 8th lunar month), bringing locals and visitors a radiant full-moon season infused with the luminous beauty of lanterns and the soul of Hue’s heritage.
Some photos of the program:
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“Unicorn Mother delivering her Child” dance performance |
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| Eagerly enjoying the performances |
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| Young people excitedly “checks-in” at the lantern space |
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| Unique lantern from Bao La bamboo and rattan craft village |
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| Demonstration on how to wrap Phap Lam cake |
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| Eagerly viewing the display of royal cakes at the experience space |
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| Sparkling garden setting |
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Artistic lighting in front of the Imperial Treasury Residence |