People are still flocking to colourful Hang Ma street in Hanoi's OldQuarter during these days. The shops are festooned with lanterns, masksand toys, creating a fanciful and festive atmosphere.
As drumbeats echo, adults, youths and children converge in the street trying tofind favourite items for the Mid-Autumn festival. The festival falls onthe 15th day of the eighth lunar month, or September 8 on the Westerncalendar this year.
For children, it is the most awaited annual event.
"Everyyear on this occasion, we bring our children here twice so they canenjoy the atmosphere and choose whatever they would like for thefestival," said 40-year-old Nguyen Thi Huong Dao from Dong Da district.
"We have fun even it's hot and crowded," Dao's husband chipped in.
Dao said that the family preferred made-in-Vietnam goods and was pleased to see that this year they were far more plentiful.
"It'sgood to see that," Dao said as her husband picked up a miniature lionhead. Meanwhile, the kids put on paper masks representing charactersfrom folk tales and popular cartoons and pose for photos.
While the festival is popular throughout eastern Asia, Vietnamese scholars maintain that it also has its roots in Vietnam.
Duringthe festival, many activities are held at home or in public places.Children enjoy processions of star-shaped lanterns, lion dances, singingand dancing and other colourful and noisy events.
According tothe calendar, this is all supposed to happen on the fifteenth day whenthe moon is full. However, streets selling items for the festival offerreal nights out for those seeking fun even a month beforehand.
Sandwichedbetween Dong Xuan and Hang Duong streets at one end and Hang Ga andHang Cot streets in the other end, Hang Ma street is frenetic at thistime of year. Like occasions for Tet (Lunar New Year), Christmas or theMid-Autumn festival, the street is filled with sounds, colour and light.The shops are open from morning until midnight every day.
Lionheads, small and big; angel wings; plastic and paper lanterns in allshapes and sizes, especially star-shapes; masks and toy bunnies hunghigh or placed on shelves, providing a mountain of choices.
"Ialways look for Vietnamese traditional stuff for my kids, the sort ofthings I played with during my childhood," said Le Tam, a resident inthe Old Quarter.
"I'd like them to understand Vietnameseculture," Tam said, holding the hand of his four-year-old son who isbeating a new wooden drum. His wife and elder daughter were busychoosing a star lantern.
Tam said his family often went to the street at this time of the year so they could taste the real mood of the festival.
Traditionally, the event is dedicated to children. However, as time went by, it also became a pleasure for young people.
Holdingtheir mobile phone high, Hoang HuongThao and her classmate posed for a"selfie", lines of colourful lanterns glowing behind them.
"Weget used to visiting Hang Ma street on this occasion. We have been sofor the past three years since we came to Hanoi for our tertiaryeducation," said the third-year student at the Foreign Trade University.
"Wecome here two or three times," Thao said, adding that she would buymasks, lanterns and drums to organise a festival for children in herhometown in Thai Binh province.
The Roberts family from Englandfound it strange but highly stimulating to arrive in the midst of allthe action. After they checked into their hotel in the Old Quarter at10pm they decided to take a walk.
"We feel excited to be here. It's very noisy, and very different to England, people everywhere," he said.
Hiswife agreed, adding that they did not know the festival was takingplace because the lunar calendar is different. "Anyway, I love it, theatmosphere," she said.
"It's really cool and amazing," theirnine-year-old daughter said, her face radiant with smiles. Like theysay, it really is a festival for kids.-VNA
As drumbeats echo, adults, youths and children converge in the street trying tofind favourite items for the Mid-Autumn festival. The festival falls onthe 15th day of the eighth lunar month, or September 8 on the Westerncalendar this year.
For children, it is the most awaited annual event.
"Everyyear on this occasion, we bring our children here twice so they canenjoy the atmosphere and choose whatever they would like for thefestival," said 40-year-old Nguyen Thi Huong Dao from Dong Da district.
"We have fun even it's hot and crowded," Dao's husband chipped in.
Dao said that the family preferred made-in-Vietnam goods and was pleased to see that this year they were far more plentiful.
"It'sgood to see that," Dao said as her husband picked up a miniature lionhead. Meanwhile, the kids put on paper masks representing charactersfrom folk tales and popular cartoons and pose for photos.
While the festival is popular throughout eastern Asia, Vietnamese scholars maintain that it also has its roots in Vietnam.
Duringthe festival, many activities are held at home or in public places.Children enjoy processions of star-shaped lanterns, lion dances, singingand dancing and other colourful and noisy events.
According tothe calendar, this is all supposed to happen on the fifteenth day whenthe moon is full. However, streets selling items for the festival offerreal nights out for those seeking fun even a month beforehand.
Sandwichedbetween Dong Xuan and Hang Duong streets at one end and Hang Ga andHang Cot streets in the other end, Hang Ma street is frenetic at thistime of year. Like occasions for Tet (Lunar New Year), Christmas or theMid-Autumn festival, the street is filled with sounds, colour and light.The shops are open from morning until midnight every day.
Lionheads, small and big; angel wings; plastic and paper lanterns in allshapes and sizes, especially star-shapes; masks and toy bunnies hunghigh or placed on shelves, providing a mountain of choices.
"Ialways look for Vietnamese traditional stuff for my kids, the sort ofthings I played with during my childhood," said Le Tam, a resident inthe Old Quarter.
"I'd like them to understand Vietnameseculture," Tam said, holding the hand of his four-year-old son who isbeating a new wooden drum. His wife and elder daughter were busychoosing a star lantern.
Tam said his family often went to the street at this time of the year so they could taste the real mood of the festival.
Traditionally, the event is dedicated to children. However, as time went by, it also became a pleasure for young people.
Holdingtheir mobile phone high, Hoang HuongThao and her classmate posed for a"selfie", lines of colourful lanterns glowing behind them.
"Weget used to visiting Hang Ma street on this occasion. We have been sofor the past three years since we came to Hanoi for our tertiaryeducation," said the third-year student at the Foreign Trade University.
"Wecome here two or three times," Thao said, adding that she would buymasks, lanterns and drums to organise a festival for children in herhometown in Thai Binh province.
The Roberts family from Englandfound it strange but highly stimulating to arrive in the midst of allthe action. After they checked into their hotel in the Old Quarter at10pm they decided to take a walk.
"We feel excited to be here. It's very noisy, and very different to England, people everywhere," he said.
Hiswife agreed, adding that they did not know the festival was takingplace because the lunar calendar is different. "Anyway, I love it, theatmosphere," she said.
"It's really cool and amazing," theirnine-year-old daughter said, her face radiant with smiles. Like theysay, it really is a festival for kids.-VNA
