Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam 2026 falls on Friday, 25 September, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Unlike Tet, the Lunar New Year, this festival will not close a single shop or delay a single flight.
Streets across the country fill with lanterns, drums and the smell of fresh mooncakes, and everyday life simply keeps moving around it. Here is when it happens, what it means, and where in Vietnam to see it done properly.
When Is the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam 2026?
Tet Trung Thu is set by the lunar calendar, so the date shifts every year. In 2026 it lands on Friday, 25 September, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month and the night of the year’s roundest full moon.
| Festival | 2026 Date | Public Holiday? |
| Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival) | Friday, 25 September | No |
| Tet (Lunar New Year) | Mid-February | Yes, nationwide |
Because it is not a public holiday, banks, offices and transport all run as normal that week. This makes it one of the easiest festivals to fold into an ordinary Vietnam trip: no rebooked flights, no closed counters, no shortage of taxis.
If you are still choosing dates, our month-by-month guide to visiting Vietnam covers how late September weather compares across the north, centre and south.
The Story Behind Tet Trung Thu
The festival traces back to the rice harvest. By the eighth lunar month, fieldwork eases and families gather to give thanks under the first bright full moon of autumn.
The best-known legend is about Cuoi, a woodcutter who accidentally carried a magic banyan tree into the sky and became stranded on the moon. On the night of the festival, children light lanterns and parade through the streets, said to help guide Cuoi’s way home.
Because children are at the centre of it, Tet Trung Thu is often called Vietnam’s Children’s Festival. According to Vietnam Tourism, lanterns, masks and musical toys are traditionally given to children as part of the celebrations.
How Vietnam Celebrates
Mooncakes: Two Kinds, One Season
Mooncakes appear in shops and street stalls for weeks before the festival itself. Vietnam has two main types, and they are worth knowing apart before you buy.
| Mooncake | What it is | Typical Price |
| Banh nuong | Baked pastry shell, dense filling of lotus seed paste, salted egg yolk or mixed nuts | $2 to $6 |
| Banh deo | Unbaked, chewy sticky rice dough, usually sweeter and lighter than banh nuong | $1.60 to $3.20 |
Both are sold individually or in gift boxes, which makes them an easy, packable souvenir if you are travelling onward after the festival.
Lanterns, Lion Dances and Moon Gazing
Beyond mooncakes, three traditions define the night:
- Ruoc den: lantern parades, with children carrying star-shaped or carp-shaped lanterns through the streets after dark
- Mua lan: lion and dragon dances performed outside homes, shops and hotels, often with a drummer leading the routine
- Trong trang: moon gazing, when families set out fruit and mooncakes on a small platform and eat together once the food has been offered to the moon
Best Places to Experience It
Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An is the most photogenic base for the festival. Silk lanterns line the streets year-round, and Tet Trung Thu adds riverside parades and floating lanterns on the Thu Bon River. For context on the town’s other lantern nights and how it pairs with a Da Nang arrival, see our Hoi An in summer guide.
Hanoi Old Quarter and Hang Ma Street
In Hanoi, Hang Ma Street turns into a solid wall of lanterns, masks and toys for the entire month leading up to the festival. Evenings are loud, bright and best explored on foot rather than by taxi. If you are flying into the capital for it, our Noi Bai Airport guide covers immigration, terminals and getting into the Old Quarter.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Cholon
Cholon, the city’s historic Chinese quarter, hosts Ho Chi Minh City’s liveliest celebrations, with lantern-lit streets, lion dance troupes and mooncake vendors on almost every corner. It sits about 30 to 40 minutes from Tan Son Nhat Airport by taxi or Grab, depending on traffic.
Practical Tips for Travelers
- Go after 6pm: lanterns, lion dances and street food stalls come alive in the evening, daytime is comparatively quiet
- Book Hoi An early: accommodation around the festival and any nearby weekend fills up fast, aim for 30 to 60 days ahead
- Carry cash: most lantern shops and street stalls in Hang Ma and Cholon are cash-only
- Mind the crowds: keep bags zipped and valuables in front pockets in dense areas like Hang Ma and Hoi An’s Old Town
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tet Trung Thu a public holiday in Vietnam?
No. It is a widely celebrated cultural festival, but businesses, banks and transport all operate as normal.
Do I need to book anything in advance?
Street celebrations need no booking, but accommodation in Hoi An and central Hanoi should be reserved ahead if your trip falls on the festival weekend.
Which city is best for a first visit?
Hoi An for atmosphere, Hanoi’s Hang Ma Street for the biggest lantern market, and Ho Chi Minh City’s Cholon if you are short on time and already based in the south.
Arriving in Time for the Festival
Because Tet Trung Thu is not a public holiday, flight schedules stay normal that week, which makes it far easier to plan around than Tet. The one thing that does not change is weekend traffic at immigration: late September weekend arrivals into Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai and Da Nang still see queues stretch past an hour during peak landing windows.
If your flight lands the same day you want to be out watching lion dances, that wait is the one part of the trip worth planning around. Fast Track Vietnam‘s airport assistance service puts an agent by your side from the moment you land, guiding you through priority immigration lanes and handling your bags, so you reach your hotel and the festival streets while the evening is still young.