The Mid-Autumn Festival, once centered around moonlit feasts, glowing lanterns, and joyful family gatherings, is now being celebrated in new ways including trips to cultural destinations. Among the favorites, Yen Tu stands out as a place where visitors can join in traditional Mid-Autumn activities while embracing the serene beauty of this sacred mountain.

The show “The quintessence of Vietnamese colors” officially debuted on September 1. Photo: Hoang Quynh

This year, a Mid-Autumn festival program called “Yen Tu full moon heritage ” was jointly organized by the People’s Committee of Yen Tu ward and Tung Lam Development JSC, running from 3pm to 9.30 pm on October 4 at Lang Nuong village, part of the Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes Complex. The event recreated the nostalgic atmosphere of the old - fashioned Mid - Autumn night, bringing visitors back to their childhood memories through a variety of cultural activities: crafting lanterns, playing folk games, joining a lantern parade, enjoying lion dances, and watching traditional performances.

Families could also gather to share mooncakes and release floating lanterns carrying their wishes. Those activities not only brought joy to children but also aroused nostalgic memories of the Mid - Autumn festival in adults’ hearts, creating a sense of belonging.

“Through this event, we are trying to create a space that both evokes the long-lasting Mid-Autumn spirit and offers new experiences for visitors,” said Pham Xuan Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Yen Tu ward People’s Committee, Pham Xuan Thanh. “It is also an opportunity for the community to preserve and pass on traditional values to younger generations, while promoting the cultural heritage of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac complex, recently recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site.”

Visitors could also combine the Mid-Autumn celebration with a memorable stay at Legacy Yen Tu - MGallery, a boutique resort inspired by ancient royal Vietnamese architecture. Its “Happy Family” package offers a complete cultural experience for all ages, including dressing in traditional Vietnamese costumes for photos, printing Dong Ho folk paintings, making bamboo dragonflies, horse riding, and joining traditional folk games. This is an ideal way for parents and children to enjoy a warm, meaningful Mid-Autumn and create cherished family memories together.

Moreover, from September to December, visitors to Yen Tu will have a chance to take part in Yen Tu autumn Festival 2025, held under the theme “Yen Tu - The meditative shade of Autumn”. The festival celebrates UNESCO’s official recognition of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac complex as a World Cultural Heritage site.

During the festival, Yen Tu becomes a living space of culture, meditation, and community connection, featuring folk music nights at Lang Nuong Village, performances by the Dao Thanh Y ethnic group, lantern parades, and floating lantern ceremonies. Visitors can also enjoy art showcases, ancient costume fashion shows and heritage tours. These events, along with meditation sessions, folk games, vegetarian cuisine fairs, and traditional markets, offer visitors a chance to slow down and reconnect with Vietnam’s cultural roots.

A major highlight of the festival is the second community run “Yen Tu Heritage - Touch the heritage region,” scheduled for November 15-16, 2025. The event combines sports, culture, and tourism, helping to promote Yen Tu’s World Heritage image to both domestic and international visitors. Alongside the run, several art competitions, including photography, short videos, poetry, and painting under the theme “Autumn in Yen Tu”, creating an open space for creativity and connection among artists and travelers.

Visiting Yen Tu during the Mid-Autumn Festival means more than a return to the familiar joys of lanterns, moon-gazing, and lion dances, it invites travelers to immerse themselves in a sacred heritage space, where every moment is imbued with cultural depth and spiritual meaning. Mid-Autumn at Yen Tu is not only a festival for children but also a journey back to the roots of Vietnamese culture, a heartfelt reunion of family, community, and the enduring pride of heritage.