Celebrated annually on October 31, the Halloween festival conveys an important message: to teach children how to overcome their fears of ghosts and darkness and to encourage them to embrace the positive aspects of life.

This Western festival has been growing in popularity in Vietnam for about 20 years, gradually becoming a favorite among young people. They enthusiastically embrace it and turn it into a fun opportunity to hang out together.

As Halloween approaches, vendors along Hang Ma Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter are busy preparing for the thrilling celebration.

According to a merchant on Hang Ma Street, this year's Halloween toys and decorations are diverse, beautiful and creative, ranging from plastic pumpkins and lanterns to skeleton figures, costumes and Halloween-related fashion accessories.

Hang Ma offers a variety of spooky toys and costumes. Photos: Duy Khanh/The Hanoi Times

Halloween toys and decorations are diverse, beautiful and creative.

The top-selling items that kids love the most are witch robes and pumpkin lanterns.

These kids are looking forward to going Halloween shopping early with their parents. A corner of Hanoi's Old Quarter is lit up with colorful and impressive Halloween decorations.

Foreigners are enthusiastic to see humorous Halloween effigies on the street.

The skeleton bride and groom, together with their families, celebrate a colorful wedding anniversary.

The skeleton witch in her tattered, layered robe.

An endless creation of the artist: a ghostly prisoner attempts to escape from his cell.

This gruesome hanging effigy can scare any Halloween festival goer.

Another frightening mannequin is on display for sale.

A skeleton couple holding hands shows their deep love. Some ghosts are flying around in their typical robes.