Four weeks before the Mid-Autumn Festival is the peak demand period for moon cakes, so there are concerns about the risk of unhygienic and unsafe food.

Phan Thi Loan from Dan Phuong district went to a reputable shop to buy mooncakes as gifts for her family. "Food safety is the first thing I think about, followed by quality, price, and packaging," Loan told The Hanoi Times.

Many mooncake makers are now paying more attention to food safety because they realize it will give them a competitive edge. They are focusing on controlling production chains and using technology to ensure safety," said Dang Thanh Phong, Head of Hanoi's Food Sub-department.

Head of the Hanoi Food Sub-department Dang Thanh Phong (in black shirt) inspects the process of making mooncakes at the  Sheraton Hanoi Hotel on August 13. Photo: Thanh Binh/The Hanoi Times

Hanoi is focusing on monitoring distribution networks in addition to managing ingredient suppliers. "Local authorities are putting a lot of effort into dealing with products that are poorly made or of unclear origin and could be harmful to consumers' health," says Phong.

The Sub-department has issued an urgent call for traceability and recall of products that fail to meet food safety standards during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival next month.

It also warned of severe penalties for offenders and the publication of the names and addresses of offending establishments.

The Sub-Department also asked the People's Committees Office and the Health Department to step up efforts to ensure food safety and to conduct inspections and checks to ensure compliance with food safety regulations for moon cakes, sweets, beverages, and traditional foods.

Phong’s team inspects moon cakes at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel. Photo: Thanh Binh/The Hanoi Times

The Food Safety Sub-department is seeking cooperation with media agencies to strengthen food safety communication during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Food production and distribution facilities must comply with food safety regulations, including requirements for facilities, equipment, knowledge, and practices of those directly involved in production, as well as regulations on the origin of food ingredients, product declarations, the use of colorings, flavorings, additives, food packaging, and labeling.

Consumers should be guided in the safe selection, processing, preservation, and use of foods. They should buy and use only foods and food additives that are fully labeled and clearly identified as to their origin, and should not use food additives that are not on the approved list, or use them incorrectly.

People buy mooncakes on Thanh Nien Road in Hanoi. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times

For customers like Loan who value food safety, the mooncakes offered by Hanoi's major hotels seem like an ideal choice. In addition to their attractive design and delicious taste, these mooncakes benefit from the hotels' meticulous attention to the quality and origin of the ingredients, giving consumers confidence both for their own enjoyment and as gifts.

According to chef Li Jian Chuan of the Hanoi Hotel, the hotel was one of the first places in the city to launch its own mooncake collection. Since then, its reputation has been built on its meticulously crafted authentic mooncakes with Hong Kong flavors. The hotel's pastry artisans, under the expert guidance of the renowned Chinese chef, have worked diligently to preserve the distinctive cultural essence of each mooncake, ensuring that the best taste is redefined every year.

"Each of our mooncakes is handmade with precision in the hotel's pastry kitchen, using fresh, high-quality ingredients and a variety of flavors, including white lotus, black sesame and walnut, red bean, and the nut mix of cashews, almonds, melon seeds, olive seeds, and walnuts," Chef Li Jian Chuan told The Hanoi Times.

"The products undergo strict quality control by the TSL Testing Center and are certified for food safety by the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade," he added. 

Mooncake making at Pan Pacific Hanoi Hotel. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Meanwhile, inspired by the beauty of Vietnamese maiden in poetry, Pan Pacific Hanoi weaves its artistry and presents the 2024 Mooncake collection called "Fragrance of the Full-moon Garden".
"The mooncake season kicked off earlier than usual this year, with our sales starting at the end of June. Our mooncakes are meticulously handcrafted using the finest ingredients and are completely preservative-free. Complete with detailed labels, our products strictly adhere to the Ministry of Health's food safety regulations for mooncakes, as mandated by the Department of Food Safety. Combined with elegant packaging, our mooncakes make an exquisite gift that will undoubtedly bring joy to any recipient," said Benjamin M. Schwarz, General Manager of the hotel. 

The big day is 17 September - the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar - but the moon cake market is already heating up. Stalls of popular moon cake brands such as Kinh Do, Nhu Lan, Dong Khanh, Hanoi Confectionery, and Thu Huong Bakery have been set up in the busiest areas of Hanoi.

"With an increase in discounts and promotions, more and more people are shopping at moon cake stalls than last year," said Nguyen Thi Thanh Lam, who runs a moon cake stall on Nguyen Dong Chi Street in Nam Tu Liem District.

A moon cake kiosk opened in mid-July on Nguyen Dong Chi Street in Hanoi. Photo: Anh Kiet/The Hanoi Times

As moon cakes sell well at this time of year, hotels, restaurants, and coffee chains have jumped into the market, including tea and coffee chains such as Phuc Long Coffee & Tea, MyLife Coffee, and The Coffee House, while it's also a chance for housewives and office workers to earn some extra cash with homemade products.

While the price of a box of four moon cakes at most popular confectioneries ranges from VND250,000 to VND500,000 (US$11-$20), similar products at the chains go for VND300,000 to VND800,000 (US$12-32).

Although the chains can't compete on price, they do have an established customer base and offer unique moon cakes with varieties such as ginger jam, lemon, lime leaf, malt, dragon fruit, and cheese.

Home-made moon cake producers, on the other hand, make smaller cakes and sell them at lower prices, ranging from VND150,000 to VND200,000 ($6 to $12) for a box.

Le Phuong Anh, a saleswoman at a food company in Hanoi, makes moon cakes to sell during the season. "I use less sugar and make smaller cakes because I know many people just want a cake to mark the festival. They don't want to spend money and eat a big cake," she told The Hanoi Times.

Kinh Do Bakery's mooncakes have been available in both traditional brick-and-mortar stores and modern retail outlets across the country since the beginning of August. They can also be found on various e-commerce platforms such as Tiki, Grab, Shopee Food, Shopee, and Lazada.

Kim Tue Linh, a Hanoian who ordered a box of Kinh Do mooncakes on Shopee, said: "I have both free shipping and a 25% discount from the buyer, while still enjoying a brand I prefer."

Along with e-commerce sites such as Shopee, Lazada, VinID, and SpeedL, supermarkets and moon cake brands are also offering free shipping and festival gifts to attract online shoppers.

Other major players in the moon cake market such as Givral, Brodard, ABC, and prominent hotels such as the Sheraton and Winsor have also launched new moon cake recipes.

Hotels introduce new mooncake collections. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times

Even amateur mooncake bakers are joining in the mid-autumn festivities, selling their offerings through a variety of online channels such as Facebook and TikTok.

Nam Tu Liem District resident Tran Tuan Khang expressed his joy that mooncakes were now available through a variety of outlets, saving him time and effort. He may now choose his favorite cakes and designs with ease, whether they are for his own consumption or as presents for his friends and parents.