The cloth and papier mache animals bounced along, dancing to the sounds of a drum and cymbals to provide traditional entertainment for the Mid-Autumn Festival. (As lions don't exist in China, the lion dogs of Tibet were originally used as models for the noble beast, which is associated with Buddhism.)

The lions were accompanied by a grinning clown-like figure who represents the Earth God. He danced around wearing a big, pink mask, one hand holding his fat belly and the other waving a paper fan.

The 20-minute performance began the Old Quarter's four-day, Mid-Autumn event, known in Vietnamese as Tet Trung Thu. It runs until September 8.

The celebrations include classes running from nine-to-five teaching children how to make lanterns, to he (toy animals made of sticky rice flour), toy ships and kites.

Experts from craft villages in Ba Village, Dan Phuong District; Van Canh Commune, Hoai Duc District; Khuong Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, and others will provide the expertise.

Many pagodas and other old buildings in Hang Buom and Hang Dao streets have been lit up for the occasion.

Huge yellow lanterns have been hung high in Hang Bac Street at the entrance of the Kim Ngan Communal House – the centre of the event.

Inside, the place is adorned with bamboo plates painted with the face of folk characters, star and fish-shaped lanterns, big paper kites painted with images of a rural life, paper lion heads and other eye-catching items.

Dutch tourists Josen van der Sande and his girlfriend, Saska Geurts, were delighted with the spectacle.

"We've never seen such a performance," said Josen.

"It's really a beautiful show. How they moved and danced," his girlfriend added.

A female tourist from Belgium found was amazed at all the decorations. She followed the children and noticed so many holding hands as they walked around the communal house.