It’s the time of the year when the moon is at its fullest and roundest. Tet Trung Thu or Mid-Autumn Festival falls once a year, on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, or this time on September 17th.

Mid-Autumn Festival is considered one of Vietnam's most important holidays.

In Vietnam and other Asian countries such as Malaysia, Japan, and China, Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most popular family holidays. However, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi is a bit more special. Due to the impact of Typhoon Yagi, many entertainment and cultural activities have been postponed.

Although it may not be possible to experience the full extent of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the beautiful and delicious mooncakes still offer a taste of the festival, bringing a touch of Mid-Autumn flavor to both locals and tourists in Hanoi.

Banh trung thu are not made like Western cakes. Sweet fillings range from durian, taro, coconut, and green soy with lotus seeds to connoisseur pairings of coconut-durian or green bean-lotus seed with a salted egg in between for flavor.

Moon cakes from Pan Pacific Hanoi Hotel. In Vietnam, Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to eat mooncakes, play folk games, and feel grateful to family and friends. Photo: Thanh Thuy

To get a taste of the local festival, The Hanoi Times recommends a visit to  Hang Ma Street to try the mooncakes. Although the cake is almost as big as a Big Mac, don't just bite into it! The time-honored, customary etiquette is to cut a moon cake into quarters or eighths, then take a piece and eat it daintily while sipping piping hot tea.

Indulge in the splendor of literature and puppetry this Mid-Autumn, Hanoi Hotel Mooncake Collection 2024 Muse features the ethereal beauty of Chang'E, the Moon Goddess, and her lunar rabbits portrayed in a classical theater that blends Baroque and Renaissance styles. Each intricate stage element is gracefully rendered in an elegant jade green palette, creating a fascinating Mooncake Collection where East meets West.

The Hanoi Hotel Mooncake Collection 2024 Muse. Photo: Huong Nguyen

According to Chef Li Jian Chuan, the hotel was one of the first to launch its own Mooncake Collection and has since built a reputation for its meticulously crafted authentic mooncakes with Hong Kong flavors. The hotel's pastry chefs, 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 handcrafted with precision in the hotel's pastry kitchen using fresh, high-quality ingredients in 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," said Chef Li Jian Chuan.

"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.

Making moon cakes at the Pan Pacific Hanoi Hotel. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Meanwhile, inspired by the beauty of the Vietnamese maiden in poetry, Pan Pacific Hanoi weaves its artistry and presents the 2024 Mooncake Collection, the fragrance of the full moon garden. Through its minimalist, elegant yet luxurious designs, the collection tells the story of the full moon night, traveling back in time to rediscover the timeless beauty of ancient Vietnamese women.

The hotel will offer six flavors made with premium, fresh, health-conscious ingredients, and homemade techniques, including Lotus with Salted Egg Yolk; Green Bean and Almond with Salted Egg Yolk; Melon with Salted Egg Yolk; Jambon with Salted Egg Yolk; Taro with Salted Egg Yolk; and Chocolate with Cream Cheese.

Benjamin M. Schwarz, General Manager of Pan Pacific Hanoi, said: "Our mooncakes are meticulously handcrafted with premium ingredients and are completely preservative free."

The Moon Cake Box from the Moon n Sun Company. Photo: Ngo Minh

This year, gift brand Moon n Sun introduces a mooncake collection inspired by the painting "Ha Man Thu Lai" (Summer Passes, Autumn Comes) by renowned Hanoi-based painter Trinh Huu Ngoc. According to Hoang My Lien, CEO of Moon n Sun Company, the oil painting with images of jackfruit and lotus was created on July 20, 1989, and evokes the flavors of late summer and early autumn. 

The still life has the purity and serenity of Hanoi's autumn. The fresh green of the leaves, the warm pink of the flowers, and the rich yellow of the ripe jackfruit in autumn all blend together to show a moment of joy in the artist's personal emotions.

It is the blessings of nature and life that make Hanoi's autumn so beautiful. As the artist depicted in the painting, the gentleness of Hanoi's autumn allows us to feel, calm down amid a hectic existence, and enjoy all the most beautiful things of our motherland," Lien said.

The moon cakes of Muong Thanh Hospitality. Photo: Minh Thu

This year, Muong Thanh Hospitality has just launched a collection of moon cakes titled Sparkling Moon - Mid-Autumn Festival Reunion, which will remind people of the Mid-Autumn seasons in the past.

The cake boxes are all decorated with cheerful images, evoking the night of the full moon, when the moonlight illuminates every little alley, illuminating the bright smiles of children and the eyes filled with the happiness of grandparents and parents during precious moments of reunion.

In celebration of the 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival, Hanoi Daewoo Hotel has elevated timeless treasures to new heights with the curated Story of The Moon collection, inspired by the exquisite magnolia blossoms that symbolize prosperity, happiness, and good fortune.

The elegant mooncakes of the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel. Photo: Anh Ngoc

Crafted from the finest materials, the collection comes in three enticing color options: sophisticated cream, striking gold, and vibrant orange. With elaborate embossing, each box is a focal point for your happy reunion under the soft glow of the moon.

Beyond the striking box design, Hanoi Daewoo Hotel also emphasizes the culinary excellence of each baked mooncake. Using the finest ingredients and a recipe that has been preserved for nearly three decades, our talented artisans uphold the tradition by presenting a selection of renowned mooncakes, including classics and perennial favorites such as fragrant lotus seed, nutritious chia seed, premium black tea, delicate green tea with almond, sweet coconut sesame, and creative raspberry flavors.