In Hanoi, moon cakes have been sold since the end of the 7th lunar month. (Photo: VOV)

For nearly a month now, mooncake shops in Hanoi have been besieged by customers. Many are willing to travel long distances to purchase their favorite cakes early.

Vo Vu Thi , a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, said: “This is my first time here. My friends saw the cakes on social media and asked me to buy some. I think they make wonderful gifts, so I’ll bring them back home to share.”

Traditionally, mooncakes were limited to baked or sticky rice varieties, with fillings of mixed nuts, mung beans, or lotus seeds. In recent years, however, the market has expanded with creative options, including Western-inspired flavors. These modern cakes have proven especially popular with young buyers.

Luong Nhu Hoc Street, Ho Chi Minh City, has a variety of colorful and diverse lanterns. (Photo: Phan Quoc Khanh/laodong.vn)

Veteran baker Pham Thu Hien said: “Over the past three or four years we’ve seen a shift. Customers are more open to new, creative flavors like green tea, chocolate, or cheese, often inspired by Western desserts.”

Lanterns are another indispensable part of the Mid-Autumn Festival. In lantern streets like Hai Thuong Lan Ong and Luong Nhu Hoc in Ho Chi Minh City, a dazzling variety are on display, from miniature lanterns to large decorative lanterns for cafés and tea shops.

Classic childhood favorites like star-shaped lanterns and lanterns that look like cartoon characters remain popular. Newer designs such as lanterns that look like the Vietnamese national flag and bracelet-sized lanterns that can be clipped onto backpacks are also in high demand. Vendors are offering discounts for bulk purchases.

Hanoi resident Nguyen Van Phuong said: “The larger lanterns are used as shop decorations. Young people prefer the smaller ones that they can carry around. Prices range from 30,000 to 70,000 VND.”

Premium mooncakes and lanterns have retained their market share by offering gift sets of mooncakes paired with lanterns and multifunctional learning-play lanterns.

Nguyen Minh Trong from Ho Chi Minh City said: “Adults all have their personal Mid-Autumn memories. I want to relive mine through products that blend tradition with modern creativity.”