Chinatown is home to hundreds of shops and kiosks that are now displaying colorful lanterns for this year’s full moon festival (Mid-Autumn Festival).

The festive atmosphere is prevailing across every corner of the area, attracting hordes of people and visitors for a tour or shopping.

Previously, local traders once specialized in selling paper-made lion and dragon heads, votive papers, and oriental medicinal herbs. Now, they have shifted to selling lanterns to meet market demand.

More than 100 households are selling a variety of Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns, from traditional lanterns with bamboo frames to electronic lanterns that can play music.

Many small children are curious about the eye-catching lantern that can be used on special occasions such as the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Minh Phan, a resident of District 7, says not only his son but he himself also like to explore this street as the festival is drawing near.

Enjoying the festive atmosphere and watching the colorful lanterns help people relive their youth, shoppers say.

The lantern town is said to have existed for nearly half a century. The trade was first developed by few households on Phu Dinh street, and then joined by others on Luong Nhu Hoc and Nguyen An streets.

Artisan Cao Hung, 67, says the craft of making lanterns for holidays, festivals or lunar New Year holiday is fading away. The lanterns are now decorated with various patterns to cater to users’ taste, costing several hundred thousands of VND each.

My Quy, a small trader in the lantern town, says this year’s lantern prices vary, from just 1 USD to dozens USD, depending on sizes and types.

This tiny lantern has been much sought after by young people this year, costing 2.5 USD each.

These children’s eyes are glued firmly to the colorful lanterns on display.

The lantern town is open from 7pm to 9pm, and on weekends this place is often crowded with people.

The lantern town is expected to be an attractive tourist destination of Ho Chi Minh City during the Mid-Autumn Festival and other festive occasions.