Foreigners discover the beauty of Vietnam's Mid-Autumn Festival

On September 16, at Phuoc Tien Primary School (Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province), the Khanh Hoa Provincial Union of Friendship Organizations in collaboration with the Provincial Student Association and the Khanh Hoa Provincial Cultural and Cinema Center organized the program "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival - Peaceful Moonlight". The event attracted the participation of more than 70 foreign children living and studying in the locality, along with Vietnamese children.

A foreign child is choosing his favorite mid-autumn lantern. (Photo: Khanh Hoa Newspaper)

Here, foreign and Vietnamese children enjoyed the warm Mid-Autumn atmosphere through vibrant lion dance performances, special magic shows and joyful performances by students of Phuoc Tien Primary School. The children also received traditional Mid-Autumn lanterns, participated in lantern parades and Mid-Autumn feasts, and received meaningful gifts.

Representatives of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Union of Friendship Organizations expressed their wish to bring joy to all children, including foreign children living in the province, during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is also an opportunity to introduce the unique traditional culture of the Vietnamese people to international friends.

Lion dance performance brings joy to children. (Photo: Khanh Hoa Newspaper)

Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City, many tourists and foreigners also had the opportunity to experience the characteristics of Mid-Autumn Festival through a traditional moon cake making class. Here, they not only learned how to make mixed baked cakes but also discovered interesting cultural stories behind the moon cake, a familiar symbol of the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival.

Ms. Eloa Reis, a tourist from Brazil, excitedly shared: "I have eaten Vietnamese moon cakes many times, but this time, when making them myself, I truly understood the meaning of each step. From kneading the dough, choosing the ingredients to shaping, every detail is imbued with the traditional spirit." Thanks to the dedicated guidance of Vietnamese culinary experts, Ms. Eloa understood more about combining ingredients such as mung beans, lotus seeds, pumpkin jam, and how to create typical baked and sticky rice cakes.

Moon cake making classes always attract many domestic and foreign tourists. (Photo: VTV)

Also in the class, Ms. Evgeniya from Russia was extremely surprised to learn that the sugar syrup for making moon cakes needs to be prepared 6 months to 1 year in advance to achieve the right color and consistency. This is the factor that helps the moon cakes have a sweet taste and can be preserved for a long time.

In addition to traditional mooncakes, many foreign guests also experiment with new flavors such as green tea, bringing unique colors and flavors. For vegetarians, the cake filling can also be replaced with green beans, red beans and lotus jam, satisfying diverse tastes.

Two types of cakes, traditional and green tea, are loved by many people. (Photo: VTV)

For international tourists, Mid-Autumn Festival is not only an occasion to enjoy cuisine but also a cultural bridge, helping them understand more about Vietnam. Traditional moon cakes are not only a dish, but also carry interesting cultural stories, contributing to enriching their experience when exploring the country and people of Vietnam.