Bustling Mid-Autumn Festival of old Saigon in the heart of Hanoi

Amidst the many colors of Autumn, rich in Hanoi, in a corner of Hanoi, Ngon Sai Gon chooses a very different autumn space, which is the Mid-Autumn Festival of an old Saigon in the heart of Hanoi.

Delicious Autumn space in Saigon in the middle of Hanoi capital.

“We not only bring the authentic flavors of dishes from the Southern region, but also the quintessence of Southern culinary culture, along with the spiritual life, customs, and styles of Southern people,” shared Ms. Hanh Pham, founder of Ngon Sai Gon.

Welcoming the new moon season, Ngon Sai Gon has recreated the image of a moon season filled with memories, still intact in the memories of many children born and raised in the Southern land.

1000 colorful handmade paper lanterns bring the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere closer.

1000 colorful paper lanterns were handcrafted and decorated by the restaurant staff throughout the week. In addition to the main color of the paper lanterns, the restaurant also uses traditional red paper lanterns, with shapes of carp, butterfly, jade rabbit, star, airplane, 12 zodiac animals, typical of the Mid-Autumn Festival of the Southern people.

Right at the entrance, in the middle of the garden, nestled in the frame, along with the trees that are diligently climbing, are paper lanterns, looking from afar like round balls. The round symbol of the moon, the roundness of dreams and aspirations…

Many check-in spaces are arranged to create highlights during this Mid-Autumn Festival season.

The favorite check-in destination is the sky with colorful umbrellas, especially magical at night. The umbrellas evoke a Saigon with two seasons, rainy and sunny. The rain comes suddenly, the sun also goes suddenly. A Saigon that is brilliant and prosperous, but also full of simplicity and rusticity. A Saigon that is very poetic, very romantic, rustic but also full of splendor. The features of such a Saigon have been brought to the heart of Hanoi's streets this fall.

“In my memory, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a series of anticipations and excitements that last for three weeks. The brightest full moon day, the full moon festival, is of course the main event, but perhaps the most fun is the days before.

Mother would save candles, which the Northerners called “candles”, and prepare them many months in advance. Grandmother would prepare paper to fold lanterns. After the full moon of the seventh lunar month, she would bring them out. The children would gather around her, listening attentively to how to fold paper, fold lanterns, and then connect them into a block. Colorful lanterns were born, some round, some even deformed. Grandmother and mother would say that each one was beautiful and fun. A wire was put inside, on top to pull the lantern, and inside to release the candle. Every night, the children in the neighborhood would go out to carry lanterns like that. The small light from the candles, twinkling in the pitch-black sky of the countryside, in the anxious chirping of insects.

Paper lanterns in the space of Ngon Saigon restaurant.

The moon of Saigon like that, forever living in my childhood memories, has now been partially recreated in the paper lanterns in the space of Ngon Sai Gon restaurant" - Mr. Pham Quang Tuan Huy - Creative Director, in charge of ideas, restaurant representative shared.

Another check-in corner that is especially loved by female customers is the garment counter area, with ao dai and accessories, inspired by Miss Ba Saigon. There are many stories about Miss Ba, Miss Ba Tra, Miss Ba Thieu... But in general, Miss Ba Saigon is not based on any main character, but is a common symbol of the beauty, freedom and charisma of Saigon girls. Many special photo albums capturing the memories of the 2024 moon season have been captured very cutely by Ngon Sai Gon customers.

The check-in corner is especially loved by female customers with the style of Miss Saigon.

“On the full moon night of the 8th lunar month, in the middle of the yard, my mother will place an offering tray. Southerners call it the Moon Offering Ceremony. No matter how little or much, there must be moon cakes, also known as in cakes, round and white. Fruits around the garden, there are longan, grapefruit, tangerines, bananas... If the house is rich, there will be moon cakes, Pia cakes. At the exact moment when the moon rises, my father will light a pot of tea, light incense and offer the moon. There are five rainy moonlit nights, children and adults, waiting forever. I must see the moon, then my father will offer. Only after my father finishes offering can I eat the cakes, and only when the rain stops, will the children go out carrying lanterns. So what I hope for most during the Mid-Autumn Festival is that the sky will stop raining. Dreams are often as simple as that..” - Memories of the Mid-Autumn Festivals from Mr. Pham Quang Tuan Huy, a son of the Southern land, who together with us built a Ngon Sai Gon in the heart of Hanoi, always leave such an impression on me. - Ms. Hanh Pham shared.

The dishes are decorated with the old Saigon Mid-Autumn Festival style in the heart of Hanoi.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/ron-rang-trung-thu-sai-gon-xua-giua-long-ha-noi.html