Where: Vietnam
When: 6 October, 2025
Vietnam’s Tết Trung Thu is its own joyful iteration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, but over time it has evolved into what many call the “Children’s Festival.” Once rooted in harvest traditions, today it is a time for families to gather, for children to parade through neighbourhoods singing songs and for lion dancers to light up the night, each carrying a glowing red lantern. In the days leading up to the festival, streets across Vietnam brim with vendors selling star-shaped lanterns made of red cellophane, the most iconic symbol of Trung Thu, along with colourful masks and toys gifted to children by adults. Sweet treats are central to the celebration: bánh dẻo, soft, sticky cakes with a mochi-like texture, and bánh nướng, baked cakes with a golden crust and rich fillings, are shared among families. In Hanoi, Hàng Mã and Lương Văn Can streets are where the action is, lined with lanterns, drums and toys, turning the Old Quarter into a carnival of lights. In Ho Chi Minh City, head to Chợ Lớn and Lương Như Hộc Street, where the sidewalks overflow with stalls and an infectious festive energy. Part harvest thanksgiving, part children’s street parade, Tết Trung Thu is as much about nostalgia and community as it is about celebrating the autumn moon.
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Festival
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Where: Thailand
When: 5-6 November, 2025
Thailand’s most visually striking celebrations, Loy Krathong and Yi Peng, take place on the same November full moon and together transform the country into a glowing tableau of light and reflection. Loy Krathong, celebrated nationwide, sees people gather at rivers, lakes and canals to release krathongs: small lotus-shaped floats made of banana leaves, decorated with candles, flowers and incense, into the water as an offering to the water goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha (Ganga). The act symbolises gratitude, cleansing and letting go of misfortunes. In parallel, northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai region celebrates Yi Peng, during which thousands of glowing paper lanterns are released into the night sky, filling it with a constellation of moving lights. Chiang Mai’s more than 300 temples are draped in vibrant lanterns, flags, and flowers, and the entire city takes on a surreal glow. Together, the two festivals are about release and renewal, honouring nature, letting go of negativity and inviting good fortune, framing one of Asia’s most lit-up autumn nights each year.
Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival
Where: Japan
When: 4-6 October, 2025
One of Japan’s most spectacular autumn festivals, the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival is a three-day celebration that fills the city with light, sound and centuries-old tradition. Held in Nihonmatsu, a historic city in Fukushima Prefecture, the festival dates back to 1643, when Nihonmatsu Shrine was built, the festival is held annually on the first Saturday, Sunday and Monday of October. Its highlight is the first evening’s grand parade, when seven towering taikodai, 11-metre-high floats each adorned with over 300 glowing red lanterns, are pulled through the streets by teams of wakarens (young paraders) to the rhythm of lively ohayashi music and steady drumbeats. The lanterns are lit from a sacred flame at Nihonmatsu Shrine, bathing the streets in a warm, ceremonial glow. On the second night, the floats split up and parade separately through different parts of town, while on the third day they form smaller groups of three or four, giving residents across Nihonmatsu a chance to see them up close. The energy is opulent and spirited, combining the solemnity of Shinto tradition with the vibrancy of festival music, making it a quintessential Japanese autumn experience.
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