Two weeks before Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival, Hanoi’s Hang Ma Street was already packed with visitors drawn by glowing lanterns, traditional toys and one of the capital’s most colorful seasonal scenes.
Cool weekend weather brought large numbers of residents and tourists to Hang Ma Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter for an early celebration of the festival. By 8 p.m. on Sept. 13, the street was packed as people continued to stream into the area. Hang Ma, known for its toys and seasonal decorations, was awash in the brilliant reds and other colors of lanterns, traditional star-shaped lights and festive ornaments. Its striking displays make the street a popular destination for visitors every Mid-Autumn Festival. The crowds were so dense that people could move forward only a few steps at a time before stopping and waiting. Even reaching the shops to browse toys and decorations proved difficult.
For Nguyen Khanh Linh, 30, a Hanoi resident, visiting Hang Ma Street with her boyfriend has become an annual tradition. “We come here both to enjoy the weekend and to revisit our memories together before we get married,” Linh said.
Large numbers of visitors also came to take photos against the street’s brightly illuminated displays.
Bui Thi Ngoc Tram, 18, from Quang Tri Province, was visiting Hang Ma Street during the Mid-Autumn season for the first time and hoped to capture photographs to share on social media. “It’s very beautiful, but it’s so crowded,” Tram said. “I have to keep trying because I still haven’t got a photo I’m happy with.”
Hanoi’s cool and pleasant weather also encouraged many families to bring their children to enjoy the festivities. Young visitors beamed as their parents bought them drums, bubble-blowing toys, Mid-Autumn lanterns and other festive items.Even as the evening grew late, streams of people continued to arrive, leaving Hang Ma Street densely packed with visitors.
Vietnamnet.vn
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