How Do Asian Countries Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The Mid-Autumn Festival, a beloved celebration across Asia, is held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This year, it will fall on October 6, 2025. 

Asian countries may share the festival’s heritage, but each adds its own charm—from Vietnam’s star lanterns to Thailand’s durian mooncakes. Discover how each country celebrates below!

1. China

China is known as the cradle of the Mid-Autumn Festival, tracing back thousands of years to the legend of Chang’e flying to the moon. More than just a holiday, it symbolizes reunion, when families gather for a heartfelt dinner together.

It’s no surprise that celebrations here are among the grandest in Asia, with lively moon-gazing, dazzling lantern shows, and traditional opera performances filling the streets. If given the chance, travelers shouldn’t miss Beijing or the dazzling lantern displays at Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai.

And of course, the iconic round mooncakes – symbols of unity and wholeness – come in countless regional flavors, from salted egg yolk to red bean and lotus seed, turning the festival into a true culinary journey for visitors.

2. Vietnam

Unlike in China, where the Mid-Autumn Festival highlights family reunion, in Vietnam, it is celebrated as the “Children’s Festival.” The sight of children holding star-shaped lanterns, singing, and parading through the streets has become a cherished collective memory.

What’s especially striking for visitors is how the festive spirit begins weeks in advance, particularly along Hang Ma Street in Hanoi, where rows of shops glow with vibrant lanterns.

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If lucky, travelers can join locals in preparing fruit trays, crafting lanterns, or watching lion dance performances – all deeply rooted in Vietnamese tradition. 

Besides Hanoi, Luong Nhu Hoc Lantern Street in Ho Chi Minh City is also a must-visit spot, while in Central Vietnam you can join the vibrant lantern atmosphere in Hoi An Ancient Town.

Much like in China, Vietnamese mooncakes are also essential here, with the two most popular types being “bánh dẻo” (soft, sticky rice cakes) and “bánh nướng” (baked cakes). Beautifully designed gift boxes make them perfect souvenirs to take home.

👉 What are the best Vietnamese mooncake flavors to try? Find out now!

3. Singapore

About three-quarters of Singapore’s population is of Chinese descent, so many Mid-Autumn Festival customs and traditions from China are still preserved here.

In the past, the celebrations were centered in Chinatown, with goldfish- and star-shaped lanterns hanging along Temple Street and Smith Street, accompanied by the familiar taste of traditional mooncakes.

Today, the festival has become even more spectacular. You can admire stunning lantern displays at Gardens by the Bay or stroll through Chinatown, which transforms into a bustling night market filled with stalls, festive treats, lantern-painting contests, and live performances.

4. Thailand

In Thailand, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not a national holiday, but it is vibrantly celebrated within the Chinese communities—especially in Bangkok Chinatown. 

At Yaowarat, Bangkok’s largest Chinatown, the streets come alive with thousands of glowing red lanterns, the sound of lion dance drums, and the bustling energy of the night market.

Visitors can not only enjoy traditional performances but also taste unique “twists” on mooncakes, featuring flavors like Thai tea, young coconut, and durian.

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5. Cambodia

In Cambodia, the Mid-Autumn Festival, known as Pithi Sampreah Preah Khae, is part of the larger Water and Moon Festival. It is closely linked to the harvest season and takes place later than in most Asian countries, usually on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month.

👉 Explore Cambodia’s Vibrant Water Festival, Bon Om Touk here!

Families gather to make offerings to the moon with fruits, flowers, and the traditional dish Ak Ambok—flattened rice often mixed with banana and coconut—as a way of giving thanks. 

For travelers, it’s an opportunity to experience the festival’s more traditional side, such as joining locals in moon-offering ceremonies in Phnom Penh.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a vibrant, deeply symbolic, and joyously celebrated holiday across Asia. Whether through delicious mooncakes, lanterns lighting up the night, family reunions under the full moon, or the telling of ancient legends—it continues to connect people with their heritage, nature, and with each other.