Strolling around the stalls selling moon cakes, toy stores, and Ninh Kieu night market, you can quickly feel the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival with colorful lanterns hanging all around. Many children come with their parents to see and choose lanterns to purchase. At Ninh Kieu night market near Ninh Kieu Wharf, most of the hanging lanterns for sale are traditional in style. They come in the shapes of stars, chickens, and fish and are made of bamboo covered with red cellophane paper painted with various patterns.

This year, traditional lanterns are not just for children. They have been renovated to appeal to young people, with options such as bamboo basket lanterns featuring rabbits or famous cartoon characters as stuffed animals. Origami lanterns also have more appealing shapes and patterns. Mr. Tuan, a lantern vendor, mentioned, "This year's new lantern designs are trendy, especially among young people. They buy lanterns to set trends by taking pictures and sharing them on social media." Nguyen Thi Kieu Giang, a Nam Can Tho University student, stated, "The lanterns that are trending on social media are available for purchase, so I have many options, and they are stunning."

People decorated lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

At a toy store on 30/4 Street, near Quang Trung intersection in Ninh Kieu District, many children come every night to choose lanterns. The most popular type of lantern is the circular kind wrapped in velvet on the outside and decorated with stuffed animals, especially the labubu, which is currently very popular among young people. Seven-year-old Huynh Thien Bao, who lives in Ninh Kieu District, excitedly exclaimed, "I love labubu lanterns! My mother just bought one for me."

In recent years, imported plastic and battery-powered products have dominated the mid-autumn lantern market. However, this year, traditional lanterns have made a strong comeback. Star lanterns and carp lanterns once thought to be a thing of the past, are now warmly embraced by children. This resurgence of traditional handicraft products is sparking a cultural phenomenon, helping children to develop a love for Vietnamese culture through the Mid-Autumn Festival traditions of carrying lanterns, eating the moon cake, and gazing at the moon.

The song “Tết Trung thu em xách đèn đi chơi” reflects the customs of many generations of Vietnamese children and has become a cherished cultural activity. In recent Mid-Autumn seasons, the lanterns that children carry to hang out with are no longer colorful plastic or battery-powered lanterns but "Star lanterns, carp lanterns, swan lanterns, and butterfly lanterns" that are skillfully crafted by local artisans.