The unique features of the mythical creature lantern display at Ocean City.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - In recent days, images of trucks carrying giant mythical creature lantern models heading towards Ocean City have spread, making thousands of residents and tourists excited and counting down the days to the Oriental Light Lantern Festival.

A collection of mythical creature lanterns has been revealed in the East District.

The Oriental Light Fest 2025 will kick off at Ocean City on January 18th. To prepare for this cultural event, hundreds of artisans from five countries – Vietnam, South Korea, China, Japan, and Thailand – have been decorating and installing models specifically for the program.

Numerous vehicles carrying lanterns depicting mythical creatures have sparked curiosity among Hanoi residents in recent days (Photo: Vingroup ).

One of the key elements that makes the Oriental Light Festival unique is the exhibition "Mythical Creatures of the Orient - Lingnan's Strange Tales and the Classic of Mountains and Seas," featuring a series of giant lantern models from Shanghai Yutuan Huadeng Culture and Creativity Group, a member of Fosun International Group. This group owns the Yuyuan Lantern Festival, which is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of China.

The lanterns brought to Ocean City not only belong to the Shan Hai Jing collection, which has been showcased in many countries around the world , but also include many new models, recreating mythical creatures familiar to Vietnamese culture in particular and East Asian culture in general.

At VinWonders Wave Park, amidst the 18-hectare green wonderland, a 7-meter-tall White Dragon mythical creature lantern has appeared. A cluster of 7.5-meter-long dragon fish models and a 9-meter-long deer sculpture, both in vibrant colors, have also been unveiled, adding to the lively atmosphere of the surrounding landscape. Many residents and visitors are amazed by the majestic scenery, feeling as if they have stepped into a fairytale land steeped in mythology.

Giant mythical creatures appearing at VinWonders Wave Park have delighted many residents (Photo: Vingroup).

"Even though the lights aren't on yet, just looking at the lines and scale of these giant lantern designs, I can already imagine the grandeur of the Oriental Light Festival. My family is counting down the days to see these models lit up; it will surely be an incredibly spectacular sight," shared Bao Nam, a resident of Vinhomes Ocean Park 2.

A journey of experiences at the Oriental Light Festival.

The lantern displays currently under construction at Ocean City have partially revealed the mysterious yet familiar experiences of the exhibition "Fantastic Beasts of the East - Linh Nam Chich Quai and Son Hai Kinh". These lantern displays are all creatively inspired by mythical stories in East Asian culture.

For example, the mythical creature Lu Shu once appeared in the records of the Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas): "To the east, three hundred and seventy miles away, is Mount Niu Yang; to the south, there is much copper; to the north, there is much silver; there is a creature, shaped like a horse but with a white head, stripes like a tiger, a red tail, and a cry like a human singing voice; its name is Lu Shu…". From these vivid descriptions, the artisans of Yuyuan have created the Lu Shu lamp cluster – a mythical creature appearing amidst colorful miniature landscapes, symbolizing fertility and abundance.

Loc Thuc is a lantern model inspired by "Shan Hai Jing" (Photo: Vingroup).

In Linh Nam Chich Quai , as well as many other Vietnamese legends, the image of the Golden Turtle god constantly appears as a symbol of patriotism and resistance against foreign invaders. Inspired by this, talented artisans have created the Co Loa sculpture featuring a purely Vietnamese Golden Turtle god, standing 4 meters tall.

In addition, "Mythical Creatures of the East - Lingnan's Strange Tales and the Classic of Mountains and Seas" also features many lantern displays symbolizing the cultural exchange between Eastern countries.

Alongside these are models of flying fish, snakes representing the 12 zodiac animals, Asian dragons, and more, all specially designed by the Yuyuan team for the exhibition at Ocean City. These works of art will take visitors on a journey to experience and explore the unique culture of the East.

Giant, intricately designed lantern clusters will provide a visually stunning experience for millions of visitors (Photo: Vingroup).

Besides the spectacular light and color displays from the lantern displays, visitors to Oriental Light Fest 2025 can also enjoy a 58-day Spring Festival (from January 18th to March 16th) with 580 unique experiential activities.

The Spring Fair comprises three main fair series: the Tet Fair, the Giang Vo Spring Fair, and the Ocean Fair Market, offering hundreds of stalls and diverse entertainment programs to meet the needs of visitors, from shopping and entertainment to culinary exploration and art appreciation.

After many years, the once-famous Giang Vo Spring Fair will reappear in a new edition titled "4,000 Years of Tet, Tet of Five Kingdoms". This event not only revives the traditional Vietnamese Tet culture but also introduces visitors to Tet cultures from around the world, featuring specialties from China, Japan, Korea, India, Sri Lanka, and more.

With a series of events, Ocean City will become a leading cultural, entertainment, and tourism hub in Northern Vietnam during the early spring season.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/nhung-diem-doc-dao-cua-dan-den-long-than-thu-tai-ocean-city-20250110185852973.htm