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| A lively and joyful atmosphere prevailed during the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern procession at Vo Nguyen Giap Square (Phan Dinh Phung Ward). (Photo: NV) |
A lively Mid-Autumn Festival
For the past month, a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere has enveloped the upstream areas of the Nhu Nguyet River (Cau River). Since the new moon at the beginning of the month, residential areas have been bustling with preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The children were the most excited, while their grandparents and parents calmly and meticulously whittled each bamboo stick to make star-shaped lanterns, revolving lanterns, and animal-shaped lanterns. While watching the adults make lanterns, the children also listened to fairy tales, each story beginning with the words "Once upon a time."
Many "Once Upon a Time" have passed through the autumn moons, leaving behind memories for generations who grew up with the story of "Cuoi sitting under the banyan tree." Despite the buffaloes eating the rice, Cuoi remained innocently seated there, witnessing generations of children grow up and become useful citizens to society.
This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is particularly special for the children of Thai Nguyen province, as for the first time, a series of cultural activities combined with promoting tourism potential are being organized on a provincial scale. The theme "Mid-Autumn Festival: Sending Love" spreads widely, bringing joy and warmth to all children, especially poor children, children in remote areas, and children in difficult circumstances.
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| Star-shaped lanterns are decorated along a street in the provincial center. |
The Mid-Autumn moon shines brightly, illuminating every path in the countryside for children to carry lanterns. Many children today find it hard to imagine how children in the past strung grapefruit seeds together, dried them, and made Mid-Autumn lanterns. In modern society, battery-powered or candle-powered lanterns are much more convenient, but the number of people who know how to tell fairy tales is still small.
Lanterns and toys for the Mid-Autumn Festival are now diverse and modern. Besides star-shaped lanterns, spinning lanterns, and hand drums that evoke childhood memories, there are also many fun toys produced on industrial assembly lines.
Mid-Autumn Festival is for all children.
To bring the Mid-Autumn Festival to all children, in addition to residential areas organizing feasts for the children, Thai Nguyen province is organizing a provincial-level Mid-Autumn Festival celebration for the first time on October 3rd and 4th (corresponding to the 12th and 13th of the 8th lunar month) at three central locations in the cluster.
The cluster of 30 communes and wards in the central part of the province was held at Vo Nguyen Giap Square and several streets in Phan Dinh Phung ward. The cluster of 30 communes and wards in the South was held at Van Xuan Square and streets in Van Xuan ward. The cluster of 32 communes and wards in the North took place in the Song Cau pedestrian street area, Bac Kan ward.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival taking place simultaneously in three locations, children in all areas fully felt the love and affection of the adults. At each location, provincial leaders personally came to share the joy with the children, enjoy the feast, and admire the moon.
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| Many unique and beautiful Mid-Autumn Festival lantern models have appeared on the streets. |
This activity also demonstrates the impartiality and fairness of all levels of government and society as a whole towards children, especially those in difficult circumstances, children from poor and near-poor households, children in areas with large ethnic minority populations and mountainous regions, orphans, children with serious illnesses, or those receiving treatment at medical facilities.
Within the framework of the Mid-Autumn Festival program, many beneficial activities were organized, including: a Mid-Autumn lantern model competition, a lantern procession competition, a competition for the most beautiful Mid-Autumn feast, and lantern decorating; free medical check-ups for 1,200 children; a photo exhibition on the "Lanterns Lighting Up Dreams" journey in 2025; and other fun, experiential, and interactive activities. These activities created closeness and friendliness among children from various ethnic groups and regions.
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| The Vietnam Association for the Protection of Disabled People and Orphaned Children, in coordination with charitable organizations and individuals, presented Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to children in special circumstances in Vo Tranh commune. |
The Mid-Autumn Festival is filled with the sounds of drums and lion and dragon dances. Throughout the province, children are treated to festivities and feasts, and thousands of gifts are distributed. Though small, these simple rice cakes are enough to encourage children to be well-behaved, study hard, be grateful to their parents and teachers, and be respectful to adults.
The atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival is filled with the vibrant colors of lanterns, lively lion dances, and the rhythmic drumming from moon festival centers. The drumming for children stirs the heart, echoing to distant and remote lands as a message of encouragement, urging children to grow up confidently in the loving embrace of their grandparents, parents, and the entire community.
Not only during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but the care and protection of children has always been a top priority for all levels and sectors in Thai Nguyen province. Currently, the province has nearly 41,000 children. In recent years, alongside focusing on socio-economic development and improving the material and spiritual lives of the people, provincial leaders have always paid attention to the care and protection of children, especially those in special and difficult circumstances, aiming to help them stabilize their lives, fully exercise their rights as children, and integrate into the community.
Child protection activities are implemented at three levels: prevention, intervention to mitigate risks, and support for the recovery and reintegration of vulnerable children.
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| Children receive attentive care at the Bac Kan Inclusive Education Development Support Center. |
In particular, through the province, businesses have carried out many practical activities, such as: supporting school meals for children of ethnic minorities from poor households; organizing screening and surgical referrals, providing free orthopedic devices for children with musculoskeletal disabilities; supporting congenital heart surgery for children in difficult circumstances; and donating wheelchairs to disabled children.
All orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children receive timely care and assistance. This year, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, provincial leaders personally visited various localities and presented gifts to nearly 300 children in special circumstances.
A season of loving moonlight has spread warmth and human kindness everywhere, illuminating childhood dreams, especially for children in difficult circumstances. At the headwaters of the Nhu Nguyet River, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival marks the beginning of a journey of spreading love, so that future moonlit nights will be even warmer, bringing radiant smiles to children under the full moon of the eighth lunar month in this era of renewal.
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202510/trung-thu-gui-tron-yeu-thuong-5650c78/
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