A watermelon carved into the shape of a fish. — Photo toplist.vn

“We try to take advantage amid the pandemic to make these things to welcome the festival and also to improve our cooking skills,” Hải said.

Tạ Ngọc Anh, in Cao Bằng, the only province of Viet Nam to report no infections, said her family welcomed the festival with a five-fruit tray, traditional confectionaries such as che lam (Vietnamese porridge), kẹo lạc (peanut candy), green been cake and o mai such as prunes, salted apricots and others.

Ngọc Anh said Mid-Autumn is the festival of children, so her tray needs confectionaries and o mai, as well as mooncakes and fruits.

A peacock created from a courgette and red chilis. — Photo toplist.vn

“We try to preserve this traditional way to celebrate the festival for our younger generations to follow,” Ngọc Anh said, adding that although it is the only province in the country not to be impacted by the virus, adults and children in the province were warned not to go out in the streets, particularly during the Mid-Autumn festival to join lion or dragon dances as usual."

In the past, under the full moon, Ngọc Anh and her neighbours sat together to sip a cup of wine and enjoy mooncakes and fruits while their children played in the large yard before parading with lanterns around the ward. Their drums were heard far and wide.

Apart from mooncakes and fresh fruits, o mai or mixed salted sugared fruits are also displayed to celebrate the festival. — Photo tuoitrethudo.com.vn 

“We all are very happy,” Ngọc Anh said, adding that during the Mid-Autumn Festival her family members enjoy watching the moon and making the tray at home together,” she said.

According to archeologists, the festival in Viet Nam had been established for a thousand. Since the Lý Dysnaty (1009-1225), the festival was officially organised at the Thăng Long Citadel with many activities such as a fruit tray competition, water puppet dance, boat racing, and lantern parades. — VNS