Cafés in Dong Nai "put on Mid-Autumn attire," evoking childhood memories

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Festival of Reunion, is not only an occasion for families to gather and for children to enjoy lantern parades and festive treats, but it has also become a joyful season for many young people and families to capture beautiful moments through dazzling check-in photos.

Embracing this trend, many cafés across Dong Nai province have quickly “put on a new look,” decorating their spaces with vibrant Mid-Autumn colors to serve customers' needs.

These days, the Mid-Autumn atmosphere is filling cafés across Dong Nai province. Photo: Thuy Tien

A highlight of this year’s Mid-Autumn season is that many cafés have chosen to decorate using familiar traditional materials. Colorful lanterns are hung throughout the space, complemented by soft, golden lighting, creating an atmosphere that is both sparkling and cozy.

A variety of star-shaped lanterns, bamboo trays, wooden tables and chairs, and bundles of straw are artfully arranged, creating a vibrant and eye-catching festive setting. Photo: Thuy Tien

A popular hangout for young people, De Ba Café in Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province, has embraced the festive spirit of the Mid-Autumn season.

From the outside to the inside, the café is beautifully adorned with a warm yet radiant palette of colors. Every corner is vividly decorated with images of the moon, paper lanterns, cellophane lanterns, Qilin heads, and bamboo trees, creating a unique artistic space filled with nostalgia.

For many people, the miniature decorations at the café evoke childhood memories, accompanied by the sound of Qilin dance drums and the star-shaped lanterns. Photo: Thuy Tien

Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, a resident of Tan Trieu ward, Dong Nai province, shared: “The atmosphere here makes me feel like I’m reliving my childhood, recalling the times when I carried lanterns with friends around the hamlet. The Mid-Autumn Festival today is quite different from the past, but thanks to spaces like this, I can still fully feel the traditional beauty”.

Many visitors opt to wear dresses or traditional Vietnamese attire, posing beside lanterns or festive moon tables to capture impressive photos that are both youthful and deeply immersed in the atmosphere of the approaching Mid-Autumn Festival.

Nguyen Ngoc Tuyen shared: “The cafés are beautifully decorated as every corner makes for a lovely photo. I feel as if I’ve been taken back to my childhood”. Photo: Anh Thy

With a deep affection for the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, Le Tran Anh Vu, owner of Le Vu Coffee & Tea in Long Hung ward, Dong Nai province, has also made a significant investment in decorating his café.

Vu shared: "This year’s concept is to bring customers back to the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, with familiar images like mooncakes and star-shaped lanterns. Most of the decorations in the café were handcrafted and arranged by our staff over the course of about a month. I hope that when visitors come here, they can feel a joyful, relaxing Mid-Autumn season, just like returning to their childhood days".

Eye-catching, sparkling lanterns made of cellophane. Photo: Anh Thy

The vibrant, colorful space and attention to detail have made the café an ideal spot for many families and young people to check in.

A child joyfully admires the traditional lanterns displayed at the café during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo: Anh Thy

Le Tran Kim Anh, a resident of Trang Dai Ward, Dong Nai Province, shared: “The café’s décor is so charming, with vibrant lanterns combined with warm golden lights that beautifully recreate the full-moon atmosphere. I felt completely relaxed and took many photos that I’m really happy with”.

As a must-visit spot for those who love the cozy Mid-Autumn ambiance, Cai Phin Café in Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province, offers a rustic and familiar space, featuring lanterns of various shapes, festive moon-viewing tables, and cheerful Qilin heads.

A simple Mid-Autumn decoration corner that evokes childhood memories. Photo: Anh Thy

Many parents also take this opportunity to bring their children to cafés for memorable photos.

Tran Nguyen Ai Phuong, a resident of Tam Hiep ward, Dong Nai province, expressed: “I really love how cafés are decorated for this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, with familiar imagery. Thanks to that, when I bring my kids here to take pictures, they not only have fun but also gain beautiful memories of the traditional Mid-Autumn celebration”.

Two children dressed up in festive outfits at a colorful Mid-Autumn–themed corner of a café in Tam Hiep ward. Photo: Thuy Tien

With meticulous investment and attention to detail, many cafés in Dong Nai have contributed to a livelier Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere, becoming ideal spots for locals and tourists to enjoy coffee while capturing childhood memories in photos bathed in the full moon's glow.

By Thuy Tien, Anh Thy - Translated by Dang Huyen, Minho