Why Vietnam's Chuseok 'Tet Trung Thu' Became the Second Children's Day of the Year

Vietnam's Official Children's Day is June 1
Measures for Orphans After the Vietnam War

As Asian countries such as Korea and China enter the Chuseok holiday period, crowds are gathering in cities across Vietnam to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, known as 'Tet Trung Thu.' Unlike Korea and other Asian countries, Tet Trung Thu in Vietnam is more strongly associated with Children's Day rather than the traditional Chuseok holiday, and various events for children are held.

[Image source=Vietnam Heritage Center]

According to the local Vietnamese media outlet Thai Nguyen on the 28th, major cities in Vietnam, including Hanoi, are decorated with lanterns and simultaneously hold traditional games and lion dance performances to celebrate Tet Trung Thu. Although this Tet Trung Thu festival originates from China's Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節), it is known to differ in meaning and events from the Chinese celebration.

In Vietnam, Tet Trung Thu is not an official public holiday but is celebrated as a kind of Children's Day. During Tet Trung Thu, families have the custom of making toys for children such as lanterns, lamps, toy boats, and pinwheels, and many events where children gather and enjoy themselves take place.

The holiday table is also said to be centered around snacks that cater to children's tastes. It is known that beautifully decorated mooncakes, snacks, candies, and various fruits such as grapefruit are mainly prepared. Additionally, similar to Korea's Chuseok, some families perform ancestral rites, and relatives, colleagues, and friends exchange gifts such as mooncakes, tea, and wine.

Vietnam's official Children's Day is designated as June 1st, the International Children's Day established by the 1950 'World Conference for the Welfare of Children.' However, since Tet Trung Thu is also celebrated as Children's Day, Vietnam effectively has two Children's Days each year.

The reason Tet Trung Thu, which started as a Mid-Autumn Festival, came to be associated with Children's Day is attributed to the aftermath of the Vietnam War. As many war orphans were created due to the war, the Chuseok holiday was commemorated as Children's Day to care for orphans.

It is especially said that former President Ho Chi Minh, known as the founding father of Vietnam, proposed commemorating Tet Trung Thu as a day for children. During Tet Trung Thu, Ho Chi Minh personally gave gifts to children in difficult living conditions and wrote letters to them. Because of this, Vietnamese people prepare a table in honor of former President Ho Chi Minh and display his photo during the Chuseok holiday.