For the young members of the Khoi Dang Tac Khi group, their approach to fostering love for Vietnamese culture differs from dry presentations; they choose to create excitement by setting trends — even in the way the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated.
After three years of collecting evidence from images and artisans’ stories, lanterns such as “Dai Long Uy Nghi” (Majestic Great Dragon), inspired by a photograph of a dragon lantern parade at Phu Day festival (in old Nam Dinh) more than a century ago, “Kinh Lao Dac Tho” (Respecting the Elderly to Gain Longevity), “Ly Ngu Vong Nguyet” (Carp Gazing at the Moon), which often appeared in village communal houses and ancient guild halls.
Aware that recreating in the old-fashioned way of their ancestors would be more challenging, but determined to let viewers feel the beauty and sophistication of the past, the Khoi Dang Tac Khi group chose to make lantern frames from bamboo strips, paste them with coloured cellophane, and inflate them with hot air. Some lanterns, from the drawing stage to completion, took one month to finish.
Of course, with the youthful thinking of Khoi Dang Tac Khi, everything — though meticulously prepared — also had to include a check-in photo opportunity to make an impact and appeal to young audiences. Son Tra Temple, a century-old communal house in Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, was chosen as the perfect backdrop for the project, bringing the old lanterns closer to the public.
Watching people learn about the Mid-Autumn Festival, selecting beautiful angles for photos, and sharing them on social media, one can see that traditional Vietnamese culture remains a strong undercurrent. With new, passionate approaches, that cultural flow will remain vibrant and continue to inspire future generations.
