Hanoi exhibition revives traditional mid-autumn toys
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In Hanoi, Vietnam, the Hồ Hoàn Kiếm Management Board and the Vietnam Đình Làng Club collaborated to present “Lưu trăng”, an exhibition of traditional Mid-Autumn Festival toys.
The event, which runs to September 27, displays dozens of recreated toys and models created by young artists with guidance from cultural researchers. Organizers designed the exhibition as a space for the public to interact with heritage practitioners through hands-on activities like lantern making and paper mask painting.
Several young creators contributed to the exhibition, including Nguyễn Văn Bắc of Thong Dong, Trịnh Văn Khuê and Nguyễn Tuấn Anh founders of Của Nả, and Nguyễn Đức Anh representing The Annam. These artists researched historical materials and traditional techniques to bring the toys, such as star lanterns, carp lanterns, lion heads, fruit platters, and animal figurines, back into contemporary life. The exhibition also attracted international visitors eager to learn about Vietnamese culture.
Isabel Weitschies, a German doctoral student who has lived in Vietnam for ten years, attended the event in traditional áo dài and photographed the exhibits, impressed by the artistry. Đào Mai Chi, a 19-year-old from Hanoi, also attended the exhibition wearing áo dài to view the vintage lantern models. Nguyễn Đức Bình, Chairman of the Vietnam Đình Làng Club, believes the exhibition demonstrates the role young people play in preserving Vietnamese culture.
Folklorist Bùi Xuân Đính added that the handmade toys reflect a connection between people, nature, and agricultural traditions, helping younger generations appreciate the unique heritage of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
