Festival to transport children to realms of dreams and aspirational futures

According to the organisers, the festival’s activities will transport children to realms of dreams, magical narratives and future aspirations. In doing so, they will play a vital role in shaping Vietnamese character and safeguarding our cherished national cultural identity.

Children will be transported to realms of dreams and magical narratives through a series of engaging cultural and artistic activities during the 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival.

Scheduled to take place from September 13-16 in Ninh Bình City (about 93km south of Hà Nội), the festival promises a vibrant, wholesome playground for both teenagers and younger children.

It will immerse attendees in a rich traditional culture, featuring a series of colourful, enlightening and joyful experiences.

In the captivating installation space titled ‘Mid-Autumn Festival through Toy’, visitors, both young and old, will encounter, not merely playthings for amusement, but also educational instruments that nourish the souls of the young generation.

The children will delight in a display of vibrant traditional toys, such as đèn kéo quân (lantern with revolving figures), đầu lân sư (unicorn head), tiến sỹ giấy (paper doctor figures), papier-mâché masks, carp lanterns, star-shaped lanterns, tò he (toy figurines), cotton swan toys and and frog drums.

Amidst the displays, an interactive zone where a gateway to traditional crafts will be set up. Here, children will delve into the rich history of craft villages, observing skilled artisans at their craft stations. Better yet, they can roll up their sleeves and create their own delightful treasures – from pottery shaping and clay modelling to mosaic tile art, hand weaving,rubber sandal crafting, pressed flower art, embroidery, patchwork and even traditional cake making.

During the festival, attendees can immerse themselves in circus and variety arts. They can participate in training sessions for circus skills like unicycling, roller balancing, juggling and hoop dancing. Additionally, they will enjoy captivating puppet shows, both shadow puppetry and water puppetry, guided by professional artists.

Beyond that, there will be opportunities for singing, dancing, music and even fashion shows for children. It’s a wholesome playground where the youngsters can develop skills, awaken their talents and unwind after hours of studying.

Beyond the festivities, children can explore diverse sports, delve into the intellectual game of chess, marvel at traditional martial arts displays and revel in lion-dragon dances. But that’s not all.

They can also engage in fire safety activities, step into the shoes of firefighters and acquire essential skills for handling emergencies – rescue techniques and first aid. These valuable lessons empower them to stay composed in the face of potential fire or explosion incidents to minimise harm.

As part of the activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024, young participants can explore the Books and Childhood exhibition – a cultural reading space filled with great books. They can also dive into the vibrant art world through the Touching the Colourful World, where they can create their own artworks.

For safety-conscious children, there’s the ‘Safe Driving’ experience, where they will learn traffic safety skills and practice on a simulation course.

If they are more thinkers than do-ers, children can dive into educational games that stimulate thinking, creativity, and crafting. They will tackle memory challenges, enjoy rewarding mini-games and solve logic puzzles using smart educational toys.

Assembling mini models and mastering Rubik’s cubes await them. And for a touch of tradition, they can participate in traditional games like ô ăn quan (mandarin square capturing), cướp cờ (capture the flag), đánh chuyền (bamboo jacks), blind man's buff, stilt walking, sack racing, and hopscotch – activities that foster perseverance, agility, dexterity and liveliness.

According to the organisers, the festival’s activities will transport children to realms of dreams, magical narratives and future aspirations. In doing so, they play a vital role in shaping Vietnamese character and safeguarding our cherished national cultural identity.

The festival has been organising by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the People's Committee of Ninh Bình Province, with the Việt Nam Exhibition Centre for Culture and Arts and the Department of Culture and Sports of Ninh Bình Province.