Mid-Autumn Meditative Retreat in the Buddhist Land

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions, when people can set aside the pressures of daily life, sit together, talk and strengthen their ties. In 2026, many families have a new way to spend the festival: travelling to the Buddhist lands of Yên Tử or Ngọa Vân not only to rest, but also to listen, understand and reconnect.

In 2026, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a time for lantern processions and festive feasts, but also a precious opportunity for family members to seek moments of peace and nurture deeper connections. This is also the spirit of the three-day “Lighting the Lamp of the Heart” programme, where families can rest, practise meditation and cultivate inner peace.

Meanwhile, the “Heritage Mid-Autumn Festival – Yen Tu Full Moon” programme took place in the grounds of Trinh Pagoda. The programme featured a wide range of activities, including dragon and lion dances, a lantern procession, and a “Golden Bell Challenge” featuring questions about Quang Ninh and the Yen Tu heritage. It also included activities supporting children facing difficult circumstances and those from vulnerable groups. The programme created a joyful and meaningful space for children while helping preserve traditional cultural values and promote their spiritual well-being.

Meanwhile, the “Bright Full Moon” Mid-Autumn Meditative Retreat at Ngoa Van Meditation Village offered participants a holistic experience for both body and mind. The journey began with the clear, soothing sounds of meditation songs amid the surrounding mountains and forests. Each gentle melody served as an invisible bridge, bringing family members closer together in a pure and harmonious atmosphere. The mood became even more lively as families joined a workshop to make traditional Mid-Autumn cakes and decorate lanterns.

As the sun set, following a tranquil outdoor vegetarian buffet, the Buddhist land came alive with a lantern meditation walk. Gentle, mindful steps accompanied by flickering candlelight led the way into the full-moon celebration, where generational differences seemed to disappear, leaving only sincere sharing and understanding.

Before leaving the sacred mountain, visitors also took part in a guided relaxation meditation session, which helped participants address personal concerns and prepare themselves to return to everyday life with greater inner strength. The “Bright Full Moon” Mid-Autumn Meditative Retreat came to an end, but the light of the heart’s lamp and seeds of love have taken root in this sacred ancestral land.

By Huynh Dang