According to Lao Dong's records, in the first days of July (lunar calendar), stores on Hang Ma street and surrounding areas displayed all kinds of toys and decorations before the Mid-Autumn Festival . On weekends, this place attracts a large number of people to take photos and shop in the evening, especially young people and families with small children.
For the first time enjoying the early Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere in Hanoi, Le Thanh Phuc (20 years old, Tuyen Quang) and his friends went to Hang Ma street to check in and preserve memories. Thanh Phuc said that in addition to traditional toys, this place also sells many types of toys and lanterns with eye-catching and modern designs.
“This street is always full and diverse of toys every holiday season and is renewed each year. However, handmade and traditional toys are still the items that attract me the most" - Thanh Phuc said.
On the weekend, Ms. Nguyen Minh Thu (31 years old) took her children to Hang Ma street to learn about the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. As soon as she entered the neighborhood, Ms. Thu felt the familiar atmosphere of the old Mid-Autumn Festival through carp lanterns, papier-mache masks, and unicorn heads.
"When I was a child, every Mid-Autumn Festival, my friends and I often gathered to make papier-mâché masks or small unicorn heads, so I also wanted to guide my children to good traditional values" - Ms. Thu said.
This year's toys and decorations have the main colors of red and yellow. Traditional toys still maintain stable prices to serve people.
Carp lanterns cost from 60,000 - 300,000 VND/lamp depending on size and material. A unicorn head ranges from 300,000 - 600,000 VND, even large unicorn heads cost 1 million VND. In addition, a familiar toy item every Mid-Autumn Festival is the star lamp, priced from only 30,000 VND/piece.
Besides traditional items, merchants also display modern toys to keep up with trends and attract people, especially young children.
