Hoàng Lan
Dương Lệ Na, 65, an overseas Vietnamese woman from Los Angles, is very happy to find a traditional Mid-Autumn festival to welcome the full moon at Quán Ăn Ngon Restaurant at 18 Phan Bội Châu Street in Hà Nội.
Na, who has been living in the US for almost 30 years, said when autumn approaches, her memories of the jubilant bustling festival always come to mind.
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| Staff at Quán Ăn Ngon Restaurant decorate with star lamps and toys to welcome Mid-Autumn Festival. — Photos courtesy of Quán Ăn Ngon Restaurants. |
Fortunately, in the heart of the capital, the large Quán Ăn Ngon Restaurant in an ancient French villa has kept the atmosphere of its original space but also has the restaurant’s own special characteristics, including the flavour of traditional Vietnamese cuisine, said Na.
'Classic autumn returns to street now' (Thu Xưa về Trong Phố Nay) is the restaurant’s long-term theme that it has been trying to maintain since it was established nearly 25 years ago, said Hạnh Phạm, founder of the Quán Ăn Ngon restaurant chain.
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| Thousands of Mid-Autumn toys are being displayed at Quán Ăn Ngon restaurants in Hà Nội. |
Time passes and Hà Nội has been developing continuously, but Quán Ăn Ngon restaurants will never forget how to create a special programme to welcome the arrival of the autumn full moon. Guests who return to the restaurant will certainly get to experience the classic full moon festival, Hạnh said.
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| A beautiful girl with colourful lanterns and toys displayed inside and outside the restaurant. |
“We have tried our best to protect our country’s traditional and quintessential values, an ecosystem of rich national and cultural identity and national soul in our restaurants' cuisine. For each of our events, preserving our tangible or intangible culture is our greatest desire,” said Hạnh.
Skilled artisans make the restaurant chain's colourful star lamps, lanterns and other traditional Mid-Autumn Festival toys three months in advance, said Hạnh. Meanwhile, 200 staff members work hard day and night to hang the decorations and display them both inside and outside the restaurants, including the streets where the restaurants are located.
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| A display of Mid-Autumn antiques at Quán Ăn Ngon in Royal City in Thanh Xuân District. |
“All families with children in the city and surrounding provinces can easily visit to immerse themselves in a jubilant bustling atmosphere for the Mid-Autumn Festival at Quán Ăn Ngon, located at our three familiar addresses: 18 Phan Bội Châu Street in Hà Nội's downtown, the first floor of building 25 T2 Hoàng Đạo Thúy in Cầu Giấy District and the B2 R6 Level at Royal City in Thanh Xuân District,“ Hồng Như, general manager of Quán Ăn Ngon told Việt Nam News.
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| A master chef showcases many of his specialties and aromatic dishes such as steamed shrimps in coconut milk and traditional cakes. |
Autumn is coming to Hà Nội, with its light winds, golden sunshine and the scent of flowers mingling together at each city corner. It's the season that Hanoians await most eagerly, because the returning winds drive away the severe heat and traditional goods like young green sticky rice, red persimmon and moon cakes are once again on offer -- not to mention the streets are full of hand-made star lamps and lanterns along with music including the sound of drums and lions.
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| A tray of delicious dishes, including lotus roots mixed with shrimp and boiled pork salad. |
“How to find a traditional autumn in the heart of the city is a big question that many people are trying to answer. Adults can find it in their own memories, but we want to help children experience a real, classic Mid-Autumn season, so when they grow up they have good childhood memories about beautiful city corners and a traditional Mid-Autumn festival in the capital,” said local resident Đỗ Thu Lan, 60, in Hai Bà Trưng District.
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| Guests enjoying flavourful dishes at one of the Quán Ăn Ngon restaurants. |
Lan said her family and neighbours luckily found the right atmosphere at these restaurants to enjoy specialty dishes amid classic Mid-Autumn festival decorations created by artisans and Quán Ăn Ngon staff.
“We are so impressed with the Mid-Autumn items displayed at the restaurants, such as five-fruit trays and lamps decorated with crabs, carp, shrimp, the moon and drums. Other traditional toys include lion heads, paper doctors, papier mache masks, iron boats and toy figurines, among many others.
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| A tray of delicious dishes include mixed salad, red tilapia grilled with salt and chili and others. |
“My children are interested in the lion dancing event with three lions and the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern procession, while the toy figurines bring them an unforgettable feeling,“ said Lan.
Quán Ăn Ngon restaurants have given unforgettable impressions and experiences to thousands of local and foreign guests including heads of state from France, Japan, North Korea and many others so far.
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| Beautifully set tables decorated with colourful Mid-Autumn toys are ready to welcome guests. |
This year’s events will last until the middle of the eighth lunar month, or September 17. The two-day main festival will be held on September 14-15, with a special programme that includes an appearance from the Man of the Moon and the Moon Goddess, lion dancing and a lamp procession, at which guests can enjoy traditional Mid-Autumn specialties (or phá cỗ).
“We hope guests will enjoy the festival with our delicious dishes and make nice memories with the image of 'Classic Autumn in Street Now.' With these lively activities, we wish to express our great thanks to all of our guests who have always loved, trusted and supported us so far and also will continue into the future,” said Hạnh. VNS
