Vietnam's Mid – Autumn Festival is on the 13th September this year, and one of the best ways to experience the celebrations is by visiting Ho Chi Minh City and staying in its most prestigious hotel, the Caravelle Saigon. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a perfect opportunity to experience authentic Vietnam and to see the city lit up with colourful lanterns.

Vietnam's Mid-Autumn festival is called Tet Trung Thu and has been celebrated for more than 4,000 years, having marked the end of the rice harvest in the Red River Delta around the capital. It is an annual festival that falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month every year, and as the part of the festival, many celebrations across the country take place.

The Caravelle Saigon is offering special Mid-Autumn deals as a part of the celebrations and is the perfect place to enjoy the festivities due to its location in the heart of the city. The hotel is a short walk to the iconic landmarks such as the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, historic Dong Khoi Street, modern Nguyen Hue Walking Street, and the Ben Thanh Market.

The hotel is also commemorating its 60th anniversary and is offering promotions throughout the year. The birthday celebrations coincide with the unveiling of 94 newly refurbished rooms and function spaces. Following nine months of renovations 94 new guest rooms opened this May. An additional 94 rooms will open next month with all remaining rooms opening in November (303 in total) in the Opera Wing. In January 2020 the Heritage Wing suites will open, floor by floor, including The Signature Lounge. In early 2020 all 333 guestrooms and suites will be complete. The new rooms feature upgraded décor and finishings including bathrooms with imported marble throughout.

Caravelle Saigon's Mid-Autumn offers

Café de l'Opera traditional mooncake and a pot of tea
A full moon symbolises prosperity and reunion for the whole family, and the Mid-Autumn is the day when the moon is at its brightest in a year, therefore it is customary to eat Banh Trung Thu mooncakes as a part of the celebration.
Caravelle Saigon is offering a pot of tea and a traditional mooncake daily throughout September at one of its restaurants, Café de l'Opera, for £8.
Please visit https://www.caravellehotel.com/mooncake-tea/ 

Mid-Autumn Buffet at Nineteen
Nineteen is offering a Mid-Autumn Buffet which includes an unlimited flow of Champagne, craft cocktails, selected house wines and beers for £60.
The flagship restaurant Nineteen, named after the hotel's address at 19 Lam Son Square, has a reputation in Ho Chi Minh City for its unparalleled seafood buffet and a five-star dining experience. The seafood is caught fresh from Vietnam's waters in the East Sea and off the tropical holiday island of Phu Quoc in the southwest.
Please visit https://www.caravellehotel.com/mid-autumn-buffet/ 

Saigon Saigon bar's live music
Caravelle's iconic Saigon Saigon bar will host live music every night of the week throughout the month from 9 pm.
During the Vietnam War politicians, journalists and soldiers enjoyed a happy hour beer on the patio and balconies that overlook the city. Today, Saigon Saigon still offers unrivalled views of city's changing skyline, Lam Son Square below, and the Notre Dame Cathedral to the west.
Please visit https://www.caravellehotel.com/musical-nights-at-saigon-saigon/ 

The best spots in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the festival

Cho Lon
The district of Cho Lon is the home of exciting Mid-Autumn festivities. Visitors can stop by Luong Nhu Hoc Street, famous for its lanterns and masks of lion and unicorn heads overflowing on the sidewalks. The shop at Trieu Quang Phuc Street has been famous for selling unicorn heads to the city's best dancers for five decades.

The Lantern Village
The Lantern Village in Ho Chi Minh City is one of the best places to visit during the celebrations as the whole area is lit up by colourful, sparkling lanterns in different shapes and sizes. Aside from taking photos with stunning lanterns visitors will have a chance to try delicious street food and moon cakes.

For more information please visit: www.caravellehotel.com 

A 15-day trip to Vietnam by Audley Travel costs from £3,995 per person (based on two sharing) and includes UK economy flights, private transfers and a selection of privately guided excursions. It consists of seven nights in the Caravelle Saigon combined with time in the Mekong Delta, Hue and Hoi An. For more information please visit www.audleytravel.com