Embracing the culture and traditions of our host country Vietnam: Moon Festival 2024

The traditional lion dance, or “múa lân,” is an unmissable performance during the Mid-Autumn festivities.  On our Junior field the excitement began as the vibrant traditional Vietnamese drums started beating, by the incredibly talented drummers.   The lions then burst forth, dancing impressively with their giant head and curving body, carried by a team of incredible acrobatic dancers. 

With their large mouths and mysterious bulging eyes, the lions paraded around the field with our students gasping in excitement as they tried to touch the lions’ heads as they came closer.  During this parade, a dancer wearing a round smiling mask representing “Ong Dia,” the Earth God, also dances around the lions and approaches our hundreds of children, making them laugh with his antics. The most exciting part then came next. An acrobatic lion skillfully climbing and dancing around a towering bamboo pole, whilst students, teachers and staff alike watched in awe at the incredible performance and talent.

We then came onto the fabulous dragon dance with again our students eagerly anticipating where the dragon would dance next.  The dance was performed by a team of experienced dancers who twist and turn a long flexible colourful vibrant giant puppet of a dragon using cleverly positioned bamboo poles. The dance team simulated the imagined movements of this mythological creature, snaking and rising and falling across the field. 

 Celebrating in Foundation Stage 1

Whilst older children were on the Junior campus watching the Dragon Dance our youngest learners in F1 celebrated Moon Festival together with all of their teachers. Wearing their beautiful Áo Dài to school for the very first time, they joined Mr Rhys, our Head of Primary Music, for their own very special dragon dance. 

Ms Clare Lowson, Head of Foundation Stage 1, shared the activities they all joined in together. “Many of the children joined their teachers to take turns being the dancing dragon, whilst others helped create the music on the huge drums and our percussion instruments. They proudly showed friends their lanterns, some of which were made at home with families, and others in school as part of their learning activities”.

Later in the day all children had the opportunity to try moon cakes, alongside their usual snack, eating the traditional way by cutting into small pieces and sharing it out between children and teachers, as is the case when shared in Vietnamese homes amongst family members. Moon cakes, known as “Bánh Trung Thu” in Vietnamese, are directly associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. 

The two most common moon cake recipes are Banh deo (soft and sticky cakes with a white glutinous rice crust) and Banh nuong (baked cakes with a golden crust). These cakes are beautifully decorated as they are molded into round or square shapes, with flower patterns, carp, or geometric shapes. The fillings of Bánh Trung Thu - moon cakes vary, offering many sweet or savory notes.

Performances and lantern parades in Early Years & Infants

Following the dragon dance, EY&I students returned to their campus where they created unforgettable memories singing and dancing and watching performances in our special Moon Festival assemblies.


Ms Thanh, Head Teaching Assistant, EY&I shared her most precious memories of the day “The highlights of the day were the fantastic dancing performances from Year 1 and Year 2 dancers in assembly.  The Year 1 students performed a vibrant dance to the music “Trung thu xuống phố” whilst Year 2 filled the room with the spirit of the festival through the song “Ông trăng miệng cười”, illuminating the stage with their bright costumes and excitement.  The students also lit up the whole room with the joyful and beautiful lantern parade. The Moon festival assembly showcased the collaborative efforts of the Vietnamese staff and children, celebrating the rich beauty of Vietnamese culture and heritage in a truly heartwarming way”. 

Celebrating the importance of family in Juniors

The Junior Campus Moon Festival Assemblies became alive with our Year 4 and Year 6 actors, singers and dancers creating a unique performance for the whole campus,  focusing on the importance of family.  They emphasised through storytelling the importance of taking the time to appreciate all that we have and to share with those less fortunate than ourselves. 

Our students told the story of two children and their grandmother discussing why we celebrate Moon Festival, sharing personal stories and what they have been learning at school.  They included the story of the Moon Boy, the Moon Lady and the Jade Rabbit. And why the Moon Boy sits next to a banyan tree on the moon.  

Through the performance the story unfolded, and they demonstrated the characters watching a dance at ‘Trong Com’ Festival, with our Year 6 students dancing.  The story continued and, on the way, home they see a child on the street with no food and no toys to play with.  Appreciating all they have, the children share with the child their lanterns and treats including Moon Cake from the festival.

As they concluded the assembly, an important message was given, “let's carry the spirit of today's event with us in our hearts. Let's continue to support and uplift one another, spreading kindness and positivity wherever we go”

While the Mid-Autumn Festival began in China and is celebrated across Asia, the Vietnamese version has its own rituals and tales. 

As was told through the performance of our junior students the most famous Vietnamese story is about a man named Cuoi, a man who was taken to the moon by a magical banyan tree. According to the legend, Cuội lives on the moon and looks down upon the Earth during the festival. Children often sing songs about Cuoi and the moon, adding a whimsical touch to the festivities.

In Vietnam, the rice harvest season begins at the start of the eighth lunar month. During this time, parents are usually occupied with fieldwork and have limited time for their children. The full moon this month provides them with a chance to make up for lost time and enjoy quality moments with their children. It is also an auspicious time to make offerings to deities to express gratitude for a successful harvest. Therefore, children play a primary role in this event in Vietnam.

Thank you to everyone who helped to plan and ensure this day was so special especially to our amazing teaching assistants who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support our teachers and students. A huge thank you also to our skilled lion and dragon performers for creating and incredible start to the day.