In Nha Trang, popular with Japanese tourists as a beach resort, a sea-themed Mid-Autumn Festival display will open on September 25, 2026. Giant mascot lanterns over 4 meters tall will line 2 Thang 4 Square in Khanh Hoa Province. The motifs are sea creatures such as swallows, dolphins, and sea turtles, letting visitors take in both the resort's ocean and the Mid-Autumn full moon at once. The event is called "Moonlight Voyage" (Hai Trinh Anh Trang). In a city known mainly for its beaches, the square glowing at night under Mid-Autumn light reveals an unexpected side of Nha Trang. If your beach trip overlaps with this period, it's worth working into your evening plans.
Six giant mascot lanterns line 2 Thang 4 Square
According to Vietnam's major newspaper VnExpress, the centerpiece of the display is a set of mascot lanterns over 4 meters tall. Six sea creatures serve as motifs: swiftlets, dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles, whales, and seahorses. These were chosen to represent Khanh Hoa Province's four bays. The lanterns render the creatures Nha Trang's sea has nurtured, giving the display a distinctly coastal lineup unlike inland Mid-Autumn lanterns.
The main venue is 2 Thang 4 Square in Nha Trang City. A second venue, 16 Thang 4 Square in Dong Hai Ward (formerly Ninh Thuan), will also host the display. Since both are open seaside squares, the lanterns make for striking photos once they're lit at night.
An event to experience, not just view
This display isn't only for looking at. VnExpress reports that workshops, folk games, art activities, character meet-and-greets, singing and dancing, and lion dances are all planned. For children, there's also a scavenger-hunt element built around finding the sea creatures. It's designed to work both as a photo spot and as a nighttime square for families to spend time together. The event is organized mainly by Khanh Hoa Province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, working with related departments.
Sorting out the venues and motifs first
Since the display is split across two venues, it helps to know what's where before you go. Here's a summary based on VnExpress's reporting.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event name | Moonlight Voyage (Hai Trinh Anh Trang) |
| Date | September 25 (Mid-Autumn full moon) |
| Main venue | 2 Thang 4 Square (Nha Trang City) |
| Second venue | 16 Thang 4 Square (Dong Hai Ward, formerly Ninh Thuan) |
| Lanterns | Six mascots over 4m tall (swiftlet, dolphin, dugong, sea turtle, whale, seahorse) |
| Activities | Workshops, folk games, art activities, lion dances, singing and dancing, a sea-creature scavenger hunt for children |
| Organizer | Khanh Hoa Province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and others |
Both squares sit at the heart of this seaside city and are easy to reach even at night. If you're staying downtown, they're within walking distance or a short taxi ride.
What locals and the resort industry hope to gain from this display
Khanh Hoa Province has been building up Nha Trang's appeal, including hosting the Miss World finals. This Mid-Autumn display reads as another seaside event in that same push. Choosing creatures that represent the province's four bays as the lantern motifs suggests an aim to showcase the resort's identity.
For families living locally, it's one more destination for a Mid-Autumn evening with the kids. Lanterns shaped like sea creatures, paired with the open stage of a seaside square, could become a new photo spot for the holiday. For the resort's hotels and restaurants too, a flow of people heading to the square at night is a tailwind that extends how long visitors stay out.
How to fit the beach and Mid-Autumn into one day
The practical upside for Japanese travelers is being able to enjoy the sea by day and Mid-Autumn by night on the same day. Spend the daytime at the beach or island-hopping, then head to 2 Thang 4 Square in the evening to get both swimming and Mid-Autumn lights in a single stay. There's no mention of an entry fee, so it works as a public space you can drop into casually.
As for how to make the rounds, start at the main venue, 2 Thang 4 Square, to see the six lanterns, then head to the second venue, 16 Thang 4 Square, if you have time. With kids, timing your visit to the sea-creature scavenger hunt or the lion dance will make for a more satisfying visit. Daytime in Nha Trang in late September is hot, so bring water for an evening walk around the square.
Comparing this Mid-Autumn with other regions
Mid-Autumn festivals pop up across Vietnam this time of year, and Nha Trang's sea-creature lanterns stand out for their seaside setting. Inland, processions of giant lanterns are well known, while in the south, lights shaped after folk tales are lit at temples. Weighing a seaside Mid-Autumn against an inland lantern procession or the south's folk-tale lights can help you choose the flavor of trip you want before deciding where to go.
To learn more about Nha Trang,Miss World Finals Arrive in Vietnam for the First Time, Bringing Nha Trang 95,000 Hotel Guests in Two Daysis a good place to start. The giant inland lanterns are covered inHundreds of thousands turn out in Tuyen Quang for Mid-Autumn, with 129 giant lanterns and 500 places to stay, and the folk-tale lights of the south are covered inA 3-meter frog pleads to the heavens: a Mid-Autumn folk tale lit up at a Ho Chi Minh City shrine.
Spending this night in Nha Trang
On September 25, Nha Trang will have a resort-style Mid-Autumn night, with sea-creature lanterns over 4 meters tall lighting up the square. Spend the day at the beach or island-hopping, tour the mascot lanterns at 2 Thang 4 Square in the evening, and if time allows, continue on to 16 Thang 4 Square. Since there's no mention of an entry fee for these public squares, families can stop by without much planning. This chance to take in both the sea and Mid-Autumn in a single evening is reason enough to visit Nha Trang around this time. Bring water for the evening heat, and if you want photos, aim for just after sunset when the lanterns are lit.
Sources: VnExpress, "Khanh Hoa to display giant mascot lanterns for Mid-Autumn Festival"
