Luong Nhu Hoc Street and surrounding areas in HCM City's Cho Lon, also called Chinatown, have become a popular destination for local visitors and shoppers during Mid-Autumn Festival. – VNS Photo Van Dat

HCM CITY (VNS)– While the downtown of HCM City will remain quiet during Mid-Autumn Festival, a street in the city's Chinatown in District 5 will be hub of activity tonight.

Luong Nhu Hoc Street and surrounding areas are famous for selling lanterns, especially during the festival.

But what attracts visitors is the atmosphere. Parents take their children here to buy toys and souvenirs, while teenagers see the road as a place to hang out.

On streets that allow traffic, there are often more pedestrians than vehicles.

Cars, motorbikes and people have to jostle each other for space.

Le Truong An, a student at HCM City University of Transport, who walked along the road with a camera in hand, said he did not know when Luong Nhu Hoc Street has become such a popular destination during the festival.

He said that vehicles should be banned on the road during these days.

"Some lantern shopkeepers will not allow people to take pictures in front of their shop because it becomes too crowded," he said.

Hoang Yen Linh, a third-year student at HCM City University of Industries, said she and her friends came here to eat, saw lanterns and posed for pictures.

Local visitors say this year there are many hand-made lanterns in shops.

Children often carry the lanterns with a lit candle inside.

In the past, the festival was a time for children to parade with lanterns and enjoy cakes and candy. Now, it is a time for family gathering, walking and seeing the moon.

Traditional lantern shows are also a feature of the special evening.

In Phu My Hung in District 7, more than 1,500 lanterns will brighten the sky tonight.

In addition to a unicorn dance performance and folk games, a star-shaped lantern four-metres high is expected to delight festival-goers. – VNS