Buzz
1. Brand Reputation
When it comes to brand reputation, Equatorial Hotel mooncakes made their debut in 1994. On the other hand, Sheraton Hotel mooncakes entered the market in 2003 with the opening of Sheraton Saigon. Thus, Equatorial mooncakes have been present and known in the Vietnamese market earlier than Sheraton's.
2. Design of Equatorial and Sheraton Hotel Mooncakes
2.1 Equatorial 2023 Mooncake Collection
Introducing the 2023 Collection of mooncakes from Equatorial Hotel, a vibrant array featuring colors of gold, green, red, pink, light gray, nude, and various mixed combinations. Equatorial presents 9 set box options, including:
- Lamplight: This mooncake set is uniquely designed with a predominant red color, showcasing illustrations of four majestic architectural landmarks representing Vietnam: Ho Guom Lake, Dragon Bridge, Cau Pagoda, and Saigon Post Office. It carries profound meaning about the S-shaped land, symbolizing the enduring image of Vietnam throughout the years.
- Muoi: Designed in the shape of a bag with standout classic triangle patterns combined with bauhaus motifs, Equatorial 2023 Muoi mooncake captivates viewers from the first glance. Muoi beautifully blends the old and the new, the present and the past, modernity and tradition, conveying warmth and laughter, reminiscent of bygone times.
- Woodland Charm: For those who prefer a less common paper shell, the Equatorial Woodland Charm mooncake set with a wooden casing and delicate white plum blossom patterns is an excellent choice. Besides the natural wood color, this set is adorned with subtle, meticulous touches of red, harmonizing elegance and familiarity, leaving a lasting, unforgettable impression.
- Family Ties: Cleverly designed with a combination of red and white tones, Equatorial's Family Ties mooncake set of 4 cleverly incorporates leafy patterns, birds, and grass, creating a beautiful moon-themed painting symbolizing unity, completeness, and togetherness.
- Ripple: The serene green color combined with patterns of the moon, wind, and a sea wave in the Equatorial 2023 Ripple mooncake set conveys a complete message of intensity above but tranquility below.
- Exquisite Blossom: This mooncake set stands out with a dominant bright yellow color and plum blossom patterns, symbolizing prosperity, power, and beauty in work. Equatorial's Exquisite Blossom mooncake set is perfect for gifting to female bosses or clients.
- Moonlit Love: Featuring a dominant red color, this Equatorial 4-mooncake set symbolizes love shining brighter than the moon. When given, it wishes the recipient's current and future endeavors to soar to new heights.
- Prosperity and Elegance: Impressively designed with a delicate green background and highlighted by subtle patterns of orchids under a sparkling golden moon. The overall set exudes sophistication, elegance, simplicity, and beauty for those who appreciate the refined.
- Lunar Serenity: This mooncake set blends shades of pink and light gray as its main colors. Alongside intricate paper-cut patterns depicting a forest and a round, bright moon, the overall set radiates a gentle, warm feeling. Equatorial's Lunar Serenity set is packaged in a modern transparent bag, offering both delicacy and sophistication to the product.
2.2 Sheraton Hotel 2023 Mooncake Collection
Compared to Equatorial, the Ly Ngư Vọng Nguyệt collection from Sheraton Hotel leans towards a more subtle and graceful theme, featuring a soft jade green as the main color. The central image of the entire mooncake collection is a pair of carp joyfully chasing the moon beneath the West Lake in the autumn night. The highlight of Sheraton Hotel's mooncake collection lies in the engraved gold details on the box's surface.
The Sheraton Hotel mooncake collection offers 4 choices:
- Classic Box
- Delight Box
- Deluxe Box
- Luxury Box
In terms of design, there's no difference in the classification of Sheraton mooncake boxes. The distinction lies in the quantity of mooncakes per box, the weight of each mooncake, and accompanying items such as a bottle of red wine.
3. Flavors of Sheraton and Equatorial Hotel Mooncakes
Regarding flavors, Sheraton Hotel mooncakes offer 7 main flavors including Mixed nuts, Green tea with dried lotus seeds, Mung bean with chia seeds and salted egg, Oolong tea with salted egg, Pumpkin seed with dried fig, Lotus seed with water chestnut, Salted egg.
On the other hand, Equatorial Hotel mooncakes boast an extensive 12 flavors such as Green tea lotus seed, Pandan leaf lotus seed, Tiramisu, Dragon fruit cheesecake, Blue pea flower cheesecake, Blueberry cheesecake with peanuts, Coconut with melon seeds, Net melon, Mixed nuts with roasted chicken, Mixed nuts with scallops and bamboo shoots, Mixed nuts with ham and abalone, Premium bird's nest mixed nuts.
4. Price Comparison of Equatorial and Sheraton Hotel Mooncakes
Considering the price criteria, the price of Equatorial Hotel mooncakes ranges from the lowest at 888,000 VND for a set of 4 mooncakes (180g) to the highest at 1,568,000 VND for a set of 4 mooncakes (180g).
As for the price of Sheraton mooncakes, the lowest is 599,000 VND for a set of 3 mooncakes (100g), and the highest is 1,690,000 VND for a set of 3 mooncakes (150g) with a bottle of red wine.
On average, the price of Sheraton mooncakes is 200,000 VND per 100g, while Equatorial is 222,000 VND per 180g. Calculating per gram, Equatorial mooncakes are slightly more cost-effective due to their larger weight.
5. Quality of Sheraton and Equatorial Hotel Mooncakes
Both Sheraton and Equatorial Hotel mooncakes are crafted from meticulously selected premium ingredients, with a closed production process ensuring food safety and hygiene. They are expertly prepared by top-notch chefs from internationally acclaimed 5-star hotels. The pastry is made from key ingredients such as flour, eggs, cooking oil, sugar, resulting in a golden, crispy exterior after baking. The filling varies between the two brands but is generally made from high-nutrient seeds and ingredients, blending traditional and modern flavors for an exquisite taste experience.
6. Comparison Table of Equatorial and Sheraton Hotel Mooncakes with Conclusion
| Tiêu chí | Bánh trung thu khách sạn Sheraton | Bánh trung thu khách sạn Equatorial |
| Năm sản xuất lần đầu | 2003 | 1994 |
| Thiết kế | – Màu sắc chủ đạo là màu xanh. – Có 4 lựa chọn set hộp gồm: hộp Classic, hộp Delight, hộp Deluxe và hộp Luxury. | – Đa dạng màu sắc phong phú lựa chọn từ đỏ, vàng, xanh, hồng, xám nhạt và mix màu. – Có 9 lựa chọn set hộp gồm: Danh lam, Muội, Mộc mai, Đoàn viên, Sóng, Mẫu đơn, Nguyệt hạ, Phú quý, Du nguyệt. |
| Hương vị | 7 loại nhân: Thập cẩm, trà xanh hạt sen mơ khô, đậu xanh hạt chia trứng muối, trứng muối trà Olong, hạt bí phúc bồn tử, hạt sen óc chó, trứng muối | 12 loại nhân: Hạt sen trà xanh, hạt sen lá dứa, Tiramisu, thanh long phô mai, hoa đậu biếc phô mai, hạnh nhân phô mai việt quất hoa kỳ, dừa hạt dưa, dưa lưới, thập cẩm gà quay, thập cẩm sò điệp than tre, thập cẩm jambon bát bửu, thập cẩm yến sào thượng hạng. |
| Giá cả | Từ 599.000 vnđ – 1.690.000 vnđ | Từ 888.000 vnđ – 1.568.000 vnđ |
| Chất lượng | Độ uy tín thương hiệu cao, chất lượng bánh trung thu khách sạn chuẩn đẳng cấp 5 sao, quy trình khép kín đảm bảo an toàn vệ sinh thực phẩm. | Độ uy tín thương hiệu cao, chất lượng bánh trung thu khách sạn chuẩn đẳng cấp 5 sao, quy trình khép kín đảm bảo an toàn vệ sinh thực phẩm. |
| *Chấm điểm | 8/10 | 9/10 |
*The scoring section is rated objectively based on the writer's perception and serves as a reference only.
From this detailed comparison table of Equatorial and Sheraton Hotel mooncakes, both brands emerge as excellent choices for gifting during the Mid-Autumn Festival 2023 to family, friends, and partners. However, if you prefer simplicity, lightness, and elegance, Sheraton mooncakes are the ideal choice. On the other hand, if you appreciate a wider range of options from box designs to cake fillings, Equatorial Hotel mooncakes will be a worthwhile choice.
