Top 10 Most Popular and Meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival Songs

Author: Phạm Duy

Song Lyrics:

''The moon comes down to play, the areca tree offers a mat
The moon comes down to play, the student offers a pen
The moon comes down to play, the Buddha offers a temple
The moon comes down to play, the king offers soldiers
The moon comes down to play, the temple keeper offers a bell...

The moon comes down to play, the sticky rice pot offers a lid
The moon comes down to play, the fig tree offers resin

The moon comes down to play, the horse offers a boat
The moon comes down to play, the fishing rod offers a hook
The moon comes down to play, the pomelo tree offers flowers
The moon comes down to play, the garden offers fruits
The moon comes down to play, the beautiful girl offers a husband
The moon comes down to play, the man offers a wife.

The moon returns the wife to the man
Returns the husband to the girl
Returns the fruit to the garden
Returns the flower to the pomelo tree
Returns the hook to the fishing rod
Returns the boat to the horse
Returns the resin to the fig tree
Returns the lid to the sticky rice pot
Returns the bell to the temple keeper
Returns the soldier to the king
Returns the temple to the Buddha
Returns the pen to the student
Returns the mat to the areca tree
Returns the mat to the areca tree
Returns the mat to the areca tree
Returns the mat to the areca tree...''

This is also a popular Mid-Autumn song beloved by many children. It carries a distinct folk tune, and many believe that the seemingly simple lyrics contain a philosophy of giving and receiving. Nowadays, there are people who give and receive, but it's often a disguise for selfishness. Thus, we cannot fully share or multiply genuine happiness as long as we still have notions of needing to repay. The song 'The Moon Comes Down to Play' is more than just sung during the full moon!

Author: Phạm Đăng Khương

Song Lyrics:

"A bright full moon hangs high in the sky
Where do the white storks fly, tell me?

Grandmother, does Cuội remember his home?
It seems like I see, it seems like I see Cuội coming down to Earth

It's been a thousand years, hasn't it? By the banyan tree
Cuội, I ask you, is the moon young or old?

It's been a thousand years, hasn't it? By the banyan tree
Cuội, I ask you, is the moon young or old?

A small flock of birds plays in the moonlight
When will Cuội be able to come down and play?

Grandmother, does Cuội remember his home?
It seems like I see, it seems like I see Cuội coming down to Earth.

It's been a thousand years, hasn't it? By the banyan tree
Cuội, I ask you, is the moon young or old?

It's been a thousand years, hasn't it? By the banyan tree
Cuội, I ask you, is the moon young or old?''

'The Fairy Tale Moon' is also a beloved song that resonates every time Mid-Autumn arrives. With its pure and innocent melody, this song feels like a little story told by a child while gazing at the moon. The imagery of traditional Mid-Autumn symbols, like Cuội, the banyan tree, and the moon, makes the listener feel as though they are experiencing a peaceful moonlit night, full of poetic beauty.

Author: Trịnh Công Sơn

Song Lyrics:

''Mid-Autumn Festival, light up the lanterns bright
To fill the streets with joy and delight
The moonlit night with lanterns replacing the sunlight
You are like a dream in the midst of life

Let's sing together
The streets are lively with the sound of lion drums
Let's visit the familiar town
With thousands of twinkling stars all night long
Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday as red as vermilion

We play and laugh together
Tonight, no friends are absent
A river of colors shines around us.''

This composition by the late musician Trịnh Công Sơn, The Pink Stream Festival, has always been loved by children and sung joyfully during the full moon of the eighth month. The song vividly depicts a lively scene during the lantern procession of young children. With the vibrant colors of lanterns, the streets and alleys seem like a stream of dazzling, sparkling colors. In schools, whenever a Mid-Autumn event is held for children, this song is often selected as a performance, combining singing and dancing, enhancing the festive atmosphere of the full moon night.

Author: Xuân Thu

Song Lyrics:

''Boom boom, the drum beats loudly outside the village hall
A lion dances joyfully, going round and round
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration, the moonlight fills the village roads
Under the golden moonlight, the children sing out loud.''

'The Full Moon Night' is perhaps one of the most familiar songs from the childhood of many Vietnamese people during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This song also contributes to creating a lively and joyful atmosphere for the moon festival celebration of children. With simple, short, and easy-to-remember lyrics, the song depicts familiar activities of many children during the Mid-Autumn Festival, such as lion dances, lantern processions, and the sound of loud drums. The sparkling lights from the lanterns combined with the rhythmic drumbeats create a dreamy and magical ambiance for the Mid-Autumn Night. In the streets, children sing together under the golden moonlight, creating a joyful parade full of happiness and leaving lasting childhood memories.

Author: Vũ Đình Ân

Song Lyrics:

''I go on a lantern procession, carrying lanterns for Mid-Autumn all through the streets.
My heart overflows with joy as I hold a lantern in my hand, dancing and singing with others.
Star-shaped lanterns, butterfly lanterns.
The colors on my lips, the lion dances with a smile.

Fish-shaped lanterns, airplane lanterns.
My heart is filled with delight in the glow of the lanterns.
I go on a lantern procession, carrying lanterns for Mid-Autumn all through the streets.
My heart overflows with joy as I hold a lantern in my hand, dancing and singing with others.

Tung tung dinh dinh
Tung tung dinh dinh is the sound of children.
With a smile on my lips, I dance and sing in rhythm.
Joyful sounds fill the streets, blending with the lyrics
Making the full moon night even brighter with the colors of fireworks.''

''On Mid-Autumn Festival, I carry my lantern to play, I carry my lantern through the streets...'', the clear voice rings out in the narrow alley, bringing back memories of the full moon night, evoking nostalgia for a beautiful childhood. This is the essence of the song ''I Go Lantern Procession'', symbolized by colorful lanterns and the lively drumbeats that stir the hearts of children. This song is often featured in delightful Mid-Autumn performances at schools.

Author: Lê Quốc Thắng

Song Lyrics:

''Waiting for the moon to rise, I wait for the moon to rise
The bright moon brings me a smile
A joyful smile accompanied by the sound of music and song.
Looking at the moon rising with love
A thousand songs resonate in celebration.

Looking at the moon rise brings me a deep joy of friendship
Flowers release their sweet fragrance on the doorstep
The clouds drift lightly with the passing breeze
How I love the sweet melody
In the soft breeze, we wait for the moon to rise.''

Every Mid-Autumn Festival, the melody of the song ''The Beloved Moon'' is heard once again, sung with the pure and innocent voices of children. The song paints a beautiful picture of the peaceful scene on the full moon night of the 15th, with clouds, wind, and the bright golden moonlight, giving listeners an enchanting imagery of this special moment.

Author: Thập Nhất

Song Lyrics:

"Some call it the moon
Parents (My friend) call it the Moon Lady
But I prefer the full moon, the full moon that shines so bright
Mom, the moon is so beautiful!"

The moon hangs on the top of the garden's bamboo tree
The moon rises and fills every house
The moon sets along with the pond's waters

Mom, the moon is so beautiful
How should I call the moon?
I want to call the moon my friend
My Moon friend from my childhood!''

''What Do We Call the Moon?'' is like an innocent question from a child gazing at the moon, unsure of what to call it. This song, performed by the sweet voice of Xuân Mai, became one of the most beloved children's songs of its time. With its pure lyrics that are easy to memorize, it became a staple in Mid-Autumn performances in schools.

Author: Phạm Tuyên

Song Lyrics:

''The star lantern with five bright petals. The handle is long, reaching above the head.

As I hold the lantern, I sing aloud. The bright star lantern glows during the full moon festival!

Tung rinh rinh, tung tung tung rinh rinh! This is the joyful star light shining far and wide. Tung rinh rinh, rinh rinh tung rinh rinh. The light of Uncle Hồ's star shines everywhere!

Here is the five-pointed star lantern, shining golden. The star's light illuminates the mountains and valleys.

Here, holding the star lantern, it shines down south. Here is the light of peace, driving away invaders!

Tung rinh rinh, tung tung tung rinh rinh! This is the joyful star light shining far and wide. Tung rinh rinh, rinh rinh tung rinh rinh. The light of Uncle Hồ's star shines everywhere.''

''The Five-Pointed Star Lantern'' is a well-loved song, cherished by generations of Vietnamese children during every Mid-Autumn Festival. Composed by Phạm Tuyên in 1956, the song expresses deep affection for the nation's future young generation. The lively drumbeats and the vibrant, joyful atmosphere of the song have nourished the hearts of many children in Vietnam. After over 60 years, the song remains a cherished tune, with multiple generations continuing to sing along. It has become a symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and without its familiar melody, the spirit of the moonlit celebration would be incomplete. With its simple, familiar lyrics, ''The Five-Pointed Star Lantern'' has captured the hearts of countless children and even older generations.

Author: Đức Quỳnh

Song lyrics:

''During the Mid-Autumn Festival, I carry my lantern through the streets,
Carrying my lantern, walking through the bustling neighborhood,
My heart filled with joy as I hold the lantern in my hand,
I dance and sing under the bright full moon.

Star-shaped lanterns and carp-shaped lanterns,
Swan-shaped lanterns and butterfly lanterns,
I carry my lantern to the moon palace.

Blue lanterns and purple lanterns,
Blue-green lanterns and white lanterns,
In the radiance of these vibrant lights.

High up in the sky, a round and beautiful moon,
Shining gently on the earth below,
On this full moon night, the moon goddess shines bright,
I dance and sing to welcome her arrival.

Bang din din cack bang din din,
Bang din din cack bang din din,
I carry my lantern to the moon palace,
Bang din din cack bang din din,
Bang din din cack bang din din,
Welcoming the moon goddess.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the table is filled with delicious cakes,
The children gather around eagerly,
Asking for lotus seeds and mooncakes with sweet fillings,
Everyone wants to eat more, four or five pieces each.

Sweet and fragrant mooncakes, baked and filled with delight,
Ginger preserves and candied pumpkin are sweet and spicy,
Eating them fills us with joy,
While sunflower seeds crackle in our mouths,
Laughter fills the air as we celebrate the moon festival.

''Lantern Parade of August,'' composed by Đức Quỳnh, has revived childhood memories for many, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The song recalls the joy of parading lanterns and celebrating the moon. Generations of children have memorized the lyrics, which accompany the traditional dance of lantern parades during the full moon celebration. Every time the melody of ''Lantern Parade of August'' plays, it brings the lively, festive atmosphere to life with lion dances and the sound of drums, ''Bang din din cack bang din din.'' Composed by Đức Quỳnh at the perfect moment when children are celebrating Mid-Autumn, this song has remained a beloved children's anthem for over 50 years. Even today, it remains a meaningful song for the young, capturing the joy and excitement of the full moon festival, often performed as part of Mid-Autumn events in schools.

Author: Lê Thương

Song lyrics:

''The moonlight shines so bright,
There’s a large banyan tree,
And an old man named Cuội, holding on to his dreams,
Quietly, I speak to Cuội:
"Why stay forever on the moon?"
The moonlight shines so bright,
There’s a large banyan tree,
And an old man named Cuội, holding on to his dreams.

The wind has no home,
The wind blows in all directions,
Never ceasing its movement.

Above in our sky,
The wind and the moon share their secrets:
"Where is she from?"
The wind has no home,
The wind blows in all directions,
Never ceasing its movement,
Above in our sky.

The crickets,
All through the late night,
Sing without money, thus poor and weary,
Paying their dues with gentle chirps,
While the stars shine bright above.
The crickets,

All through the late night,
Sing without money, thus poor and weary.

At dawn, I descend the hill,
Climb up the tree,
When my legs are tired, I sit down here,
Watching the light and smiling joyfully,
Let’s play and laugh together.
At dawn, I descend the hill,
Climb up the tree,
When my legs are tired, I sit down here.

Children love to laugh,
They wish to reach the moon,
So they ask the heavens to lend them a ladder,
On the 15th of August, the sky gives them
A full moon, shining so bright.
Children love to laugh,
They wish to reach the moon,
So they ask the heavens to lend them a ladder.''

Composed by the late musician Lê Thương, the song "The Man in the Moon" is beloved by children and often played during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The song paints a picture like a fairy tale, with its simple yet magical lyrics. Perhaps this is the most special and beautiful song that depicts the image of Cuội on the moon. The song’s lyrics, relatable to everyday life, combined with its gentle melody, have made "The Man in the Moon" a timeless classic in the hearts of music lovers. It’s a song that captivates not only children but also adults.