Nguyễn Thanh Hà

A group of travellers, including my friend Trần Thu Thủy, from the UK, recently arrived at renowned foodie heaven Quán Ăn Ngon in the heart of Hà Nội.

Guests say they love this poster of the traditional Mid-Autumn festival so much. — Photos courtesy of Quán Ăn Ngon.

“When we arrived, the restaurant was already full of guests, foodies, locals and foreign visitors. Many of them made a tour around the restaurant just to fully enjoy all the colourful decorations, figurines and toys displayed in all corners of the rooms. Only then did they return to their seats to enjoy all the tasty dishes and full moon shining its bright light onto their table,” she said.

Quán Ăn Ngon's appetiser is so fresh and tasty.

My friend told me that every time she comes back to Việt Nam, she and her guests always enjoy aromatic flavoured dishes from the country’s three regions, all served up at Quán Ăn Ngon.

Guests are fascinated with traditional hand-made Mid-Autumn festival toys.

This year, they had a business meeting in Việt Nam and visited the restaurant to enjoy not only the tasty great dishes, but also to experience the delights of a traditional classic Mid-Autumn festival, welcoming the full moon.

Hundreds of hand-made star lamps and a colourful carp look over the diners.

Thủy said all of those arriving at the restaurant agreed that the decorations were hugely impressive. They were delighted by hundreds of Mid-Autumn hand-made colourful lanterns, star lamps and toys, on display around the rooms, outdoors and hanging on the ceiling inside the restaurant.

One of the beautiful rooms is ready to welcome gourmet guests.

“To find a classic Mid-Autumn festival – in the heart of the city – is a big question that all our group members wished to ask.

All the guests enjoy the specialties of Quán Ăn Ngon.

“We are lucky to find the answer in Quán Ăn Ngon. I’m so moved with emotion since entering at the restaurant, because my childhood memories about this classic festival rushed back into my mind.

"I’m proudly telling my UK partners about how all Vietnamese welcome Mid-Autumn festivals, both today and in the past,” Thủy told Việt Nam News, adding that everyone in her group enjoyed the whole experience, especially the unique atmosphere.

A wonderful selection of favourite dishes from the menu .

She said next Mid-Autumn she will take her children to enjoy a true Mid-Autumn season, so that when they grow up they too will have cherished childhood memories about beautiful city corners and an original traditional festival in the capital.

Tasty dishes and delightful deserts ready for guests.

Quán Ăn Ngon General Manager Hồng Như said the restaurant's owner, Phạm Bích Hạnh, has devoted a huge amount of her efforts to preserve a traditional Mid-Autumn festival, making it as attractive and interesting as it deserves.

A beautiful member of staff and her persimmon bonsai tree.

“Quán Ăn Ngon staff worked with artisans to carefully create hundreds of paper lamps and lanterns and other traditional Mid-Autumn toys to decorate all three familiar addresses of Quán Ăn Ngon restaurants, from 18 Phan Bội Châu Street located in the heart of the city to the first flour building 25 T2 Hoàng Đạo Thúy, Cầu Giấy District and Royal City’s B2R6 Level in Thanh Xuân District,” Như said. — VNS