Parade «Quảng diễn Lân – Sư – Rồng và Rước đèn Trung thu» (Lion, Unicorn and Dragon parade with the Mid-Autumn lantern procession)

   At dusk the drums start and a full column of lion, unicorn and dragon dancers moves off with hundreds of lanterns behind it. There is no ticket and no seating plan — you pick a street on the route and let the parade come to you.

   It sets off at 5pm on 20 September 2026 (the 10th day of the eighth lunar month) along main streets of Phú Xuân ward, as part of the autumn block of Festival Huế 2026.

   For a sense of scale, the 2025 edition fielded 11 groups — lion dance teams, children's dance groups, contemporary dancers, community performers, hosts and a cyclo column — with around 300 school pupils in traditional áo dài carrying lanterns. That parade opened at Nghinh Lương Đình and went along Trần Hưng Đạo, over Gia Hội bridge to Trịnh Công Sơn park, pausing to perform at the Trần Hưng Đạo – Huỳnh Thúc Kháng – Phan Đăng Lưu junction.

   During the same full-moon week the Chi Lăng – Gia Hội old quarter is typically hung with lanterns and runs night food activities — a natural place to head once the parade has passed.

   This is one of the easiest evenings in Hue to bring children to, and a good one for street photography after dark. This year's exact route will be confirmed by the ward close to the date, so check locally before you set out.

   If you only have one Mid-Autumn evening in Hue, spend it on the pavement here.