Lighting the Lamp of Gratitude - Opening of the Cultural Journey from Vu Lan to Mid-Autumn Festival at Diệu Tướng Am

In the early days of the seventh lunar month, as the spirit of Vu Lan season spreads through temples and Buddhist communities across the country, activities honoring parents, roots, and the spirit of gratitude have become a bridge connecting tradition with contemporary life.

In the spirit of joy that fills the season of filial piety, on August 15, 2026, Diệu Tướng Am Hà Nội officially opened the program “Lighting the Lamp of Gratitude,” marking the beginning of the cultural journey “Light a Lamp - Bind a Bond,” spanning from Vu Lan season to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Following Hà Nội, the program will continue at Diệu Tướng Am TP.HCM on August 22, before moving into the next stage of the journey with a series of cultural experiences designed for families and children during the Mid-Autumn season.

Lighting the Lamp of Gratitude - The Beginning of a Cultural Journey Spanning Two Festive Seasons

In the flow of Vietnamese spiritual consciousness, Vu Lan and Mid-Autumn are two special festivals that follow one another, both illuminated by lamplight yet each carrying its own distinct meaning. One season is devoted to honoring the past with folded hands of gratitude; the other lights lamps toward the future - yet both converge in a shared aspiration to preserve and carry forward the Vietnamese sense of home.

Drawing inspiration from this convergence, Diệu Tướng Am presents the cultural journey “Light a Lamp - Bind a Bond,” with traditional Vietnamese dó paper serving as the thread running throughout. Through exhibitions, art, and hands-on experiences, traditional values are not only preserved but also reimagined in a language closer to life today.

On the very day of the opening at Diệu Tướng Am Hà Nội, visitors had the opportunity to journey back in time to learn about the traditional art of dó papermaking - a material that has accompanied Vietnamese cultural life for centuries - while also admiring works created especially for the Vu Lan season.

The moment the lotus lanterns were lit marked the lighting of the very first lamp of the journey, carrying with it wishes of goodness, gratitude, and peace sent back to one’s roots.

Not Just to Admire, But to Touch Culture Firsthand

One of the highlights of “Lighting the Lamp of Gratitude” is the way cultural values are transformed into tangible experiences, allowing each participant not merely to observe but to truly feel and take part in the journey themselves.

Within the artistic space of Diệu Tướng Am, traditional melodies rose through a performance of Vietnamese folk music, accompanied by the emotive voice of singer Hoàng Nga, creating an atmosphere at once solemn and intimate.

At the experience area, many visitors delighted in making their own lotus lanterns from dó paper for the first time. From children to the elderly, each person patiently completed their own creation, imbuing it with their own personal wishes and feelings.

Alongside this, the activity of making offering rice cakes (oản) also drew great interest from attendees. More than just a traditional treat, oản are deeply woven into Vietnamese spiritual life, commonly appearing during festivals, Tết, and occasions of ancestral remembrance. These seemingly simple experiences became a thread connecting generations, allowing culture to be passed down naturally through sharing, interaction, and moments of togetherness.

According to a representative of Diệu Tướng Am, as an organization specializing in consulting and designing spiritual and cultural spaces, Diệu Tướng Am firmly believes that traditional values can only be sustainably preserved when they become part of everyday family life. For this reason, over the years, the organization has continually collaborated with artisans and young artists to bring traditional culture closer to the public. From ancient costumes and woodblock printing to this year’s Vu Lan season - a journey alongside artist Đoàn Thái Cúc Hương to retell the story of dó paper through a contemporary artistic lens.

The program continues to welcome the public who cherish Vietnamese culture at Diệu Tướng Am, and the journey will carry on into the Mid-Autumn season with “Lighting the Lamp of Reunion,” expected to open in TP.HCM on September 12 and in Hà Nội on September 19.

Throughout the series of activities, Diệu Tướng Am is also offering a range of supportive programs for the season of filial gratitude, including free consultations for altar space design, along with special benefits for collections of ritual items, offerings to the Three Jewels, altar lamps, incense, and other meaningful gifts. This reflects the very aspiration Diệu Tướng Am wishes to convey through this journey: to accompany families in preserving the spirit of home, nurturing spiritual life, and carrying forward Vietnamese cultural values across generations.