To celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, the Office of International Affairs (OIA) at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) hosted a creative moon lantern painting event, titled “The Moon Tells a Story” on the afternoon of September 22, 2025, in the First Conference Room of the Administration Building.
In an atmosphere that was warm and lively, a diverse crowd of international students from eight countries—including Belize, Nepal, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Malaysia—along with local Taiwanese students, faculty, and staff members gathered for a unique time of cultural exchange. The event began with an introduction to Chinese legends about Mid-Autumn, such as ‘Chang’e Flying to the Moon’ and ‘Wu Gang Cutting the Laurel Tree’, to help participants understand the holiday’s cultural significance.
Ha Anh Vo, a student from Vietnam participating in the New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program, gave a presentation on the unique characteristics of Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival, known as “Tết Trung Thu”. She noted that in Vietnam, the festival symbolizes family reunion and is the holiday children anticipate most. Families prepare various lanterns, enjoy traditional Lion Dances, and savor mooncakes filled with ingredients like pork fat, melon seeds, sausage, and lime leaves. The distinct five-pointed star lantern is a unique cultural symbol of the Vietnamese celebration.
Do Huyen My, a Vietnamese Master’s student in the Department of Food Science, further highlighted the differences between the two countries’ customs. She explained that Taiwan emphasizes family unity, moon gazing, and eating mooncakes—and has even developed a barbecue culture for the holiday. In contrast, the Vietnamese festival is centered on children’s activities, with lantern parades and Lion Dances being the main highlights.
After learning about cultural backgrounds, participants embraced their artistic sides, decorating the plain white moon lamps with vibrant colors and meaningful designs. One student was inspired to incorporate the colors of the popular egg-yolk pastry into his design, creating a distinctly festive “egg-yolk pastry lamp.”
The activity concluded with the students voting to determine the best contributions. Based on popularity, Marcie Galicia, a Belizean student from the Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation (DTAIC), won first place. Thanyaporn Detchang, a Thai student in the New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program, secured second place, and the third place prize was awarded to Le Thi Nga, a Vietnamese Master’s student from the Department of Food Science. The winning entries demonstrated great artistic creativity and offered unique interpretations of the Mid-Autumn Festival theme.
The event successfully allowed international students to experience Taiwan’s traditional festival customs and fostered cross-national exchange. By understanding different cultures, the participants recognized that while the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival may vary in form across countries, the precious practice of “reunion” and the common wish to enjoy the “moonlight from a thousand miles away” remains the same.
