Mooncakes and the delicate “competition” of famous hotels (Part 1)

Not only impressing with its inspiring box design, this year’s mooncake collection at Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel also delights the palate with eight classic flavours—like eight full notes in the culinary symphony of the moon season. From the rich savoury mixed filling, a medley of ingredients with a distinctive taste, to the XO scallop filling, one of the signatures of Li Bai restaurant, blending the refined flavour of dried scallop with the richness of handmade XO sauce, the cakes become the centrepiece of the hotel’s Mid-Autumn Festival.

The love song of flavours continues with six sweet fillings, each a poetic chapter of the season. The first is white lotus seed, a timeless Mid-Autumn symbol, delicate and sweet, evoking gentle autumn afternoons with a pot of tea beneath the golden moonlight. Next comes pandan lotus seed, a subtle duet between the richness of lotus and the cool, fragrant notes of pandan, echoing nature’s sweetest harmony.

Black and white sesame filling leads diners into the “pearl of the forest”, where two wholesome seeds unite to create a rustic yet refined taste: nutty, fragrant and irresistibly moreish. Cranberry filling adds a gentle Western touch, its sweet-and-sour notes bringing a bright, refreshing accent to the familiar music of Mid-Autumn. Longjing tea filling, made with the celebrated tea from Hangzhou once reserved for royalty, offers a lingering sweetness and refreshing finish—an ancient whisper carried through the moonlight.

Finally comes Yuzu, an Asian–European fusion with its refreshing citrus tang softened by a touch of sweetness. Its elegant fragrance is like an early autumn breeze, leaving a modern yet delicate impression. A surprising highlight within this harmony of flavours, it weaves the finale of a warm reunion season.

On 3 June 1916, the first cinema screening in the capital of Indochina was held at the Metropole Hanoi. Inspired by that cultural milestone, the Metropole Hanoi has curated a cinematic journey through its mooncake collection Metropole Cinema: Hanoi through film, reviving the old images of Hanoi with its unique charm: romantic, poetic and steeped in memory.

Handcrafted with distinctive recipes, each mooncake bears the Metropole’s culinary hallmark, made with carefully chosen ingredients and free from preservatives. The six flavours in the collection form a symphony of Asian tastes, delivering an experience full of surprise and delight.

From the richness of red bean with pistachio, lotus seed paired with creamy macadamia, the mellow fragrance of green bean and dates, the traditional mixed fruit, to the savoury-sweet blend of green bean, apricot and salted egg, and finally black sesame with the unforgettable crunch of sunflower seed.

The Lune d’Art mooncake collection by Hôtel des Arts Saigon is created as an elegant symbol, a harmonious blend of traditional Asian elements and contemporary spirit. The luxurious box, in a striking red tone adorned with intricate golden motifs, gleams like moonlight at its most graceful. Every detail recalls the images and symbols that have defined Hôtel des Arts Saigon over the past decade: from the Vietnamese ao dai and vintage telephone to familiar landmarks, forming a spontaneous yet meaningful picture. Inside, the chrysanthemum, a flower symbolising noble beauty, longevity and luck, is delicately incorporated, capturing the essence of honouring tradition through a modern lens.

Beyond the striking presentation, Lune d’Art mooncakes combine traditional baking craftsmanship with inventive flair. Each cake is a work of art, meticulously created by dedicated artisans. The centrepiece is the Eight Treasures cake, a symbol of happiness and prosperity, blending eight premium ingredients: lotus seeds, cashews, pumpkin jam, melon seeds, ham, Chinese sausage and salted eggs into a rich, indulgent filling that embodies the spirit of reunion at the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Three modern flavours add a fresh and elegant touch. Black sesame and almond are rich and refined, while green tea lotus seed offers a delicate interplay of green tea’s mildness, the sweetness of lotus and the savoury note of salted egg. Coconut cappuccino, with its enticing aroma, appeals to those who love a marriage of classic and modern tastes.

To complete the Mid-Autumn celebration, Lune d’Art mooncakes are paired with premium green tea and jasmine tea. Carefully sourced and produced by local artisans in Vietnam, these teas reflect both passion and refinement. Each sip enhances the flavour of the cake, transforming moments of gathering into elegant and lasting memories.

Read more: Seasonal cuisines: discover new menus through the creative hands of chefs

The land nurtures the buds of flowers, and flowers call the butterflies back. Over more than two decades of devotion, Park Hyatt Saigon has flourished like a blossom nourished by the layers of Vietnamese culture and cherished heritage. Butterflies taking the form of travellers pause to admire, touch the fragrance lightly, and then drift away, carrying the lingering scent with them.

Like an embroidered painting marked by a glorious time, Vinh Hoa Tu Vi is a time capsule that Park Hyatt Saigon places tenderly in the hands of a confidant. Through it, artistic memories unfurl, leaving sweetness upon refined flavours. May the autumn moonlight lull you into cherished recollections, while kindling countless new moments steeped in love.

To complete the story, Park Hyatt Saigon presents four flavours: the depth of truffle beef, the gentle lotus seed rice cake, the creativity of seafood with XO sauce, and the richness of salted egg lava. Together, they weave a perfect harmony for the moment of reunion.

For generations of Vietnamese, the lunch box has been an indispensable companion taken to school each morning, carried after work in the afternoon, or brought along on long journeys. Within its compartments are hot rice, sour soup, braised fish, and the image of loved ones carefully preparing each meal. More than a vessel for food, the lunch box holds the simplest memories and care.

Cà-Moon, a name blending cà-mên and moon, is an affectionate tribute to those familiar yet sacred objects. Just as the Mid-Autumn Festival draws people home, the image of the lunch box evokes reunion, where quiet emotions are conveyed through dishes and layered memories.

The Ca-Moon cake box takes a cylindrical form with four tiers, echoing the structure of a traditional rice box that is simple, yet rich in meaning. Clad in vermilion and luminous gold, the design evokes the warmth and joy of the moon season. Its gold-plated handle recalls the grip of the old rice box, reinterpreted with a modern, luxurious touch.

Embellished across the box are embossed symbols of Saigon: bicycles, motorbikes, Ben Thanh Market, Ba Son Bridge, the Central Post Office. They form a portrait of a city in constant change, yet still imbued with old charm. Inside, embossed tile motifs on the smaller compartments recall the familiar beauty of Saigon’s traditional homes, where Mid-Autumn once meant lion drums, star lanterns, mooncakes and the eager anticipation of children.

Beyond its nostalgic design, Ca-Moon is also a journey of flavour. The four cakes represent the four tiers, each one an emotion layered with culinary creativity. Tradition and modern inspiration intertwine in a sophisticated taste experience. Meticulously handcrafted from carefully chosen ingredients, the cakes uphold both quality and the spiritual value of the Mid-Autumn gift.

Amid the atmosphere of reunion, Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon conveys its essence through the Diem Thu mooncake collection. Inspired by chrysanthemums blooming under the full moon, the series presents two designs: Thu Cuc Vong Nguyet, with the graceful beauty of a moonlit night, and Bach Diep Thu Yen, an autumn banquet of blossoms set against rustic paper.

Behind the refined presentation lie four flavours where tradition meets innovation. Sichuan shrimp, layered with unexpected depth, offers a new culinary adventure; West Lake lotus seed retains its pure essence; Eight Treasures brings completeness; while Tieguanyin tea lends elegant notes. Together, the cakes create a moonlit melody, filled with feeling.

Inspired by the magnolia blossom and the graceful image of a traditional fan, Hotel Nikko Saigon’s mooncake collection makes a perfect gift for the season of reunion. Two versions of Magnolia Vong Nguyet – To Mong Vuong Trang, in elegant shades of blue and pink, hold four carefully chosen flavours: Hong Kong–style scallop, XO roast chicken, Taiwanese pineapple and tiramisu. Each cake is a meeting point between tradition and modernity, crafted with care in every layer of filling and crust.

Pullman Hanoi’s Hoa Sac Vang Son mooncake collection is a blessing of peace and completeness expressed in every cake. Inspired by the lacquer painting of the Temple of Literature displayed in the hotel lobby, the collection turns each mooncake into a work of art, blending heritage with creativity. Six flavours come together in harmony: the refinement of lotus seed and bird’s nest, the comforting richness of salted egg ham and traditional mixed, alongside inventive notes such as salted egg apricot and salted egg melon. The premium pearl mooncake stands out as a surprising highlight.

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