Soft skills development, meaningful cultural exchange, and deeper community engagement were among the measurable outcomes achieved by both Vietnamese and international learners at Ho Chi Minh City Open University through the volunteer program The Moonlight of Harmony ( Vầng trăng hòa sắc).
On October 3rd and 4th, 2025, forty-five international and Vietnamese learners volunteered at Thien Phuoc Shelter and Tuong Lai Special School in Ho Chi Minh City. They prepared and gifted over 100 handmade mooncakes to more than 100 children, bringing them a warm and joyful Mid-Autumn Festival.
Understanding and Loving the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival
More than just a volunteer event, “The Moonlight of Harmony” offered learners a meaningful opportunity to explore the origins, significance, and unique stories behind the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival – a celebration of reunion and togetherness.
The excitement for the event preparations had been building for days. Volunteer groups came together to decorate the game area, practice their performances, and manage the logistics. The most anticipated activity, however, was the traditional Mid-Autumn mooncake-making workshop, where participants not only learned a recipe but also felt the cultural significance infused in each cake.
Especially, for many international learners, this was their first time celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. Their excitement was clearly visible on their faces as they listened to the artisan share the meaning behind each type of cake and decorative pattern. Meanwhile, Vietnamese learners, who were already familiar with this holiday, also felt thrilled to be making the traditional cakes with their own hands, making this year’s Mid-Autumn season more special than ever.
Under the dedicated, approachable guidance of the experienced mooncake artisan, numerous volunteers expressed fascination and awe at the delicate, meticulous steps involved in the craft of cake-making. Each cake, whether baked or sticky rice, carried not only sweetness but also the warmth of connection and sharing – embodying the program’s spirit of harmony.
More than just a charitable activity, ‘The Moonlight of Harmony 2025’ was also a journey of learning, experience, and personal growth for both Vietnamese and international learners at Ho Chi Minh City Open University. Through the program, these young people not only honed their soft skills, such as event organisation, teamwork, and intercultural communication, but also developed a spirit of social responsibility in a natural, sincere, and profound manner.
100 Gifts Shared, 100 Smiles Received
On October 3rd and 4th, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City Open University hosted “The Moonlight of Harmony” at Tuong Lai Special School and Thien Phuoc Shelter, filling the spaces with laughter and joy for underprivileged children.
At the gathering, the volunteers came together to organize many joyful activities, interactions, and lively performances, helping to create an unforgettable Mid-Autumn season. Most notably, the program presented 50 gift sets to the children. Each set contained a backpack, mooncakes lovingly handmade by the learners themselves, candies, milk, and a small lantern. These were simple gifts, yet they were brimming with affection, sent to the little ones as a heartfelt wish for a warm and truly complete Mid-Cestival.
50 gift sets to the children.
As part of the event, the children enthusiastically joined activities such as Finding the Moon, Puzzle Challenge, Matching Game, and the popular Color with the Moon coloring activity. The children eagerly chose to color pictures of doctors, teachers, firefighters, and astronauts, unleashing their creativity with their own unique colors. Once completed, these colorful creations were displayed on the Tree of Wishes, symbolizing their hopes and dreams for the future. Afterwards, the Tree of Wishes and the children’s drawings were presented to the school as a lasting keepsake. It was a meaningful reminder of connection, kindness, and shared joy between learners and children.
“The Moonlight of Harmony 2025” concluded in an atmosphere filled with laughter, happiness, and unity. Each handmade mooncake, thoughtful gift, and heartfelt wish carried the genuine affection of Ho Chi Minh City Open University learners for the children, spreading warmth and the spirit of giving under the bright Mid-Autumn moon.