As a hotel that has shaped a cultural accommodation style - where every architectural detail, every culinary experience evokes an artistic chapter - Capella Hanoi stands out not only for its world-class service but also for its ability to recreate the spirit of Hanoi through a unique aesthetic lens.
Continuing this journey of honoring that heritage, this Mid-Autumn Festival season, Capella Hanoi introduces a limited edition mooncake box named "Minh Nguyet Thanh Ca", inspired by Ca tru, an elegant art form that once resonated in the quiet spaces of ancient Thang Long.
The “Minh Nguyet Thanh Ca” mooncake box by Capella Hanoi is inspired by Ca trù
Under the creative hands of world-renowned architects Bill Bensley, the rhythm of the phách, the sound of the đàn đáy, and the resonant voice of the Ca nương are transformed into design language: intricate carved patterns, colors like autumn moonlight filtering through ancient tiled roofs. Each detail evokes the resonance of an ancient song, creating a unique handcrafted masterpiece, where cuisine, memory, and art converge to retell the Mid-Autumn Festival story in a sophisticated, serene, and Hanoi-artistic manner.
The surface of the box is a visual painting evoking the traditional Ca trù space, with patterns stylized from paper fans, phách, and lacquer material evoking a classic feel. Neutral, refined colors, inspired by the Eastern autumn palette: elegant, restrained yet profound. The mooncake box not only showcases high aesthetics but also represents the hotel's continued shaping of Mid-Autumn Festival as an occasion to connect memory, culture, and contemporary emotions.
Mooncakes come in 4 flavors for diners to choose from
Hidden behind the handcrafted crust are four flavors created by the chefs at Backstage – a restaurant honored by the Michelin Guide for three consecutive years. Each flavor carries its own spirit, harmonizing with the tones of each Ca trù song. The mixed nuts and salted egg yolk flavor retains the traditional soul with lotus seeds, candied orange peel, pork fat, and creamy salted egg yolk – fulfilling and complete like the sound of the chầu drum. The coconut coffee – mung bean flavor is light and awakening, like a passage of hát nói evoking everyday stories in a deep, meaningful voice. The almond – cranberry flavor is a bright, clear high note; while the red apple – black sesame is a calm, deep low note – like a song pausing in the middle of a festival night past its halfway point.
Sharing about this year's concept, Head Chef Hung said: “Making mooncakes is a very personal matter for me, it evokes memories of childhood moon festivals when the whole family gathered together. With this year's Minh Nguyet Thanh Ca box, I want to preserve the essence of traditional mooncakes, yet add something new, light, and sophisticated, much like the breath of an autumn in Hanoi.”
Capella Hanoi celebrates Hanoi culture through mooncake design
“Minh Nguyet Thanh Ca” is not just a seasonal product, but a way for Capella Hanoi to continue affirming its role as a silent yet bold storyteller – where culture is not only preserved but revived, with sophistication, selectivity, and infused into every detail. At Capella Hanoi, Mid-Autumn is more than just a festival; it is a moment for each guest to pause, listen to the melodies that once resonated in the ancient Thang Long space, and to experience culture in a unique, contemporary, profound, and emotional way.
