SINGAPORE, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda is shining a light on some of Asia’s most enchanting lantern festivals coming up in the remainder of the year. These lantern festivals are unmissable for travelers eager to immerse themselves in culture and dazzling light-filled celebrations. 

Lantern festivals have long been a favorite for travelers, offering a unique blend of tradition, artistry, and community spirit. For those who marveled at earlier festivals this year, like China’s Spring Lantern Festival or Taiwan’s PingXi Lantern Festival, there’s good news—there are still plenty of opportunities to catch more lantern-lit magic in the months ahead. 

Monthly: Hoi An Lantern Festival, Vietnam 

Hoi An’s Lantern Festival transforms this charming riverside town into a glowing wonderland every full moon. Visitors can expect the streets to be bathed in the warm glow of colorful lanterns, while the Thu Bon River sparkles with floating lights. This monthly celebration is a tribute to Vietnam’s rich heritage, offering travelers a chance to release their own lanterns and make a wish. The festival’s intimate atmosphere and timeless beauty make it a must-see for those seeking a serene yet magical experience. 

August 2025: Nara Tokae Lantern Festival and Obon Festival, Japan 

August in Japan is a double delight for lantern lovers. The Nara Tokae Lantern Festival lights up the historic city of Nara with thousands of candle-lit paper lanterns, creating a captivating illumination amidst ancient temples and deer-filled parks. Meanwhile, the Obon Festival, celebrated nationwide, honors ancestors with floating lanterns and traditional dances. Together, these festivals offer a harmonious blend of reflection, celebration, and cultural immersion. 

October 2025: Mid-Autumn Festival, China 

China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, is a time for family reunions and moonlit festivities. Lantern displays take center stage, with intricate designs ranging from mythical creatures to modern art. Cities like Beijing and Shanghai host grand celebrations, but smaller towns also offer a more intimate charm. Mooncakes, storytelling, and lantern parades make this festival a feast for the senses and the soul. 

November 2025: Yi Peng and Loy Krathong Festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand 

Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng and Loy Krathong Festival is a breathtaking spectacle of light and water. Thousands of lanterns are released into the sky, while floating krathongs (decorative baskets) are set adrift on rivers. This dual celebration symbolizes letting go of misfortunes and welcoming good luck. The sight of illuminated lanterns ascending into the night sky is a memory that will linger long after the festival ends. 

December 2025: Giant Lantern Festival, Philippines  

The Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Philippines, is a dazzling display of craftsmanship and community spirit. Known as the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines,” San Fernando showcases massive, intricately designed lanterns that light up the night in a kaleidoscope of colors. This festival is a testament to Filipino creativity and a joyful way to usher in the holiday season. 

Krishna Rathi, Senior Country Director at Agoda, said, “Lantern festivals are more than just a visual treat; they’re a window into the heart of a culture. Agoda is here to help travelers experience the magic firsthand and make their journeys as seamless as possible. Whether you’re floating a lantern in Hoi An or Chiang Mai, Agoda’s got your travel plans covered.”

With over 5 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities to choose from, Agoda makes it easy to plan a lantern-lit adventure. Visit  Agoda.com and find the best deals on the Agoda mobile app. 

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SOURCE Agoda

Gain insights on how to achieve success in building resilient cold storage warehouses from intralogistics expertsSee the capabilities of the SSI LOGIMAT® smart storage-and-retrieval solution in action

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SSI Schaefer, a global leader in intralogistics and automated warehouses, today announced its participation at Vietnam Warehousing & Automation Show 2025 (VWA 2025) in Binh Duong New City from May 21 to 23, 2025 (Booth 2, Hall A, World Trade Center). During the event, the company will showcase smart warehouse automation solutions through live demonstrations and offer expert insights into cold chain intralogistics on the conference stage.

Visitors can view a live demonstration of SSI Schaefer’s vertical lift module SSI LOGIMAT®. As simple as a plug-and-play solution, the SSI LOGIMAT® allows businesses to optimize warehouse space and improve picking accuracy for small to medium-sized goods.

Sean Lim, Country Head at SSI Schaefer Singapore and Head of Export Market Asia said, “Setting our customers up for success in their warehouse operations is our utmost priority at SSI Schaefer. There are enormous opportunities for companies of all sizes to tap into warehouse automation to meet the growing demand for logistics in Vietnam. With a track record of providing innovative and reliable intralogistics solutions, we are committed to ensuring that our customers retain their competitive edge and stay ahead of the curve.”

Schedule a consultation session here.

Learn Strategies for Cold Storage Warehouses

At VWA 2025, Carsten Spiegelberg, Head of Logistics Solutions at SSI Schaefer Asia & MEA, will share strategies that companies can utilize when building a cold storage warehouse. The session will help the audience gain a clearer understanding of the investment required for a cold storage warehouse and the industry’s best practices.

Register for the conference here.

SSI Schaefer empowers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to embark on warehouse automation through efficient, flexible, and scalable solutions.

In partnership with Roto-Trust Horse, a member of the SSI Schaefer Network of Distributors, both companies will work closely to deliver a complete suite of intralogistics solutions to support Vietnam’s burgeoning logistics sector.

About SSI Schaefer

The SSI Schaefer Group is a leading global solution provider for all areas of intralogistics. By leveraging innovative technologies, the Group empowers companies to increase the efficiency and sustainability of their material flow processes through offering cost-effective end-to-end intralogistics solutions. Additionally, the Group is one of the largest software vendors for internal material flow, providing sustainable resource management within warehouses.

Headquartered in Neunkirchen, Germany, SSI Schaefer has about 80 operating companies and seven production sites worldwide.

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SOURCE SSI Schaefer

Trumponomics & gold • Is the US at risk of losing its exorbitant privilege? • Potential investment opportunities in the evolving precious metals landscape

MENLO PARK, Calif., May 18, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Merk Investments (“Merk”) will host a webinar on Tuesday, May 20, at 1:00pm ET covering:

Trumponomics & gold;Is the US at risk of losing its exorbitant privilege?Potential investment opportunities in the evolving precious metals landscape.

ASA Portfolio Managers Peter Maletis and Jamie Holman will provide an in-depth dive into the ASA portfolio.

There will be an opportunity for Q&A immediately following the webinar.

Register for the webinar at merkinvestments.com/webinar to receive web access and dial-in information.

Webinar Replay

A replay of the webinar will be posted on www.asaltd.com for at least three months. Make sure you register for the webinar to be notified when the replay becomes available.

About ASA

ASA is a non-diversified, closed-end fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation primarily through investing in companies engaged in the exploration for, development of projects in, or mining of precious metals and minerals. On April 12, 2019, ASA shareholders voted to approve an investment advisory agreement between Merk and ASA.

It is a fundamental policy of ASA that at least 80% of its total assets must be (i) invested in common shares or securities convertible into common shares of companies engaged, directly or indirectly, in the exploration, mining or processing of gold, silver, platinum, diamonds or other precious minerals, (ii) held as bullion or other direct forms of gold, silver, platinum or other precious minerals, (iii) invested in instruments representing interests in gold, silver, platinum or other precious minerals such as certificates of deposit therefor, and/or (iv) invested in securities of investment companies, including exchange traded funds, or other securities that seek to replicate the price movement of gold, silver or platinum bullion.

ASA employs bottom-up fundamental analysis and relies on detailed primary research including meetings with company executives, site visits to key operating assets, and proprietary financial analysis in making its investment decisions.

Investors are encouraged to visit the ASA’s website http://www.asaltd.com/ for additional information, including historical and current share prices, news releases, financial statements, tax and supplemental information.

ASA is a “passive foreign investment company” for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, United States shareholders holding shares in taxable accounts are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of their investment in the Company’s common shares.

About Merk

Merk Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser, provides investment advice on liquid global markets, including domestic and international equities, fixed income, commodities and currencies and their respective derivative markets. For more information on Merk, please visit www.merkinvestments.com.

Media Contact

Axel Merk

merkinvestments.com/contact

(650) 376-3135

Media Contact

Axel Merk, Merk Investments LLC, 1 6503234341, info@merkinvestments.com, https://www.merkinvestments.com 

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SOURCE Merk Investments LLC