What to do on countdown night in Ho Chi Minh City?

Beyond fireworks and countdowns, Ho Chi Minh City welcomes the new year with a series of experiences such as HoZo Fest, free metro service, and more.

A group of young people on metro line 1 on April 30th. Photo: Linh Huynh .

On New Year's Eve 2026, Ho Chi Minh City entered the transition into the new year with a vibrant rhythm that stretched from the city center to the new urban areas, from large outdoor music festivals to heritage tours amidst the bustling streets.

Beyond fireworks and countdowns, the city offers a wide variety of experiences, allowing everyone to find their own way to "kick off" the new year.

Ho Chi Minh City will have fireworks displays at multiple locations on April 30th. Photo: To Chi Hung .

Artistic fireworks

From 0:00 to 0:15 on January 1, 2026, the sky over Ho Chi Minh City will be illuminated by artistic fireworks displays at six locations. Three high-altitude firing points will be located at the entrance to the Saigon River tunnel (An Khanh ward), the New City center ( Binh Duong ward), and Tam Thang Square (Vung Tau ward).

The three low-altitude fireworks display locations include Dam Sen Cultural Park (Binh Thoi Ward), Saigon Marina IFC Tower (Saigon Ward), and Kim Long Villa area - Rach Dia Bridge (Nha Be Commune).

Following the administrative boundary merger, the network of fireworks viewing spots has expanded, allowing people in many areas to fully enjoy the New Year's Eve moment.

International tourists excitedly watch fireworks and visit downtown Ho Chi Minh City during the 2024 New Year's Day celebrations. Photo: Linh Huynh.

Countdown 2026

Leading up to New Year's Eve, the festive atmosphere was already building from the afternoon of December 31st with the Countdown 2026 program stretching along Nguyen Hue pedestrian street and expected to extend to Le Loi street, Lam Son Park, and the area in front of the City Theater.

The event brought together a host of familiar artists such as SOOBIN Hoàng Sơn, Tóc Tiên, Hoàng Thùy Linh, Quang Hùng MasterD, Phương Mỹ Chi, Kay Trần, and Phạm Anh Khoa, transforming the city center into an outdoor performance space that lasted until late at night.

In the eastern part of the city, The Global City also hosted a countdown music festival featuring Noo Phuoc Thinh, JustaTee, and many DJs, providing more options for young people who want to avoid the crowds in the city center.

The Hozo City Tet Fest 2025 music program was held on December 27th. Photo: Organizing Committee.

Hozo City Tet Fest 2025

At Saigon Riverside Park, the Hozo City Tet Fest 2025 program took place for five consecutive days from December 27th to 31st, with the theme "City maze-ing - A myriad of unexpected colors" and concluded with a countdown night.

Beyond just music featuring artists like My Tam, Vu Cat Tuong, Duc Phuc, Hoang Dung, and Suboi, the festival is designed as an experiential labyrinth: Immersive House, multimedia exhibitions, "Tet Morphosis" mapping, the Young Chefs' Competition, the "8 Spaces - 8 Stories of Vietnamese Cuisine" exhibition, and the A-Maze Street street food area… promising a diverse range of experiences for visitors.

Metro Line 1 makes commuting between the suburbs and the city center more convenient for residents and tourists, especially during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: Linh Huynh.

Free tickets for metro line 1

To facilitate travel for residents and tourists during the New Year holiday, Metro Line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien will offer 100% free fares on January 1, 2026.

Passengers can scan their chip-embedded ID card or QR code on the HCMC Metro HURC app, or obtain paper tickets at automated kiosks inside the station.

The city also increased the frequency of train services with 264 trips on December 31st and 276 trips on January 1st, including 20 early morning trips to serve travel needs after midnight.

Source: https://znews.vn/choi-gi-dem-countdown-tai-tphcm-post1615512.html