New Year's Eve Fireworks 2026: The Secret Behind the Colorful Stripes in the Sky

Ho Chi Minh City has just announced 4 locations for fireworks to welcome the new year 2026. Do you know how the red, blue, purple… colors of fireworks are created? The answer lies in interesting chemical reactions.

As Thanh Nien reported, Ho Chi Minh City organized fireworks displays at 4 locations, including 3 high-altitude locations in An Khanh ward, Binh Duong ward and Vung Tau ward to welcome the new year 2026.

New Year is considered "fireworks season"

PHOTO: THANH TUNG

Specifically, the fireworks display program will take place from 0:00 to 0:15 on January 1, 2026, funded by socialized sources. 3 high-altitude locations include the Saigon River tunnel entrance (An Khanh ward), the new city center (Binh Duong ward) and Tam Thang square (Vung Tau ward). The low-altitude fireworks display will be at Dam Sen Cultural Park (Binh Thoi ward).

If you watch New Year’s Eve fireworks displays in many places, you will see reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues and purples exploding in the sky. But what makes fireworks colorful? Here’s the scientific explanation.

What gives fireworks their color?

According to EarthSky , the colors in fireworks come from a simple, chemical source. Basically, fireworks are created using metal salts. Of course, these salts are different from the table salt we often see.

Some of these compounds produce bright colors when burned, making them ideal for use in fireworks. Others, such as potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal, are useful in helping fireworks burn.

Nitrates, chlorates, and perchlorates provide oxygen for fuel combustion. Dextrins are often used as a starch to hold the mixture together. Additionally, the use of chlorine-containing chemicals can enhance the colors of some fireworks.

Are you looking forward to the New Year fireworks in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces?

PHOTO: THANH TUNG

Common metal salts used in fireworks include strontium carbonate (red fireworks), calcium chloride (orange fireworks), sodium nitrate (yellow fireworks), barium chloride (green fireworks), and copper chloride (blue fireworks). Violet fireworks are often a mixture of strontium (red) and copper (blue) compounds.

"After the fireworks burn, a lifting force will push the fireworks into the sky. It is just black powder in a small space, when lit, it will create heat and rapidly increasing gas, which can push the fireworks up to 300 meters high.

Meanwhile, a slow-burning fuse burns slowly inside the shell. After about five seconds, as the shell soars upward, the fuse creates an electric charge that reaches the core of the firework, detonating and igniting the particles containing the metal salts. And so we have a beautiful and colorful fireworks display," EarthSky reported.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/fireworks-for-new-year-2026-bi-mat-phia-sau-nhung-dai-mau-ruc-ro-tren-bau-troi-185251208195753884.htm