The streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City came alive with festive crowds on New Year’s Eve as families and tourists gathered for spectacular fireworks and vibrant music performances.
Families and young groups gathered early near Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi and Nguyen Hue Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City to secure their spots.
Businesses capitalized on the festive demand by selling seats with prime views of fireworks for up to 1.4 million VND (approximately 57 USD) per pair.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street: A hub of music and fireworks
By early evening, Nguyen Hue Walking Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, was buzzing with excitement. Thousands of young people queued on roads like Le Loi and Ngo Duc Ke to glimpse performances by renowned artists, including Thanh Lam, Tung Duong, Soobin Hoang Son, and Minh Hang.
Some attendees, like Nhi from District 1, arrived as early as 6 PM to secure the best vantage point and enjoy performances by their favorite stars.
Others, such as Tuan's family from District 6, experienced the festive atmosphere for the first time. "We decided to come after learning about the music programs here," Tuan said, adding they planned to stay until the fireworks at midnight.
Nearby, at Saigon Riverside Park, families had already set up spots by 7 PM, while authorities blocked vehicle access to ensure pedestrian safety.
Cafés with fireworks views charge premium prices
In Hanoi, establishments near Hoan Kiem Lake turned into prime venues for fireworks enthusiasts. Prices ranged from 150,000 VND to 1.4 million VND (approximately 6–57 USD) per seat, depending on the location and view.
A top-tier café offered a vantage point overlooking Turtle Tower and The Huc Bridge while providing a clear view of the performances at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.
By 9 PM, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake were teeming with revelers. Roads such as Cau Go, Dinh Tien Hoang, and Dinh Liet were tightly packed, while temperatures of 16°C created a comfortable environment for outdoor festivities.
Crowds converge on Hanoi’s and HCMC’s iconic spots
Tourists like Hoang Ly chose Hanoi for its cultural charm during the New Year. Despite the overwhelming crowds, Ly was determined to stay until midnight to enjoy the countdown and fireworks.
In Ho Chi Minh City, guests like Khanh Han took the opportunity to snap photos at Ba Son Bridge, adorned with lights for the occasion. Visitors such as Bich Thao, who traveled from Binh Thuan Province, shared their excitement: "This will be a memorable New Year's Eve for us before exploring more attractions tomorrow."
International visitors also joined in. Amelia from Australia expressed her joy at celebrating the New Year in Vietnam, while Phillippe from France enjoyed the local flavors of banh mi at Son Tra Night Market in Da Nang.
Danang: A quieter yet festive scene
Unlike the bustling celebrations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Danang offered a more relaxed atmosphere as it did not feature fireworks. However, areas like Son Tra Night Market saw heavy foot traffic with locals and tourists enjoying the festive vibes, shopping, and dining.
At 10 PM, popular streets such as Trang Tien, Hang Khay, and the areas around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi were tightly packed as people eagerly anticipated the "Countdown Party 2025."
As midnight approaches, fireworks will illuminate the skies over Saigon River and Hoan Kiem Lake, marking a spectacular start to 2025.
In Ho Chi Minh City, streets leading to Nguyen Hue Street, like Le Loi and Ngo Duc Ke, were packed with thousands of young people eagerly awaiting performances on the main stage. Renowned artists such as Thanh Lam, Tung Duong, Soobin Hoang Son, Trong Hieu, ST Son Thach, Minh Hang, and the band Buc Tuong performed on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street tonight.
Nhi (District 1) arrived at 6 PM with friends to secure a good spot and see her idols perform. She expressed excitement about welcoming the New Year.
Tuan’s family (District 6) brought their daughter to watch fireworks for the first time. Tuan said previous years were difficult due to his child’s age, but the family decided to join the festive crowd this year.A similar scene unfolded at Saigon Riverside Park. Families and young people had secured their spots as early as 7 PM.Streets near the park were barricaded by authorities to restrict vehicle access, making it easier for people to find spots to watch the fireworks.Khanh Han (right) and her friend took the opportunity to check in at Ba Son Bridge, which was newly decorated with beautiful lights to celebrate the New Year.Bich Thao (from Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan) and her husband went on a trip just in time for the New Year. "The atmosphere here is so vibrant; this will be a memorable experience for us. Tomorrow, my husband and I plan to visit famous landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City before heading home," Thao shared."We are so happy to celebrate the New Year in Vietnam during our trip," said Amelia, an Australian tourist.By around 9 PM, the entire Nguyễn Huệ pedestrian street was packed with people, resembling a sea of humanity.At 9:30 PM, vibrant cultural performances took place on the main stage at Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. At midnight on January 1, 2025, the New Year countdown event, "Countdown Party 2025," was held. Immediately afterward, high-altitude fireworks lit up the sky from the Saigon Riverbank.The streets leading to Nguyen Hue Street were jammed with vehicles due to roadblocks. Many people had no choice but to turn around and find alternative routes.At the same time, Bui Vien Walking Street (District 1) was also packed with people enjoying food and drinks to bid farewell to the old year. Restaurants and bars in the area had set up tables and chairs spilling onto the road, leaving only narrow pathways for walking.A similarly crowded scene was observed from 8:30 PM at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in Hanoi.Streets leading to the square, such as Cau Go, Dinh Liet, and Dinh Tien Hoang, were packed with young people and families.The outdoor temperature in the capital was around 16°C, making it relatively comfortable for young people to enjoy the festivities.
Hoang Ly said that this is the first time she has attended a countdown event in Hanoi. 'Choosing the capital as a travel destination for the New Year, I am very excited. However, when we got here, my husband and I had to squeeze through the crowd, which was quite exhausting. I truly did not expect it to be this crowded. We will try to stay until midnight to watch the fireworks,' the female tourist said."
The cafes and food spots around Hoan Kiem Lake are also packed.
A customer mentioned that someone is selling tickets for 1.4 million VND per pair for a seat at the café with the best view, where you can look down at the Turtle Tower and the The Huc Bridge, while also enjoying cultural performances on the stage at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square. In addition, many other restaurants and cafes around the area have also started 'selling seating' on higher floors with prices ranging from 150,000 VND, 200,000 VND to 700,000 VND, depending on the seat.In the area around Ly Thai To Park and Hanoi Post Office, the number of people keeps increasing. Although it’s not the weekend, the pedestrian street on Dinh Tien Hoang Street by Hoan Kiem Lake is still open to serve locals and tourists, allowing them to enjoy the New Year festivities conveniently.People who arrived early have claimed spots around Hoan Kiem Lake to wait for the fireworks.At the same time, in front of the stage at the Hanoi Opera House, thousands of people directed their gaze towards the singers and dancers to watch artistic performances symbolizing the farewell to the old year and the welcoming of the new year.At 10 PM, the entire area around Hoan Kiem Lake, Trang Tien Street, Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Khay, and August Revolution Square was packed with people.In Da Nang, the weather on the evening of December 31st was cool and dry, making it perfect for people to enjoy the festivities. Since the city by the Han River doesn't have a fireworks display, it wasn't as crowded as in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.At the Son Tra Night Market (Son Tra District), there were many locals and tourists visiting and shopping. Phillippe (a French tourist) and his girlfriend were looking for traditional Vietnamese bánh mì to enjoy.Nearby, Nguyen Uyen's family and Le Giap took their child for a stroll at the night market. Uyen shared that the whole family had made an effort to finish work early tonight so they could have dinner together, drink coffee, and visit the night market to celebrate the last day of 2024.
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