Although the biggest New Year’s party in Vietnam is reserved for the Tet holiday in the first lunar month, Ho Chi Minh City still puts on a pretty good party for its Gregorian cousin.
Let’s have a look at how you should say hello (Xin Chào) to a healthy and prosperous new year in style.
Fireworks
There’s insane traffic, massive crowds and horns constantly blaring, but spirits are high and everyone still has a lot of fun. New Year’s Eve in Saigon is an unforgettable atmosphere every year – hundreds of thousands of people enjoying time with their friends and families.
Colorful fireworks of Ho Chi Minh City at new year view from Landmark 81 riverside
The midnight fireworks shoot off at three locations in Ho Chi Minh City. The fireworks will be displayed for 15 minutes, from 00:00 to 00:15 on January 01, 2020.
Find the best location near you at this article: Best Places to Watch New Year’s Eve 2020 Fireworks in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Hue Walking Street
Nguyen Hue Street is a broad walking promenade in the middle of District 1 city centre. This pedestrian area is flanked by some beautiful French colonial architectural wonders like the People’s Comittee, the Rex Hotel and a luxury shopping mall.
In front of the People’s Committee you find a statue of Uncle Ho Chi Minh and a fountain show by night. And the best part? Motorbikes aren’t allowed. It’s crazy busy on New Year’s Eve, but it’s also a great spot for snacks and street performers and a decent view of the fireworks.
Rooftop bars
The best way to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Ho Chi Minh City is to party at a rooftop bar. It’s the perfect combination –fancy drinks, good service and a great view of the fireworks. There are places for different budgets, but here are some of the better places to ring in the new year.
Keep in mind that you will probably need to make a reservation for most of these places, so call early. Some offer dinner packages as well.
- Chill Sky Bar, AB Tower, 76A Lê Lai, District 1
- Air 360 sky Lounge, 136-138, Lê Thị Hồng Gấm
- Eon51, Level 50/51/52, Bitexco Financial Tower, 2 Hải Triều Street, District 1
- Liquid Sky Bar, 8-15 Tôn Đức Thắng, District 1
- Rex Hotel Rooftop Bar, 141 Nguyễn Huệ, District 1
River Boat Cruises
Why not get away from the bustle of the city streets and onto the ancient, lazy Saigon River? The river itself, though definitely not as clear and blue as it once was, is a beautiful reminder of Saigon’s past and present, and a romantic cruise on one of Artisan Cruises luxurious barges is a great standpoint from which to watch the city in all its finery.
For both a unique view of the fireworks and a memorable experience, go for a river boat cruise on the Saigon River. Again, book these early as they are popular and tend to fill up.
Get local
Why not make some friends this holiday? Park 23/9 in District 1 is known for its gaggles of students looking to practice their English with native speakers. They roam the park, pouncing on unsuspecting foreigners, and often end up making friends with their victims and taking them for a beer.
If you are a native speaker, go to the park and wait for a group of festive students to befriend, before wandering off to the backpacker strip for a ridiculous amount of laughter, beers and dried squid.
Hotels
You really should book a room somewhere downtown, near the river, even if just for the one night. The traffic is wild on New Year’s Eve, so unless you want to spend two hours in gridlock, book a room in District 1 as near to the Tran Hung Dao Statue as you can find for your price range.
Happy partying!
@ Vietnam Star/ The Culture Trip