Top tourist destinations to ring in New Year with fireworks, countdown festivals

HCMC

A high-altitude firework display will be set off at Saigon River Tunnel in downtown area, while a low-range firework show will take place at Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11.

Each firework display will last for 15 minutes on New Year’s Eve.

Countdown parties will be launched on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, one of the city’s busiest entertainment hubs, from 8 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Visitors can take a canoe service to enjoy fireworks at Tan Cang tourist area with a ticket price of VND499,000 ($20.51) per person.

Various activities to welcome the new year have been held from Dec. 23, including the inauguration of the Sunflower Park, paragliding and hot air balloon rides, food festivals and art performances.

Hanoi

A string of countdown events will be held in the capital city of Hanoi to usher in the New Year atmosphere.

The highlight of those will be a countdown program organized at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and in Dinh Tien Hoang Street, and Heineken Countdown Party 2024 at the Cach Mang Thang Tam Square in front of the Opera Housefrom 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. the next morning.

Music and dance performances will be available to entertain locals and visitors.

Hai Phong

Around 120 kilometers from Hanoi, Hai Phong will ring in 2024 with a fireworks display for the first time ever.

The port city will host a 15-minute low-altitude fireworks show at midnight on New Year’s Eve after an art gig at the Municipal Theater.

Quy Nhon

On the night of Dec. 31, the central province of Binh Dinh, home to tourist city Quy Nhon, will hold a countdown party to welcome the new year at Nguyen Tat Thanh Central Square.

Nguyen Tat Thanh Central Square in Quy Nhon is flooded with revelers on Lunar New Year’s Eve, February 2023. Photo by Nguyen Phan Dung Nhan

The event featuring many famous singers is expected to create an impressive start for provincial tourism in 2024.

According to Binh Dinh’s Department of Tourism, the number of visitors to Binh Dinh in 2023 is estimated to reach 5 million, an increase of 21% compared to the previous year.

Da Nang

Without fireworks, Da Nang will host a countdown party from 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 at a central square along Tran Hung Dao Street, with the participation of popular V-pop singers such as My Tam and Noo Phuoc Thinh.

In addition, other music performances will be held at some places to welcome the new year.

The central ancient city will organize a series of tourism and cultural activities to ring in the new year.

A culinary festival will take place from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1 at Hoai River Square with demonstrations of how to prepare specialty dishes of Hoi An and Quang Nam.

Flashmob and electronic music performances will be available at 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Hoi An Park along with a series of other entertainment activities.

Da Lat

Da Lat, famous for its year-round cool climate and French colonial heritage, is always one of the top tourist choices for New Year and Lunar New Year holidays.

Da Lat New Year’s Eve Countdown Gala will take place at Lam Vien Central Square at 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 with a series of entertainment programs and music performances.

The number of tourists to Lam Dong, home to Da Lat, reached 7.69 million in the first 11 months of this year, an increase of 17% year-on-year, including 363,000 international visitors, an increase of 215%.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has approved for Sa Pa to organize fireworks performance on New Year’s Eve.

The 15-minute low-altitude fireworks display will occur in the San Quan area in Sa Pa Town.