Vietnam welcomes 2024 in grand parades

Hanoi couples exchange new year kisses

A couple in Hanoi kisses each other as the clock strikes midnight. Photo by Giang Huy

Another Hanoi couple marks their new year with a kiss. Photo by Giang Huy

Fireworks explode in Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta. Photo by Huy Phong

The Mekong Delta city launched 1,000 fireworks at the central stadium for 15 minutes starting at 9:30 p.m. to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Can Tho being a central city, and to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Nguyen Thanh Tung, 40, a Vietnamese national in Australia, said it had been over 10 years since he last returned to his hometown to celebrate the new year. He said many new skyscrapers had been built, and travel between Can Tho and HCMC has become much more convenient, taking only two hours on the expressway.

Tens of thousands of people have been drawn to the countdown musical performance in Hue. Photo by Ngoc Thanh

People who fainted at a music show in Hue are taken to hospital. Photo by Vo Thanh

New Year music shows in Hue have attracted tens of thousands of people. Roads intersecting with Hung Vuong were fully crowded, with some people fainting and were taken to the hospital.

The dragon statue that runs along Da Nang’s iconic Dragon Bridge breathes fire in front of around 1,000 audiences. Photo by Nguyen Dong

Many children take a shower as the dragon breaths water. Photo by Nguyen Dong

A hotel in Da Nang is lit up with a”Happy New Year” banner. Photo by Nguyen Dong

In Da Nang, the rains subsided at around 8 p.m. and people have traveled to the Bien Dong Park for the countdown event and music shows. Downtown roads towards the sea, like Le Duan and Nguyen Van Linh, were congested.

During Christmas and this New Year’s Eve, Da Nang estimated to receive 261,000 visitors, a 35% increase from the same period last year. 138,000 visitors were foreigners.

 

 

Vietnam welcomes 2024 in grand parades

Rồng vàng phun lửa ở Đà Nẵng

The dining area of a shopping mall in Hanoi is full. Photo by Ngoc Thanh

The largest shopping amll in Ha Dong District, around 20 km from Hanoi center, was packed with people coming for shopping, dining and playing indoor games.

People gather for a countdown event at a shopping mall to the east of Hanoi. Photo by Ngoc Thanh

A family of South Korean tourists take photos at the 2/4 Square in Nha Trang. Photo by VnExpress

Most of the people in Nha Trang have gathered at the 2/4 Square to celebrate the New Year starting around 7:55 p.m. Traffic police officers are present at the site, banning motorbikes on a 300 m section on Tran Phu Street.

Locals said New Year celebrations this year were not as bustling as last year’s.

Le Xuan, 38, said this holiday, many of his friends chose to travel to Da Lat instead of staying in Nha Trang as they wanted to “experience the cold for the new year.”

“This year, due to precarious economic situations, my family did not travel far, only hanging around the city. We will watch the fireworks at midnight. I hope everything will go well in 2024,” he said.

Thousands in Hue pour out the street for New Year’s Eve

On the last day of 2023, weather of Thua Thien-Hue is cool, and many people have gone down Hung Vuong Street of downtown Hue to wait for the New Year. The countdown event will feature music shows, including EDM performances.

There will also be a fireworks show at the city. Restaurants on Vo Thi Sau and Chu Van An streets have been full of customers.

At 8 p.m., the music show began, but people had been at the site an hour prior. Barricades have been erected around the area to maintain safety, while authorities have been in pace to re-route traffic.