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Ho Chi Minh City is entering the peak days of preparation for the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, filled with excitement and joy. Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports officially announced the plan to organize a series of events titled "Celebrating the Year of the Horse - Celebrating the Glorious Party". The most notable highlight, attracting the attention of millions of residents and tourists, is the artistic fireworks display on New Year's Eve, which will be simultaneously implemented at 17 locations throughout the city and affiliated areas.
According to the plan, the New Year's fireworks display will begin from 0:00 to 0:15 on February 17, 2026 (the first day of the Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse). To create a spectacular light show, the city has planned four locations for high-altitude and low-altitude fireworks displays at strategic points. The area at the entrance to the Saigon River tunnel (An Khanh ward) will continue to be the focal point with the largest scale, including 1,200 high-altitude fireworks along with dozens of low-altitude fireworks displays. In addition, locations such as the New City Center (Binh Duong ward), Tam Thang Square (Vung Tau ward), and Ba Ria Park Square will also be ideal viewing spots for the public.
Ho Chi Minh City has announced 17 fireworks display locations for New Year's Eve 2026 (Year of the Horse), spread across many areas to ensure that all citizens can admire the artistic performance.
Alongside the high-altitude fireworks displays, 13 other low-altitude fireworks locations are strategically placed to cater to the local viewing needs of the people. This list includes familiar landmarks such as Dam Sen Cultural Park, the Cu Chi Tunnels historical site, Binh Dien Market, and notably, the inclusion of new architectural icons like the SAIGON MARINA IFC tower in Saigon Ward, featuring a large number of launch tubes and large-scale fireworks displays. Even more distant areas such as the Con Dao Special Economic Zone (914 Pier), the Rung Sac Temple (Can Gio), and the Nha Be area will simultaneously light up the sky, ensuring the spirit of "Cultural and Heartfelt Tet" spreads to every home and every person.
Beyond just fireworks, Ho Chi Minh City is also organizing a series of unique festival activities throughout the Tet holiday. Indispensable cultural "specialties" such as the Nguyen Hue Flower Street and the Tet Book Street Festival will officially open to the public from February 15th to February 22nd, 2026. This is an ideal time for tourists and city residents to visit and capture meaningful springtime moments. In addition, the Tao Dan Spring Flower Festival and Tet flower markets throughout the districts will open early, creating a vibrant and colorful atmosphere typical of the South. Especially, the "On the Wharf, Under the Boat" cultural feature at the Binh Dong – Nguyen Van Cua wharf area is expected to attract a large number of tourists due to its uniqueness and strong traditional atmosphere.
In addition, 13 low-altitude fireworks displays will be set up at various locations.
Besides recreational activities, special attention is also paid to acts of gratitude and political ceremonies. The city organizes delegations to visit martyrs' cemeteries, offering incense and flowers in commemoration of President Ho Chi Minh, President Ton Duc Thang, and other revered figures. These activities not only demonstrate the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source" but are also linked to the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2026). This is an opportunity to reflect on the brilliant achievements of the city named after President Ho Chi Minh and to strengthen faith in a prosperous and promising new year of the Horse.
To diversify the experiences for residents, traditional art performances such as Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) and Don Ca Tai Tu (Southern Vietnamese folk music) will be widely organized from February 15th to 20th, 2026, at cultural centers, schools, and industrial zones. This demonstrates the city government's deep concern for the spiritual well-being of civil servants and migrant workers. In addition, a series of post-Tet festivals such as the Lantern Festival, Vietnamese Poetry Day, and the opening ceremonies of the Culture and Tourism Festival promise to maintain a vibrant atmosphere until March 2026.
