New Year fireworks to light up Hanoi first time in years

By Phan Anh, Vo Hai December 25, 2020 | 04:31 am PT

Fireworks light up the night sky above Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake to celebrate the Lunar New Year 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

Hanoi would set off fireworks on 2021 New Year, the first time it has done so since 2016 when the city decided to celebrate new year thriftily.

Hanoi People’s Committee on Thursday said high-altitude fireworks would be set off for 15 minutes starting 12 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2021 at the capital’s Hoan Kiem Lake in Hoan Kiem District, Thong Nhat Park in Dong Da District, and My Dinh Stadium in Nam Tu Liem District.

The event would be privately funded.

The capital has not set off fireworks on New Year since 2016, but still does so on the Lunar New Year, the country's biggest holiday. Four years ago, the government requested localities to refrain from lighting fireworks during New Year to support the poor instead.

Vietnam has a long standing tradition of setting off fireworks during major national celebrations, including Reunification Day on April 30 and Independence Day on Sept. 2.