Vehicles banned from downtown HCMC for New Year celebrations

By Gia Minh December 30, 2023 | 07:24 pm PT

A firework show over the Saigon River to mark Vietnam's Independence Day on Sept. 2, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Vehicles will be banned from entering 10 downtown HCMC streets from Sunday afternoon for New Year's Eve celebrations and firework shows, the transport department said.

The firework shows are expected to last 15 minutes, from midnight to 0:15 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2024, at two locations: the beginning of the Saigon River tunnel in Thu Duc City, and the Dam Sen cultural park in District 11.

A countdown ceremony will also happen Sunday night at the Nguyen Hue walking street in District 1.

To prevent traffic congestion, vehicles will be banned from the Nguyen Hue section from Le Thanh Ton to Ton Duc Thang from 3 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday.

They will also be banned from certain downtown routes, including sections of Le Loi, Dong Khoi, Ton Duc Thang, Nguyen Tat Thanh and Ham Nghi from 8 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday.

Other streets banning vehicles include sections of Hai Trieu, Ly Tu Trong, Le Thanh Ton, Dong Du and Mac Thi Buoi.

Vehicles will also not be allowed to enter roads surrounding the Me Linh Square and the Ba Son, Khanh Hoi bridges.