HCMC resumes New Year's Eve fireworks after a year's suspension

The fireworks will be set off at the Thu Thiem Tunnel between Districts 1 and 2 following a countdown event on the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street on December 31.

Last year, the southern metropolis suspended its usual New Year's Eve events including fireworks and other entertainment activities to prevent the gathering of large crowds and focus on post-pandemic recovery.

For the Lunar New Year holiday, HCMC will open its annual flower street on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in front of the City Hall January 19-26 and organize another firework show on Lunar New Year's Eve, which falls on January 21.

The government has approved a seven-day Lunar New Year holiday break from January 20 to 26, 2023.

HCMC has also planned a hot-air balloon display from December 8-11 over Nguyen Hue to boost tourism recovery.

The city expects to receive 3.5 million foreign tourists this year. In the pre-pandemic year of 2019, it had welcomed 10 million foreign visitors.