HCMC plans New Year countdown party if Covid risk low

The events are scheduled at two venues including Nguyen Hue pedestrian street and Le Duan Boulevard on the night of Dec. 31.

In addition, there will be art performances in District 12, Tan Phu, Binh Tan, Binh Chanh and Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Nha Be and Can Gio districts on the night of Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 2022.

For years now, HCMC, a major tourist destination, has always rung in the New Year and Lunar New Year holidays with firework displays and countdown parties.

In case the coronavirus risk in the city increases to ‘high or very high level,’ city authorities would limit or suspend activities for New Year holidays.

The southern metropolis, epicenter of the fourth coronavirus wave that struck the country in late April, has maintained its Covid risk at medium level since October as it entered the new normal period and resumed most economic and tourism activities.

Coronavirus risks are determined based on an area's vaccination rate, the number of infections per population, and the capacity of local medical system. They are categorized by a four-level assessment system, with level 1 being the safest and level 4, the most severe.

The city has asked the government to allow in foreign tourists without the mandatory quarantine from this month as it seeks to revive economic and tourism activities.

It received over 8.6 million foreign visitors in 2019, or nearly half the country’s total foreign arrivals.