What to do on New Year's Day in HCMC

This year, since the New Year comes around in midweek, people in HCMC are staying back instead of traveling.

Here are some holiday options for them in the city based on recommendations by local tour guide Linh Lam and a VnExpress reporter.

Experience the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line

The Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line began operations on Dec. 22, 2024, becoming a major turning point for the city's urban transport system. It has the potential to be a game changer for the city's tourism by conveniently connecting cultural, historical and other attractions.

For the first 30 days it is offering free rides. The trains run daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

With 14 stations located mostly near popular tourist attractions, passengers can easily walk to landmarks, visit shops or explore amusement and dining places. Stations like Van Thanh, Thao Dien and Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, offer travelers the chance to experience areas outside the city center.

The food tours

Bowls of beef noodle soup are served at an eatery in HCMC. Photo by Ngoc Yen

HCMC was named one of the best 100 culinary cities in the world for 2024 by TasteAtlas in December. The city has a rich gastronomic scene that brings together dishes from all over the country as well as global cuisines, offering dining options that cater to all preferences from street food to high-end luxury experiences.

Spending a day wandering through food streets like Ho Thi Ky, Vinh Khanh and Phan Xich Long, visitors can discover a wide variety of dishes perfect for both casual snacking and full meals.

Michelin-recognized restaurants in the Bib Gourmand category (known for good food at affordable prices) are also a great option.

On New Year’s Eve, many restaurants will stay open until midnight, offering a variety of experiences. A dinner at a five-star hotel or a luxury restaurant, with private settings and services to match the cost, will elevate the eating experience.

A New Year's Eve dinner at the Hilton Saigon starts from VND1 million ($39.25), while A by TUNG in District 1 offers dinner starting at VND2 million ($78.51).

Shopping and entertainment

A combination of eateries at Thao Dien Ward in Thu Duc City. Photo by VnExpress/Bich Phuong

Despite being crowded at all times, shopping malls are still the top choice for people in HCMC during the New Year holiday. These places are usually spacious and air-conditioned and offer a wide range of services, including shopping, dining, entertainment, and movie screenings. Large, modern malls are also often visited by tourists.

Outside the city center visitors can head to Thao Dien and visit the Bloq complex on Tran Ngoc Dien Street for a unique shopping experience.

This area is built using shipping containers, and offers outdoor spaces for dining and shopping.

Saigon Concept, with 12 boutiques built within a villa, is another great spot for fashion shopping and picking up souvenirs.

Cafés with fireworks views

Fireworks explode over the Saigon River. Photo by HCMC Tourism Department

In the evening of Dec. 31 visitors can find cafes where they can relax and enjoy the New Year's Eve fireworks while strolling through the city center.

Bach Dang Wharf Park

Situated by the entrance to Bach Dang Wharf are many cafes with views overlooking the Saigon River and Ba Son Bridge where the fireworks will explode at midnight. The cafes, also situated near popular attractions such as Nguyen Hue Walking Street and Bach Dang Boat Station, offer both indoor and outdoor seating.

Drinks range from VND60,000 to 110,000 ($2.36-4.32), with some places adding a holiday surcharge.

Notable cafes include Katinat, Highlands and 3T Egg Coffee, all of which are open from 7 a.m. to midnight. These spots are in the public fireworks viewing area, and so visitors are advised to arrive early to secure a good seat for the show.

An outdoor high-rise restaurant's lounge in HCMC. Photo by Blank Lounge

High-rise cafes

Those who want to enjoy the fireworks from a higher vantage point and avoid the crowds can consider high-rise lounges (a combination of a bar and cafe).

Blank Lounge, located on the 75th and 76th floors of Landmark 81, Vietnam's tallest building on Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Binh Thanh District, is a great option, situated as it is five kilometers from the high-altitude fireworks launch point near the Saigon River Tunnel.

It has a limited capacity and accepts guests from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and so it is advisable to reserve a table.

Each guest must order at least one personal serving, which includes a cake and a drink, with prices starting at VND500,000 ($19.36).

One can enjoy music and sip cocktails at places like U Bar, Tuy Long and Acoustic Bar in District 1, where drink prices start at VND250,000 ($10). At the end of the day visitors can also book a city sightseeing tour on a double-decker bus or river bus, whose tickets are priced from VND150,000 ($6).