The trip “squeezed” from the end of 2024 to the beginning of 2025 is like a reward for the efforts of the old year and a word of encouragement for the new year. Therefore, amidst the brilliant fireworks at the moment of New Year's Eve, everyone is excited to enjoy a new year of difference.
Watching fireworks in Asia
Leaving Kaohsiung to travel to Taipei, Taiwan (China) on the last day of the year, Mr. Tran Le Ngoc Thang (born in 1993, Lang Son) was shocked because he had booked the wrong date at the hotel. Instead of checking in on December 31, he chose January 31. Therefore, he frantically asked his friends and looked for a way to book a room for the last evening of 2024.
According to the schedule, he chose to go to the center of Taiwan (China) to admire the light show and fireworks display at Taipei 101 tower. This is one of the tallest towers in the world, with 101 floors and a height of more than 508m. Taipei 101 was built from 1999 - 2004. In 2024, this skyscraper will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
“Because of the hotel reservation incident, I had to cancel some personal plans. In the morning, I planned to climb Elephant Mountain, and in the evening, go to the hot springs and watch the fireworks. However, to find a place to stay, I spent a lot of time looking for a room because on the last day of the year, hotels and motels almost had no vacancies, or the prices were very high,” said Mr. Thang, adding that he had to change his schedule.
This is the second time he has visited Taiwan (China) but the first time he has celebrated New Year's Eve in a foreign country. The 9X male tourist wants to experience the beginning of 2025 in a moderate cold, around 15 degrees Celsius, with an affordable trip.
At the end of the fireworks display on the night of December 31, 2024, Mr. Thang happily said: “I feel very happy to have completed one thing on my dream list, which is to watch the fireworks in Taipei. I just regret not being able to watch it with my lover on this occasion, but it's okay, going out alone is still fun. I have the opportunity to meet many new friends and have new and interesting experiences.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Vu Minh Diep (34 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) chose to celebrate the New Year in the remote Northeast region of China. Her limbs were numb in the -20 degree Celsius cold, but the female tourist was still happy with this unique travel experience.
“I chose to celebrate 2025 in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, because of the light show and fireworks during the ice and snow festival. This festival is famous for its elaborate and massive ice and snow sculptures,” she said.
The New Year fireworks show is only held in the Harbin festival area because Chinese people still attach more importance to the Lunar New Year. “My whole family watched the art show from 8pm to 8:45pm, and the fireworks show lasted for 10 minutes,” said the female tourist.
The weather outside at night was very cold, sometimes hands and feet were cold, but the joy and excitement of welcoming the New Year's Eve in a strange land made Ms. Diep's whole family very excited. Moreover, this was the first time all 3 members of her family went to welcome the New Year's Eve in a place where it snowed in winter, the temperature dropped to -20 degrees Celsius, not in warm areas like Bali in Indonesia or the islands of the Philippines. Therefore, this was a very memorable experience in this frozen land.
Quiet New Year's Eve in Europe
For the fourth year not being in Vietnam during New Year, Nguyen Thanh Trung (Hanoi) celebrated the New Year in different countries. For him, New Year is an important event in Western countries, so the activities will be different from those in Vietnam.
“In winter, tourists coming to Europe should visit cities with large Christmas markets such as in France, Germany... to fully enjoy the festive atmosphere,” Mr. Trung shared.
On New Year’s Eve, especially Christmas Eve a week before, Europeans will gather with their families to eat, chat or play games together. Although the weather is quite cold, the streets are still sparkling with Christmas lights, bringing a warm feeling.
This year, Thanh Trung celebrated New Year's Eve 2025 in the Czech Republic, a small country in the heart of Europe. He and other Vietnamese guests dined at a restaurant and celebrated the New Year in the Old Town Square of Prague. On New Year's Eve, locals only gather in the Old Town Square of Prague and set off silent fireworks to congratulate each other.
The Czech Republic is an exception in Europe when it comes to not having fireworks on New Year's Eve. Many cities such as Beroun, Nymburk, Mělnik and Kralupy nad Vltavou... replace traditional fireworks with light shows using drones, music shows or silent fireworks to address concerns about noise pollution and the environment.
Prague this year continues to ban traditional fireworks displays in the city center, near rivers, around hospitals and near the zoo. The decision is aimed at protecting animals and preserving historical monuments.
The experience of celebrating New Year in the Czech Republic may be quite sad for party-goers, but it is perfect for tourists who want to enjoy the peaceful transition from the old year to the new year. You will have enough space and time to reflect on the past and look forward to a new year full of hope.
If you like to enjoy the vibrant festival atmosphere, New Year's Eve in Europe is not without traditional countdown festivals and impressive fireworks displays across major cities. The Arc de Triomphe in Paris (France), Big Ben in London (England), and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin (Germany) turn into giant, brilliant paintings against the night sky. The experience of celebrating New Year's in Europe always leaves a new feeling compared to Eastern countries. It is truly one of the experiences worth trying.
