On the evening of December 31st, from early morning, many streets in Ho Chi Minh City became crowded when people and tourists excitedly moved to the center to welcome the transition to the new year 2026.
On major roads such as Le Duan, Dong Khoi, Ton Duc Thang..., the traffic flow is long and slow. Many families and groups of young people choose to park their cars from afar and then walk into the center to immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere.
Nguyen Hue pedestrian street is a destination attracting a large number of people with street art performances, lighting decorations and small scenes to welcome the new year. Groups of young people, families and international visitors choose convenient locations, ready to blend into the festival atmosphere and wait for the fireworks display to welcome the new year.
Mr. Minh Tuan (resident of Binh Thanh ward) said: "Every year my family goes to the city center to welcome the New Year. The atmosphere is very joyful, everyone is excited and more friendly in the moment of the end of the year.
Along Saigon Riverside Park, people have prepared tarpaulins to watch fireworks with family and friends. A series of cafes in the park grounds are also crowded with customers. Joining the atmosphere with the HOZO City Tet Fest music festival, the number of people flocking here continues to increase, it is expected that tonight the park can welcome tens of thousands of visitors to watch fireworks and enjoy music.
At Metro stations, the number of people moving is also quite crowded. Right from the early hours of the evening, many passengers gathered at the stations on the Metro line to enter the city center, avoiding traffic jams and convenient for fun and sightseeing on New Year's Eve.
Trains continuously enter and exit the station, operating staff and support forces are deployed to guide and divert passengers, ensuring safety throughout the journey.
Meanwhile, at Tam Thang Square in Bai Sau area (belonging to Ba Ria - Vung Tau province before), at nearly 8 pm, people and tourists began to gather in this area. Some people have prepared chairs, chosen a beautiful location near the stage to enjoy art programs, countdowns and see fireworks to welcome the new year with friends and relatives.
Functional forces of Ho Chi Minh City are deployed to be reinforced at intersections and densely populated areas to ensure traffic order and safety and security. Police, civil defense forces and youth volunteers are on duty, guiding people to move, and reminding them to preserve personal property and general hygiene.
Shops and food services around the central area are also operating bustlingly, meeting the entertainment needs of the people. Although the number of people flocking is large, the situation in general is still well controlled.
