[LIVE BLOG] Fireworks light up the skies across Vietnam to welcome Lunar New Year

Brilliant streaks of red, gold, and blue fireworks exploded across the night sky over Vietnam as crowds gazed upward, phones raised to capture the moment, their faces glowing with excitement in the flashing lights.

Streets buzzed with energy as thousands gathered shoulder to shoulder, the festive spirit heightened by dazzling lights, celebratory shouts, and the shared joy of welcoming a fresh beginning.

Foreign visitors gathered alongside thousands of local residents in cities and resort destinations across Vietnam on Monday evening, filling flower streets, public squares and waterfront promenades as they awaited Lunar New Year's Eve fireworks displays.

From Hanoi and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc Island, international tourists joined festive crowds for performances, countdown events and seasonal photo displays, while authorities deployed traffic controls and security measures to manage surging attendance ahead of the midnight celebrations.

Int'l visitors celebrate Lunar New Year on Phu Quoc Island 

International visitors are gathering on Phu Quoc Island to celebrate the Lunar New Year, joining festive activities, enjoying vibrant performances and fireworks, and soaking up the lively holiday atmosphere across the popular resort destination.

At popular entertainment sites including the Kiss Bridge, Sunset Town in An Thoi, the Grand World Phu Quoc complex, and the Duong Dong area in the Phu Quoc Special Zone of An Giang Province, international tourists gathered to sightsee, watch performances, and take photos beside traditional Tet-themed displays and flower-lined streets blending European and Vietnamese architectural styles.

Justin, an American visitor, said the island’s residents had prepared for the Lunar New Year in a lively and festive manner.

He said the entertainment sites featured beautiful architecture and impressive spring decorations, adding that he was deeply impressed and would long remember welcoming the Lunar New Year on Phu Quoc Island.

Tran Minh Khoa, chairman of the People’s Committee of the Phu Quoc Special Zone, said the locality was stepping up communications efforts in 2026 to promote Phu Quoc’s tourism image to domestic and international visitors.

With a target of welcoming about 10 million tourist arrivals in 2026, Phu Quoc is working to address existing challenges while encouraging tourism businesses to improve service quality and develop distinctive, internationally competitive tourism products to serve visitors, he said.

Da Nang residents fill streets, flower festival

Crowds poured into central Da Nang on Monday evening to celebrate Lunar New Year’s Eve, causing heavy traffic along September 2 Street, Nguyen Van Linh Street and near the Dragon Bridge intersection.

By 8:15 pm, the city’s Tet Flower Street, which runs from February 14 to February 26, was packed with residents and visitors. 

Thousands gather at An Giang sea reclamation area for celebrations 

From 6:00 pm, thousands of people from Chau Thanh, An Bien, An Minh, Giong Rieng, and Hon Dat Communes, along with visitors, flocked to the Rach Gia sea reclamation area to sightsee and take photos at decorative displays featuring peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and a Tam Quan ceremonial gate in Rach Gia.

“On the last day of the [old lunar] year, my family and I came here to celebrate the spring festival, have fun and wait to welcome the 2026 Lunar New Year with joy, prosperity, and peace,” Nguyen Thi Kim Tuyen, a resident of Chau Thanh Commune, said.

“The Rach Gia sea reclamation area looks beautiful now with its water music show and fireworks display to welcome the 2026 Lunar New Year. We’re very excited to watch,” said Nguyen Xuan Trung, a resident of Giong Rieng Commune.

Local authorities deployed forces on several central roads in Rach Gia to set up barricades, direct traffic, and ensure safety for residents and visitors celebrating the event.

The An Giang Provincial Military Command has completed preparations for fireworks displays in Rach Gia Ward, Long Xuyen Ward, Chau Doc Ward, and the Phu Quoc Special Zone, with a total of 120 fireworks launch units.

The fireworks shows are scheduled to take place from about 9:00 pm to 9:30 pm on Monday.

Meanwhile, crowds gathered in the centers of major cities across Vietnam to celebrate, take photos, watch artistic performances, and wait for midnight fireworks to ring in the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Hanoi: Festive atmosphere at Hoan Kiem Lake and Ly Thai To Flower Garden

By 5:00 pm, large numbers of residents had converged on Ly Thai To Flower Garden in Hoan Kiem Ward to take photos and await the fireworks display.

Viet Huong, a resident of Phuc Loi Ward, said the Hoan Kiem Lake area and Ly Thai To Flower Garden had been beautifully decorated this year, creating a vibrant spring atmosphere.

She came with her family and brought a phone tripod to take photos.

Looking ahead to 2026, she said she hopes for success and peace for her family.

Similarly, Huyen Trang of Dinh Cong Ward said that each year after the year-end family meal, she and her relatives head to Hoan Kiem Lake to enjoy the festive atmosphere and wait for the fireworks.

For her family, the Lunar New Year’s fireworks display is an indispensable tradition, and she arrives at the lake early every year to secure a good viewing spot.

Earlier, the largest-ever spring flower exhibition at Ly Thai To Flower Garden opened to the public, featuring 300 ancient peach blossom trees collected from Hanoi and northern provinces.

Ho Chi Minh City: Nguyen Hue Flower Street packed with visitors

At 5:00 pm, thousands of visitors flocked to Nguyen Hue Flower Street to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

As crowds continued to swell, the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police Department advised residents to plan their routes in advance and identify nearby parking areas to avoid unnecessary circulation that could worsen congestion.

Metro line No. 1 remained a popular transportation option for those traveling to Nguyen Hue Flower Street.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Management Center of Public Transport, metro line No. 1 will offer free rides through Tuesday, the first day of the 2026 Lunar New Year.

Can Tho Flower Street draws heavy crowds

At around 6:30 pm, hundreds of residents and tourists visited and took photos at the Can Tho artistic flower street along Vo Van Tan and Nguyen Thai Hoc Streets in Ninh Kieu Ward, Can Tho City.

Under the theme ‘Tet Reunion,’ the 310-meter-long flower street for the 2026 Lunar New Year features more than 30 installations and over 50,000 pots of fresh flowers of various species, combined with plants typical of the Mekong Delta river region.

At the main entrance, a sculpture of three galloping horses serves as a focal point, attracting large numbers of visitors.

Nguyen Thuy Trang, a Can Tho resident, said this year’s flower street was particularly impressive due to its carefully designed decorative scenes.

“I walked around to soak in the lively atmosphere and wait for the special moment when Can Tho sets off fireworks to welcome the Lunar New Year,” she said.

Hai Phong stages large-scale artistic program

An artistic program will be held on Lunar New Year’s Eve at the Bac Song Cam Political-Administrative Center in Thuy Nguyen Ward, Hai Phong.

The program is designed as an emotional journey from tradition to modernity, linking memory, present and future and featuring prominent artists.

With themes such as ‘Spring Convergence – Pride Echoes On’ and ‘Tet in Hai Phong – Radiant Confidence,’ the program aims to deliver a festive spring atmosphere while highlighting national pride and pride in Hai Phong.

It also recalls the first spring marking an expanded development space for the new Hai Phong, building on the city’s proud historical journey as a culturally rich northeastern land and heroic port city.

* This live blog will be updated as celebrations unfold.