Local, foreign tourists dash to Hoi An Ancient Town for New Year celebrations

City leaders, tourism officials, and Hoi An authorities joined the crowd in celebrating the arrival of 2026.

At An Hoi Sculpture Garden, in the heart of Hoi An, a stage hosted a countdown performance that drew both locals and travelers.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters observed that the town’s pedestrian streets were packed with people, alive with music, lights, and festive decorations, creating a lively New Year atmosphere.

Among the crowds gathering to welcome the New Year, many international visitors delighted in wandering through and filming the town’s colorful streets, soaking in the celebratory atmosphere as 2025 gave way to 2026.

Along Nguyen Phuc Chu Street, photo spots were set up for visitors, while international tourists added their own Christmas and New Year decorations as they snapped photos.

Speaking at the countdown event, Nguyen Tan Cuong, chairman of the Hoi An Ward People’s Committee, extended his best wishes to all residents and visitors.

“I wish all delegates, local people, and tourists, including international visitors, a healthy, happy, successful, and peaceful 2026,” he said.

Cuong highlighted that this New Year marked the first since the city’s old quarter was officially divided into three wards and one commune.

The central area of the town is now managed by Hoi An Ward, which has seen notable growth in tourism over the past six months following a local government reorganization under a national administrative restructuring effective July 1, 2025.

Quang Nam Province, which housed Hoi An, was amalgamated into Da Nang then.

Tourism has remained robust during this period, with about 1.6 million tickets sold for visits to the ancient town and the nearby Kim Bong carpentry village.

The heritage site continues to be well preserved, maintaining its enduring appeal to visitors from near and far.

Cuong emphasized that environmental protection, the preservation of cultural and ecological spaces, and safeguarding Hoi An’s unique charm remain top priorities.

The town has been recognized by numerous domestic and international publications and organizations as an attractive, safe, romantic, and culturally rich destination, reinforcing its standing on the global tourism map.

Hoi An Ancient Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site on December 4, 1999 and joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in Crafts and Folk Arts on October 31, 2023.