HCMC – The government of HCMC on February 6 decided to cancel firework displays on Lunar New Year’s Day to ensure safety in the city amid the latest Covid-19 resurgence.

The municipal government asked the HCMC Department of Information and Communications to coordinate with press agencies to spread the news to local residents. Earlier, the southern city planned to organize firework shows at eight locations to ring in the Lunar New Year, or Tet. Specifically, fireworks would be displayed at high altitude at two downtown sites--Thu Thiem in District 2 and Vinhomes Central Park in Binh Thanh District. Low-altitude fireworks shows would take place at six other sites, including Dam Sen Park in District 11, History and Ethnic Culture Park in District 9, Ben Duoc Memorial Temple for Martyrs in Cu Chi District, Can Gio stadium in Can Gio District, Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park in Nha Be District, and the Military Command of Binh Chanh District. The city’s government added that other cultural activities during the Tet holiday such as Nguyen Hue Flower Street, spring flower festivals, Tet flower markets will take place as planned. However, the city will reduce the scale, the time, and the number of visitors of these events as well as enhance the practice of Covid-19 safety protocols. Visitors to these Tet events must wear face masks, disinfect hands regularly, and take body temperature checks. Organizing committees will set up teams at the entrances and exits of the events to regulate the number of visitors joining the events and monitor their compliance with anti-epidemic measures. Further, during the opening ceremony of the Nguyen Hue Flower Street, locals and visitors are not allowed to enter the flower street or go along Nguyen Hue Street to avoid mass gatherings.