New Year in Vietnam 2026: where to go, prices and fireworks

Below: the New Year dates and how they differ, which cities to see it in, real 2026 prices and the weather. Plus a separate note on Tet and the full calendar of public holidays for the year.

How Vietnam celebrates the western New Year

The 1 January New Year in Vietnam is called Tết Dương lịch— the "solar-calendar festival." Officially it is a single day off, but for 2026 the government approved a four-day break. The countdown runs at midnight local time; Vietnam is on GMT+7, so if you are tracking a European or American New Year, do the math and you can toast twice.

For the Vietnamese themselves, 1 January is more a reason to go out than a family occasion. Young people gather on the squares, couples pose by mall Christmas trees, and clubs and bars run parties until dawn. The family dinners, red envelopes and big feast — that is Tet, not the western New Year.

Foreign travellers get the best of it. Resort hotels put on gala dinners with lobster and live music. Pop-up dance floors appear on the beaches of Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. And in Ho Chi Minh City the Nguyễn Huệ pedestrian street fills with tens of thousands of people, each with a phone out to catch the fireworks over the Saigon River.

💬 "Hanoi runs a 15-minute fireworks display from 23:45 to midnight at multiple points across the city; Ho Chi Minh City fires from six sites along the Saigon River, and on Nha Trang's beaches thousands gather spontaneously." — official programme, vietnam.vn, 2026

💬 "Ho Chi Minh City will welcome 2026 with fireworks at several sites along the Saigon River from midnight. The Nguyen Hue pedestrian street becomes the city's largest open-air venue, with tens of thousands gathering for the countdown." — VietnamPlus, vietnamplus.vn, 2026

So, do the Vietnamese do New Year on a big scale? Yes, but in their own way. There is no snow and no midnight movie on TV. Instead you get +30°C, dragon dances and a cocktail with a sea view.

New Year traditions in Vietnam

Vietnamese New Year traditions are really about Tet, not 1 January. But the two holidays have blended so much that the trappings of the lunar New Year show up on the streets weeks before either date.

Red envelopes (lì xì). People give money in red envelopes — to children, staff, friends. Red wards off bad spirits, and the amount inside is a wish for prosperity. Travellers sometimes get one at their hotel too — a nice touch.

Bánh chưng — the square cake. Sticky rice, minced pork and mung beans wrapped in dong leaves and boiled for 12 hours. The square shape stands for the earth. From early January you'll spot bánh chưng in markets and supermarkets — worth trying at least once.

Flower markets. Two or three weeks before Tet the streets turn into blooming avenues. In the south it is yellow apricot (mai), in the north pink peach trees (đào). Whole trees are sold, and people haul them home strapped to a motorbike — it looks absurd and it works.

Dragon and lion dances. Drumming, bright costumes, acrobats inside a giant dragon head. The shows happen outside malls, temples and restaurants — the dragon is said to bring a business luck.

Cleaning and a clean slate. Before the New Year people scrub their homes, clear debts and make peace with anyone they fell out with. The idea is simple: start the year fresh.

Watermelon. The redder the flesh, the more luck the year brings. Whole watermelons go on the festive table — the way a bottle of something bubbly might elsewhere.

Tet — Vietnam's real New Year

Tết Nguyên Đán is the lunar New Year. In 2026 it lands on 17 February (the Year of the Horse). It is the most important holiday in the country — bigger than New Year, Christmas and every birthday combined.

For Tet, Vietnam pauses for 7–9 days. Shops, cafés and markets — almost everything shuts. Locals head to their home villages, cities empty out, hotel rates jump 100–200%, and public transport runs patchily.

Where to celebrate New Year in Vietnam

Which resort to pick depends on what you're after: a loud beach party, a five-star gala dinner, or a quiet evening under the palms.

Nha Trang — the lively, walkable choice

Nha Trang is a compact beach city where the main square, the nightlife and the sand are within walking distance. On New Year this is one of the busiest spots on the coast, and everything you need for the night is close together.

2/4 Square is the epicentre. On 31 December there is an art show with well-known performers and international DJs, and a 15-minute fireworks display at midnight. Entry is free — come an hour or two early to get a spot.

Skylight, on the roof of the Havana hotel, has the best view over the bay and the fireworks. The bar sits on the 43rd floor: cocktails, a DJ, a New Year's ticket from 500,000 VND (~$20).

Sailing Club is a beach bar right on the sand, going since the 1990s. The party starts at 20:00, entry from 300,000 VND (~$12). You dance barefoot, the music is loud, the fireworks go off overhead.

More on the resort in the full Nha Trang guide.

Phu Quoc — the upmarket island New Year

Phu Quoc is another level. Five-star resorts on the shore, private beaches, dinners with lobster and sparkling wine. If the budget allows, there is no better place in the country to see in the New Year.

Sunset Town Countdownis the island's main event — more than 50 acts over the evening and the longest fireworks show of the year in Vietnam.

Premier Villageruns a New Year's dinner party at 4,500,000 VND (~$180) per adult; children 6–11 are 2,250,000 VND (~$90). It includes the buffet, live music and a beach countdown.

Phu Quoc in December–January sits at +30–32°C, sea +27°C, almost no rain — the most reliable weather of any resort in the country at this time.

Full overview in the Phu Quoc guide.

Mui Ne and Phan Thiet — a low-key night

If you don't want a crowd, Mui Ne and Phan Thiet fit the bill: hotel parties, quiet beaches, no crush. The 4–5-star hotels run gala dinners on their own grounds. Prices are gentler than Phu Quoc — a 4-star from $30/night, a 5-star from $90. It is +29–31°C by day, dry, sea +26°C.

Ho Chi Minh City — the big-city New Year

The country's biggest countdown is on the Nguyễn Huệ pedestrian street. Tens of thousands of people, giant screens, live performances — and fireworks over the Saigon River at midnight.

For 2026 Ho Chi Minh City planned six firing sites — some high-altitude, some low. The show lasts 15 minutes. It is +30–33°C and dry. There is no beach, but the nightlife makes up for it: rooftop bars, street food on every corner, clubs until dawn.

The Ho Chi Minh City guide is here.

Da Nang and Hanoi — for the culture

Da Nang. Fireworks by the Dragon Bridge and celebrations on 29/3 Square. The weather is a gamble: +22–25°C, rain possible. But the ancient town of Hội An is nearby, where the atmosphere is magical — lanterns, the river, old temples. See the Da Nang guide.

Hanoi. Five firing sites and a countdown by Hoàn Kiếm lake from 19:00 to midnight. It is cool (+15–20°C), so bring a jacket. But if you want to feel the Vietnamese capital, this is the best time to do it.

Weather over New Year: where to chase the sun

Vietnam stretches 1,600 km north to south, and the climate changes completely along the way. The south is summer all year; the north can drop to +10°C in January.

How much New Year in Vietnam costs

New Year is peak season. Prices run 1.5–2x higher than in November, so the sooner you book, the more you save.

Hotels: normal rate vs New Year

Budget for a week (per person, no flights)

Prices current as of July 2026.Cross-check on the booking sites and the venues' own pages before you commit.

Countdowns and fireworks 2026

Vietnam public holidays 2026

In practice, 1 January, 30 April and 1 May are often stitched into longer weekends. Tet is the only holiday when the country really stops.

Tips for anyone coming for New Year

Book early. Three to four months out is the minimum. A month before, finding a decent room in Phu Quoc or Nha Trang at a sane price is close to impossible.

See in two New Years.On GMT+7 you can toast your home country's New Year earlier in the evening, then the Vietnamese one at local midnight. Two for the price of one.

Carry cash for the small stuff. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants. Street food, taxis and small shops — dong only. Bring a passport-ready card and some notes.

What to pack.In the south, shorts and a T-shirt. In Da Nang and Hanoi in December–January you'll want a light jacket — Hanoi can hit +10°C at night, no joke.

FAQ

When is New Year celebrated in Vietnam?

The western New Year is 1 January. The Lunar New Year (Tet) is a moving date — in 2026 it falls on 17 February. Vietnamese people treat Tet as the real holiday and 1 January mostly as a day off and a night out. For a traveller, both are worth celebrating, but the mood is very different.

How much does New Year in Vietnam cost?

A budget week on the ground, flights aside, starts around $500 per person; a mid-range week is about $1,000; a comfortable five-star week runs from $2,000. Room rates over New Year are 50–100% higher than in November.

Nha Trang or Phu Quoc?

Nha Trang is the livelier, cheaper option with a walkable beach city and a free public countdown. Phu Quoc is the upmarket island choice — quiet, private beaches and luxury resorts. Phu Quoc's weather is steadier: +30°C and no rain. On price, Nha Trang wins.

What is the weather like in Vietnam over New Year?

In the south (Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh City) it is +29–33°C, dry, sea +26–27°C. Nha Trang is +26–28°C with brief showers possible. Da Nang is +22–25°C with rain likely. Hanoi is +15–20°C — bring a jacket.

Are there fireworks for New Year 2026?

Yes. The authorities approved fireworks in Hanoi (5 sites), Ho Chi Minh City (6 sites), Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Nang. They launch at midnight on 1 January and last about 15 minutes, with free entry to the public squares.

When is Tet in 2026?

Tết Nguyên Đán in 2026 begins on 17 February — the Year of the Horse. The break runs 7–9 days. Book accommodation half a year ahead.

Data current as of July 2026. Prices and conditions can change — confirm details on official sources before you travel.