HCM City (VNS/VNA) -𝐆 During Lunar New Year 2025, entertainment venues in Ho Chi Minh City are hosting a variety of exciting activities to cater to both residents and tourists.

As one of 15 fireworks display locations, Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11 will hold a spectacular fireworks show from 11:30pm to midnight on January 28 with tickets priced at just 70,000 VND (2.8 USD). In addition to the fireworks, Dam Sen has prepared other fascinating activities, such as a vibrant laser and water music show, as well as a music festival featuring cheerful melodies to welcome the new year. Furthermore, during the holiday, the park offers activities that showcase the traditional Vietnamese culture through the “Tet Viet” programme. Highlights include the “Phuoc – Loc – Tho” performance, which recreates Tet customs, and the story “Huyen su Rong Tien”, which portrays the legend of Lac Long Quan and Au Co through circus, music, and light art. Visitors can also enjoy thrilling rides like a roller coaster, waterfall boat ride, power surge, and high-speed spinning rides. Joining in the festive atmosphere, Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Area in Thu Duc city introduces a “Tet xuyen khong” combo with a range of activities such as exploring the dry park and watching the special “Suoi Tien – Tet xưa truong ton” show, which combines circus, folk dance, and fireworks. Guests can also visit “Pho Ong Do” to write calligraphy, receive lucky words, and enjoy unique calligraphy demonstrations. Additionally, visitors can experience traditional Tet activities, including bamboo dancing, wish-making at a “Neu” tree, fortune-telling, and folk games like “bau cua” (gourd-crab game) and “o an quan” (Mandarin square capturing game). The combo is discounted by 10% when purchased with tickets to Tien Dong Beach, Suoi Tien farm, the sheep farm, or the model grape farm. Suoi Tien also offers free admission for children under 1.4m who arrive via Metro Line 1, along with complimentary train ride tickets. According to Bui Thi To Trinh, deputy general director of Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Joint Stock Company, the number of visitors to Suoi Tien during the Lunar New Year 2024 saw a significant increase compared to regular days, surging 10–20% compared to the same period of the previous year. To ensure quality service, Suoi Tien has strengthened its staff to assist and guide visitors, maintained strict food safety and fire prevention standards, and collaborated with local authorities to ensure safety and security for all guests. This season, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in District 1 also offer a variety of exciting programmes and activities. From the first to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, visitors can play with capybaras (which the zoo had acquired earlier this month), participate in the special “Du Xuan may man” tour, and enjoy cultural and artistic performances such as lion and dragon dances, snake showcases, snake venom extraction demonstrations, and the music programme “Xuan yeu thương”. Children can feed animals, join folk games and enjoy water playgrounds. In addition to entertainment venues, many HCM City residents are expected to visit famous cultural and historical sites such as Independence Palace, HCM City Central Post Office, the City Hall (HCM City People's Committee Building), and museums. This year, with the official launch of Metro Line 1, visitors can combine metro travel with sightseeing at many popular destinations in HCM City. For instance, from Ben Thanh Station, visitors can walk 450m to HCM City Museum of Fine Arts, 350m to Ben Thanh Market, or around one kilometer to Tao Dan Park and Thong Nhat Square. Other attractions in the city centre, such as Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, HCM City Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, and Nguyen Van Binh Book Street, are also located near station exits./.