New Year in Vietnam isn’t like what you may have seen around you—it’s different and extravagant. The festive events in Vietnam are at an all-time high, with fireworks, great food, exclusive places to visit, and so much more.
You can party like there’s no tomorrow and each activity will surprise you. So, do you wish to experience the beauty of Vietnam during the New Year? All you need to do is book one of the best Vietnam tour packages and dive into exciting celebrations in the country.
From restaurant hopping to partying by the beaches, make sure that you leave no stone unturned while enjoying New Year in Vietnam. Let’s explore the top things to do for New Year in Vietnam.
Top Things to Do for New Year in Vietnam
There’s nothing better than a New Year Party in Vietnam. You’d feel as if your vacation was a huge success. But many people ponder about where to celebrate New Year in Vietnam.
Here are the best things to do for New Year in Vietnam:
1. Take Part in Countdown Parties
Countdown parties are like great festive events in Vietnam, and they are held across different locations. A number of restaurants and bars such as Furama, Pullman, Holiday Beach, and more host these events for friends and family. You can interact with the locals, make friends, and enjoy the local cuisine for New Year in Vietnam. If you don’t want to be in any of the parties, you can just visit 29/3 Square or 2/9t Street to take a break and celebrate New Year in Vietnam in peace. Numerous countdown concerts are also held allowing people the perfect opportunity to go crazy.
- Timing: Evening to Midnight
- Key Highlight: Fireworks and live performances
- Duration: 4-6 hours
2. Experience the Tet Festival in Vietnam
The best way to enjoy New Year in Vietnam is to be a part of the local culture. Therefore, you can participate in the Tet Festival in Vietnam held at Tao San Park. You can also interact with the locals to know the best time and place where you can witness the Tet Nguyen Dan or the parade. At the Vietnamese Tet Festival, you can enjoy lion dance performances, bell ringing, drums, and gongs.
The locals usually dress in yellow and red, signifying prosperity and success for New Year celebrations in Vietnam. If you become one of them, you can dress up in these colors too. Moreover, you must not miss out on trying delicious traditional Vietnamese cuisine items like Thit Ga (steamed chicken), Giio Cha (Vietnamese sausages), Xiao (sticky rice), and more.
- Timing: All-day celebration
- Key Highlight: Traditional rituals and food
- Duration: Multiple days
3. Enjoy a Cruise Ride at Ha Long Bay
An excellent place to celebrate New Year’s Eve, Ha Long Bay invites numerous cruise rides throughout the year. Hop on to one of those overnight cruises where you can watch the fireworks of Vietnam. The tall cliffs with surrounding emerald green waters are the perfect place to start your new year in Vietnam. The cruises hold numerous live music performances that go well with the perfect atmosphere and are one of the major Vietnam New Year activities. The best part of the New Year Eve’s cruise ride on Ha Long Bay is the sunrise. During the early hours of the day, you can watch the beautiful sunrise and hold lovable memories that you’ll hold dear for the years to come.
- Timing: Morning to late afternoon
- Key Highlight: Scenic limestone karsts and caves
- Duration: Overnight
4. Watch a Show at the Hilton Hanoi Opera
Dedicate your New Year evenings to witnessing the grandeur of the Hilton Hanoi Opera. Giving the perfect start to a dramatic year, you can grab your tickets to the auditorium and experience the beauty of music, food, dance, and exclusive Opera performance. At the Hilton Hanoi Opera, you can grab your hands on unlimited foods and drinks, especially beer for the celebration of New Year in Vietnam. As you get to enjoy the delicious traditional Vietnamese food, make sure to relish it all. The dinner and opera show is definitely the highlight of the event.
- Timing: Evening shows
- Key Highlight: Traditional Vietnamese performances
- Duration: 2-3 hours
Da Nang takes the spot of being the best place to celebrate New Year in Vietnam, especially for people who just want to relax. You can take part in the live music performances that are held along the waterfront. One of the major New Year attractions at Da Nang is the unique fireworks show at the Dragon Bridge.Da Nang holds a treasure trove for everyone who wishes to explore the place a little more during Christmas and New Year in Vietnam. The local specialties at Da Nang are especially something you wouldn’t want to miss out on. If you want to be by yourself, you can just rest by the beach or visit some of the major historical attractions.
- Timing: Anytime
- Key Highlight: Tranquil beaches and Marble Mountains
- Duration: Flexible
6. Hoi An Lantern Festival
Although the Hoi An Lantern Festival is a sort of monthly event, the beauty of it is beyond words during the festive season. For a magical and fairytale-like experience of your lifetime, you must visit Hoi An to witness the golden lanterns lighting up the sky. It is indeed one of the best things to do in Vietnam for New Year.
You can take part in the Hoi An Lantern Festival and release these bright lanterns into the night sky. The lanterns light up the skies and illuminate the street during New Year in Vietnam. To witness the beauty more, you can take a boat and float across the Thu Bon River.
Furthermore, during the Hoi An Lantern Festival, you can take part in numerous traditional games. Releasing the lanterns during New Year's Eve is said to be a wish of welcoming good luck in the coming year.
- Timing: Evening to midnight
- Key Highlight: Floating lanterns and cultural performances
- Duration: 3-5 hours
Read More: Best Spots for Kayaking in Vietnam
7. Witness the Vibrant Nha Trang Beach Party
Let loose your adventurous side as you take part in the Nha Trang Beach party. Known for its vibrant and complete party-freak lifestyle, there's just too much to experience at Nha Trang. Throughout the festive season, from Christmas to New Year in Vietnam, different beach parties are held across Nha Trang that you can be a part of.
Multiple stages are installed across Nha Trang, hosting live shows, band performances, and DJs. There are beach clubs and resorts along the coastline organizing numerous events. Several fire shows are also held by the shoreline.
Special foam parties are held by the beach which is quite adventurous. Behold the sight of the beautiful fireworks light up the skies of Nha Trang as soon as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.
- Timing: Evening to late night
- Key Highlight: Beachside celebrations and music
- Duration: 4-6 hours
Read More: Exploring Top 25 Things to Do in Nha Trang
8. Get the Authentic Homestay Experience at Sapa
Now take a break amidst the nature of Vietnam as you relax at the homestays in Sapa. In the early morning hours of New Year in Vietnam, you can go trekking along the trails of Sapa, watching the beautiful terraced rice fields growing along the side. Your local guide can help you indulge in the traditions and culture of the people at Sapa.
Sapa houses the beautiful landscapes of the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, making up for the breathtaking views. Finish your hike with a heightened knowledge of the local customs of Vietnam. Staying in a homestay means you get to enjoy the local culture of preparing rice wine, festival meals, and playing traditional games with your loved ones.
- Timing: Day and night
- Key Highlight: Local culture and scenic rice terraces
- Duration: 1-2 days
Read More: Trekking in Vietnam To Unleash The Adventure
9. Cruise Along the Mekong Delta
Welcome your New Year in Vietnam with peace as you float across the silent Mekong Delta. Hailed as one of the most quiet adventure activities in Vietnam, the Mekong Delta cruise allows you to experience the life around you in peace. As you experience the daily wonders and rhythms of nature, you’d be surprised to find out this delightful experience. Floating alongside the Mekong Delta, you’d also get to witness the very famous floating markets in Vietnam. The Cai Rang Floating Market is one of the most popular floating markets here. It has boats carrying vibrant fruits, vegetables, and different products. Every shop has its unique offerings and has samples hoisted for the visitors to see and make their purchases.
- Timing: Morning to early afternoon
- Key Highlight: Traditional floating markets and scenic canals
- Duration: 4-6 hours
10. Go for a Coconut Basket Ride in Hoi An
After a great party on New Year’s Eve, you’d definitely want to relax the other day. But wouldn’t it be fun to add a bit of adventure to it? That’s right, you can get it all in Hoi An. Put on your comfortable clothes and head out for a fun boat ride in Hoi An. The coconut basket ride is indeed one of the most fun and unique experiences of the New Year in Vietnam. You’d have to visit the interior villages a bit such as the Bay Mau Coconut Forest or Cam Thanh Coconut Village to enjoy the coconut basket ride. These forests have round coconut boats also known as Thung Chai or basket boats. They are known for a wide range of activities such as fishing with traditional nets or even crab catching.
- Timing: Morning or late afternoon
- Key Highlight: Unique ride through coconut forests
- Duration: 1-2 hours
11. Go for a Hike at Cat Ba Islands
Kickstart your new year in Vietnam with a fun activity as you hike through the Cat Ba Islands. Cat Ba Islands is very popular among adventure seekers and tourists. There are several hiking trails that you can explore and eventually witness the natural beauty that Vietnam has to offer. Once you’re done hiking to the top, you can participate in some other activities too. Well, for these activities you’ll have to come down to the islands’ beach wherein you can go snorkeling, kayaking, swimming and more. Make sure to complete it all before the evening so that during the night you can just lie down by the beach and praise the beauty.
- Timing: Early morning or late afternoon
- Key Highlight: Stunning views of Lan Ha Bay and diverse wildlife
- Duration: 3-6 hours
What can be a more fun way to celebrate New Year in Vietnam than to visit an amusement park? That’s what you’ll get to explore once you visit the very prominent Ba Na Hills. Ba Na Hills is the home to an abundant source of entertainment wherein you can explore numerous adventure-thrilling rides and entertainment. You can book your Ba Na Hills tour, one of the top destinations in Vietnam for New Year and witness all the grandeur at once.
Drive to the top of Ba Na Hills known as the Sun World. Here, you can indulge in a wide range of activities and then witness one of the most romantic spots in Vietnam, the Golden Bridge. At Sun World, you will get a view of numerous Buddha sculptures and statues.
There’s a nearby stone village that has a wide range of architectural relics from the French colonial era. However, it is going to be crowded due to New Year celebrations so you will have to generally wait longer than usual.
- Timing: Morning to evening
- Key Highlight: Golden Bridge and panoramic mountain views
- Duration: 4-6 hours
13. Take a Trip to the Theme Parks
New Year is indeed one of the best times to visit the theme parks. This will be the perfect visit if you have kids around with you. Vietnam is home to numerous theme parks such as Dam Sen, VinPearl, and more. If you’re visiting these theme parks during New Year in Vietnam, you can enjoy various recreational activities. During the New Year, these theme parks host discounts and offers that ensure that you can enjoy a wide range of activities and great foods at affordable rates. In fact, during New Year and Tet, these theme parks also host many parades and performances for the people. You can also visit this place during the Tet holiday in Vietnam.
- Timing: Morning to evening
- Key Highlight: Thrilling rides and family-friendly attractions
- Duration: 6-8 hours
14. Dine at Jackson’s Steakhouse
Your New Year in Vietnam is incomplete if you haven’t tried the very juicy and delicious steaks at Jackson’s Steakhouse. If you’re a big-time foodie, you’re going to love your time at Jackson’s Steakhouse. They’re renowned for selling one of the best steaks in Vietnam. As one of the most popular restaurants in Vietnam, Jackson’s Steakhouse prepares a special three-course meal for New Year celebrations. Your treat in Vietnam is something you’ll remember forever. They offer vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian delights with some fresh brews which will leave your tummy tickling for long.
During New Year, the place is going to be very crowded. Therefore, one of the best things to do would be to book your table in advance so that you don’t miss out on it.
- Timing: Evening
- Key Highlight: Premium steaks and fine dining experience
- Duration: 1-2 hours
15. Take a Trip to Phu Quoc Islands
Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam and a complete tropical paradise. It’s the perfect destination for celebrating New Year in Vietnam. There is a wide range of luxury resorts located around the beach wherein you can enjoy delicious dinners, parties, and more. The parties for New Year in Vietnam are specially hosted during the evening with sunset cocktails and more. Furthermore, you can also enjoy some international buffets featuring cuisine from across the world and some local varieties.
As the night proceeds, these resorts also hold cultural performances and live bands for a cozy midnight welcome. As the clock strikes midnight, you can release the floating lanterns and visit the beach for fireworks.
- Timing: Flexible
- Key Highlight: Pristine beaches and vibrant night markets
- Duration: 1-3 days
There are too many things to do in Vietnam during the New Year. Visiting Vietnam in the New Year is probably one of the best decisions you'll ever make. Whether you're visiting alone or with your family, make sure that you book the best Vietnam New Year travel packages.
The influence of Western traditions and local culture can be seen in the beauty of celebrations here. So, you must ensure that you absorb the beauty of every place. Ring in the New Year in Vietnam the right way with a fun and one-of-a-kind trip.
