Major Events on Ho Chi Minh City's Calendar

As the commercial and cultural hub of Southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has a busy events calendar featuring historical celebrations, modern music festivals, and everything in between.

Tet - Vietnamese New Year (January - February)

Fills the city with street decorations and flower displays. The added advantage for tourists is that since many locals travel back to their hometown for the occasion, you get to experience an unusually empty and quiet side of the city. Moreover, special food items are prepared for the occasion, including a colourful version of sticky rice, Vietnamese sausage, and square rice cakes. Don't miss the chance to try them all!

The Lantern Festival (held shortly after Tet)

The Chinese origin of this festival makes it especially worth seeing in the city's Chinatown area, where hundreds of handmade lanterns are on display and colourful lantern parades take place in the evening.

Independence Day (2 September)

Join the locals and watch the spectacular fireworks over the Saigon river. The celebration also offers street parades, flower displays, art performances and photo exhibitions.

The European Music Festival (November)

Is held in November and brings the best of the Old Continent's music to the city's most impressive venues. Jazz, blues, classical, indie, pop, rock, and folk ... whatever strikes your fancy, you'll find it here.