Practical box
- Transport
- Most local services close for 3 to 7 days during Tet. Grab works but with reduced driver availability. The city empties out as 4 to 5 million migrants return to their home provinces.
- Costs
- Hotels in District 1 VND 1,500,000-4,500,000 per night during Tet, similar to off-peak rates (Saigon actually empties; tourist prices don't rise). Restaurants that stay open VND 250,000-1,500,000 per person.
- Safety on the night
- Saigon is safer during Tet than normal (less commercial activity, less traffic). The few remaining venues are well-policed. Most pickpocketing concerns are reduced because the city is half-empty.
- Dress
- Tropical (24 to 27°C overnight). Red is the traditional Tet color. Smart casual at restaurants that stay open.
- Ticketing
- All Nguyen Hue and Cho Lon events are free. Restaurant reservations strongly recommended; most close for Tet.
Where to go on the night
The named venues and zones that anchor the event. Prices are peak-night, paid at the door or for an advance ticket. Outside the event week these same venues run at a fraction of the cost.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street Flower Festival
Saigon's central pedestrian boulevard becomes the city's main Tet event. The Nguyen Hue Flower Festival runs February 14-21 with elaborate flower sculptures, traditional Vietnamese music performances, and free street programming.
Where
Nguyen Hue Walking Street, District 1
From
Free
Cho Lon (Saigon Chinatown) parade
Cho Lon, the historic Chinese quarter in Districts 5 and 6, runs the most concentrated Tet/CNY parade in Saigon. Dragon dances along Hai Thuong Lan Ong, lion dances at every shrine, the symbolic Chinese-Vietnamese cultural fusion.
Where
Cho Lon, Districts 5 and 6
From
Free
Tao Dan Park Tet Festival
Central Saigon park runs a traditional Tet festival with bonsai displays, calligraphy demonstrations, traditional Vietnamese games, and food stalls. Less crowded than Nguyen Hue.
Where
Tao Dan Park, District 1
From
Free; THB 20,000 special event entry
Bui Vien backpacker bar Tet
The backpacker bar street stays open through Tet (unlike most of the city) for the international tourist crowd. Reduced staff and prices but the bars open every night through the holiday week.
Where
Bui Vien Walking Street
From
Free entry; drinks VND 30,000-150,000
Tet vs Chinese New Year in Saigon
Tet Nguyen Dan (often shortened to Tet) is the Vietnamese New Year, falling on the same lunar date as Chinese New Year. In 2026, Tet is Tuesday February 17. Tet is by far the most important Vietnamese holiday, comparable to the combined Christmas-Thanksgiving-NYE in Western cultures. Vietnamese families travel from cities back to ancestral home provinces; offices close for 5 to 10 days; major commercial activity halts for the holiday week. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) empties out as 4 to 5 million migrants return to their home provinces.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street Flower Festival
Saigon's central pedestrian boulevard becomes the city's main Tet event. The Nguyen Hue Flower Festival runs February 14-21 with elaborate flower sculptures (the giant zodiac animal flower displays are the iconic photo), traditional Vietnamese music performances, calligraphy demonstrations, and free street programming. The festival is family-focused, with most attendees being Vietnamese families visiting before traveling home for the holiday week.
Cho Lon (Saigon Chinatown)
Cho Lon, the historic Chinese quarter in Districts 5 and 6, runs the most concentrated Tet/CNY parade in Saigon. Dragon dances along Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street, lion dances at every shrine and temple, the symbolic Chinese-Vietnamese cultural fusion. The Thien Hau Temple and the Quan Am Pagoda are the spiritual centers. The Chinese-Vietnamese community (around 5 percent of Saigon's population) drives the more elaborate Chinese-style ceremonies that supplement the Vietnamese Tet traditions.
What's Open and What's Closed
Most local services close for 3 to 7 days. Small restaurants, traditional shops, neighborhood cafes, and many tourist services shut down. International tourist infrastructure stays open: backpacker bars on Bui Vien (Crazy Buffalo, Spotted Cow, Le Pub), rooftops at major hotels (Caravelle's Saigon Saigon Bar, Chill Skybar, M Bar at Renaissance), and major tourist attractions like the Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. The Park Hyatt Saigon, Reverie Saigon, and other 5-star hotels run special Tet menus.
Practical Saigon Tet Numbers
Hotels in District 1 VND 1,500,000 to VND 4,500,000 per night during Tet (USD 60 to USD 180), similar to off-peak rates. Saigon empties out during Tet; tourist demand drops and hotels don't raise rates. The premium properties (Park Hyatt Saigon, Reverie Saigon, Caravelle) at VND 5,000,000 to VND 12,000,000. Book in advance only because the few open restaurants are limited; hotels themselves rarely sell out during Tet. Grab works but with reduced driver availability. February overnight temperatures at 24 to 27°C; light tropical clothing.
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City during Tet (Vietnamese New Year)
Rooms in the core event neighborhoods sell out months ahead and run double the off-peak rate. The map below shows what's still available within walking distance of the action.
Year-round context for Ho Chi Minh City
This page covers the event week specifically. For the broader picture, legal framework, nightlife districts, and year-round venues, see the main TDG Ho Chi Minh City city page and Vietnam country guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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