The central government has given a go-ahead for authorities in Ho Chi Minh City to organize fireworks displays in celebration of the New Year and upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year).

The Government Office has sent a document to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, green-lighting pyrotechnic shows to be held in the southern metropolis on New Year’s Eve and Lunar New Year’s Eve.

A high-range pyrotechnic exhibition will take place in District 2 near the Thu Thiem Tunnel on New Year’s Eve.

Three low-range performances will be given at the Dam Sen Park in District 11, Cu Chi Tunnels in the namesake outlying district, and Rung Sac Square in Can Gio District.

The much-awaited performances will start at midnight and last for 15 minutes.

A similar plan has also been approved for Lunar New Year’s Eve, which falls on the night of February 15, along with two extra low-range fireworks shows at the Nga Ba Giong Memorial in Hoc Mon District and a location in Nha Be District.

Expenditures for the shows must not be funded by the state budget and safety procedures must be strictly adhered to, the Government Office stressed.

The municipal People’s Committee had earlier submitted a document to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to secure his approval for pyrotechnic displays for the special occasions, which will be funded by the private sector.

Several streets in downtown Ho Chi Minh City will be blocked or restricted to host the New Year celebrations.

In order to ensure traffic safety and order during the fireworks performances being held to commemorate the New Year, barricades will be placed on certain streets in District 1 and restrictions on certain vehicles will be applied near the Thu Thiem Tunnel, the municipal Department of Transport announced.

From 8:00 pm tonight (December 31) to 4:00 am on Monday, New Year’s Day, all motorbikes will be banned from Vo Van Kiet Avenue – Thu Thiem Tunnel – Mai Chi Tho Street, and a street section from Ky Con Street, District 1 to the road leading to the Thu Thiem Bridge in District 2 in both directions.

From 8:00 pm tonight (December 31) to 12:00 am on January 1, the ban is enforced on all vehicles as follows:

- On Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, District 4: the section from Hoang Dieu Street to Khanh Hoi Bridge

- On Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1: the section from Me Linh Square to Khanh Hoi Bridge

- On Dong Khoi Street, District 1: the section from Ngo Duc Ke Street to Ton Duc Thang Street

- On Hai Trieu Street, District 1: the section from Ho Tung Mau Street to Nguyen Hue Street

- On Ham Nghi Street, District 1: the section from Ho Tung Mau Street to Ton Duc Thang Street.

From 7:00 pm on December 31 to 12:30 am on January 1, the entire Nguyen Hue Street is blocked to all traffic.

Vehicles are advised to follow the alternative routes below:

* From District 4 to District 1: Nguyen Tat Thanh => Hoang Dieu => Doan Van Bo => Calmette Bridge => Calmette => Tran Hung Dao => Pham Ngu Lao => Quach Thi Trang Square => Le Loi => Pasteur => Ly Tu Trong => Ton Duc Thang

* From District 1 to District 4: Ton Duc Thang => Me Linh Square => Hai Ba Trung => Le Thanh Ton => Nam Ky Khoi Nghia => Nguyen Thai Binh; or Nguyen Cong Tru => Calmette => Calmette Bridge => Doan Van Bo => Hoang Dieu => Nguyen Tat Thanh

* From District 1 to District 2: Vo Van Kiet => Ky Con => Tran Hung Dao => Pham Ngu Lao => Quach Thi Trang Square => Le Loi => Pasteur => Ly Tu Trong => Ton Duc Thang => Nguyen Huu Canh => Thu Thiem Bridge => Nguyen Co Thach => Mai Chi Tho

* From District 2 to District 1: Mai Chi Tho => Nguyen Co Thach => Thu Thiem Bridge => Nguyen Huu Canh => Le Thanh Ton => Nam Ky Khoi Nghia => Vo Van Kiet

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