Events & Festivals in Ho Chi Minh City

This floral exhibition heralds the Lunar New Year along the pedestrian boulevard. Elaborate sculptures, themed displays, and thousands of flowers form a vivid walkway. Families arrive to photograph and soak up the festive mood in the days before Tet. It anchors the city's New Year celebrations.

This event honors Vietnam's traditional long dress, the ao dai. Parades, design competitions, and cultural performances develop, often with hundreds of participants wearing bold, modern takes on the garment. The festival spotlights local fashion designers and the dress's lasting place in Vietnamese culture.

Runners worldwide converge on this marathon threading through city streets. Distances suit every level, from full marathon to shorter fun runs. The event has a rare chance to sightsee while joining a major athletic gathering.

Held during Tet, this park blooms with apricot and peach blossom displays, ornamental plant sales, and cultural performances. Locals gather here to buy flowers for their homes and absorb the spring spirit.

On the 15th day of the first lunar month, this Chinese pagoda in Cho Lon stages a spirited Lantern Festival. Hundreds of red lanterns drape the temple, and visitors make offerings for good fortune. Lion dances and firecracker ceremonies run throughout the day.

This literary event swells the usual Book Street with added publishers, authors, and themed exhibitions. Attend book launches, meet Vietnamese writers, and browse expanded selections in Vietnamese and foreign languages.

This two-day event fosters cultural exchange through music and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, and food stalls serving Japanese and Vietnamese dishes. It welcomes families and emphasizes hands-on cultural experiences.

Temporary flower markets surface across the city, notably along major streets like Nguyen Hue. Vendors sell bouquets, potted plants, and gifts. The mood is buoyant, with many shoppers buying flowers for the women in their lives.

Artisans from villages around southern Vietnam demonstrate traditional crafts like lacquerware, weaving, and pottery at this exhibition. Visitors watch live demonstrations, try their hand, and purchase directly from makers.

This gathering brings dozens of the city's popular street food vendors to one location, offering a convenient tasting tour. Dishes range from banh mi and pho to regional specialties and desserts.

This festival celebrates the Mekong Delta's harvest. Farmers bring rare and exotic fruits, accompanied by displays, carving competitions, and unlimited tasting stalls. It is your shot at mangosteen, durian, and dragon fruit at peak ripeness.

Leading Vietnamese and international designers unveil collections at this professional runway event. It has a window into Ho Chi Minh City's expanding fashion industry, with shows staged at major hotels or convention centers.

The global touring exhibition of award-winning photojournalism makes a stop in Ho Chi Minh City. The powerful images fill a spacious gallery, offering a thought-provoking experience.

Participating high-end restaurants across the city offer fixed-price set menus, making fine dining more accessible. It is an opportunity to try acclaimed chefs' tasting menus.

A series of short-distance fun runs and races organized by a local sports club, often with themed events. These are social, community-focused events attracting both expats and locals.

In the weeks before the full moon, children's lantern parades flood the streets, in District 5. Shops stock traditional mooncakes and star-shaped lanterns. The festival revolves around family and children, with lion dances and toy stalls.

This occasional event, when staged, pits international teams against each other in fireworks displays over the Saigon River. Massive crowds mass on the riverbanks for synchronized shows set to music.

The Khmer community in Ho Chi Minh City observes this moon worship festival. Key ceremonies take place at temples like Pothisomron, featuring offerings, traditional games, and nighttime releases of floating lanterns on the water.

Professional and amateur cyclists compete on closed routes through the city center. The event moves fast, with multiple race categories drawing local clubs and spectators to cheer behind barriers.

Halloween is not a traditional holiday here. Yet it sparks large, spontaneous street parties, in the Bui Vien backpacker quarter. Bars dress up, costumes appear, and the mood turns loose and lively.

This multi-day festival brings together local and international bands across various genres, from rock and pop to electronic. Stages fill a large outdoor venue. The crowd skews young and energetic.

This festival shows Korean culture through K-pop dance competitions, food tasting booths, traditional music, and Hanbok try-on experiences. It is very popular with the city's youth.

Major streets and shopping centers install elaborate light displays and Christmas decorations. Nguyen Hue Street and the area around Notre-Dame Cathedral become focal points for evening strolls and photos.

The city rings in the new year with a large public countdown, fireworks, and concerts at the city center. Nguyen Hue Walking Street is the main gathering point, with stages and massive crowds.

A celebration of river culture featuring dragon boat races, traditional boat performances, and floating market displays along the riverfront. It highlights the city's historical connection to its waterways.