Vehicles will be banned from driving on nearly 20 streets in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on Friday evening to make way for fireworks and other Lunar New Year celebrations.
The city’s transportation department said the street closures were intended to ensure safety and reduce traffic congestion, given the large number of people gathering downtown for events.
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Fireworks explode in Ho Chi Minh City for New Year 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran |
From 7 p.m. on Friday until 1 a.m. on Saturday, the first day of the Lunar New Year, all vehicles will be prohibited on Le Loi Street, from Dong Khoi to Pasteur intersections, as well as on Nguyen Hue Street, between Le Thanh Ton and Ton. Duc Thang and Dong Khoi Street from Mac Thi Buoi to Ton Duc Thang.
Ton Duc Thang Street will also be closed from Nguyen Sieu to Vo Van Kiet, and Nguyen Tat Thanh Street will be closed from Khanh Hoi Bridge to Hoang Dieu.
The same closures will be applied to Ham Nghi Street from Ho Tung Mau to Ton Duc Thang, as well as Hai Trieu, Huynh Thuc Khang and Ton That Thiep Streets from Ho Tung Mau to Nguyen Hue.
Nguyen Thiep Street will also be closed from Dong Khoi to Nguyen Hue, as will Ngo Duc Ke Street from Dong Khoi to Ho Tung Mau.
Lam Son Square in Hai Ba Trung in Dong Khoi, Dong Du Street in Hai Ba Trung in Nguyen Hue and Mac Thi Buoi Street in Hai Ba Trung in Nguyen Hue will also be closed.
Vehicles will also be prohibited on the sections of Ngo Duc Ke, Ho Huan Nghiep, Phan Van Dat, Thi Sach around Me Linh Square, as well as on Ba Son and Khanh Hoi bridges during the aforementioned hours.
Nguyen Hue Street is home to the largest flower street in HCMC, with giant dragon mascots that attract thousands of visitors every evening. Flower Street is right next to a giant book street on Le Loi and a traditional food place opposite Ben Thanh Market.
The city will launch fireworks for 15 minutes starting at midnight on Saturday at 11 locations, including the start of the Saigon River Tunnel, the Ben Duoc Martyr Memorial Site in Cu Chi District, Dam Sen Park in the district 11 and the square of the administrative center of District 7.
