Some holidays are not only a day off. The city opens up so people can come closer to culture: books laid out in the middle of the street, light projected onto familiar facades, museums welcoming visitors at friendlier prices. Vietnam Culture Day on 24 November 2026 is one of those occasions in Ho Chi Minh City. CityHouse has gathered the headline events, the offers worth knowing and a few stay suggestions in the center to make planning easier. The information below comes from the People's Committee's plan and news reports. Some programs may be adjusted, so check again closer to the date.
What is on for Vietnam Culture Day in Ho Chi Minh City?
According to the People's Committee's plan reported by Nhan Dan (in Vietnamese), activities are spread across 168 wards, communes and special zones, along with cultural venues such as theaters, public spaces, residential areas, schools and industrial parks. The peak is the Culture and Great Solidarity Week from 18 to 24 November, and 24 November 2026 falls on a Tuesday. If you are in the center, most highlights cluster around Nguyen Hue Walking Street, the Book Street and the Fine Arts Museum.
Headline events in Ho Chi Minh City, 18 to 24 November 2026
| Dates | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 18 to 24 Nov | Great Solidarity Festival, Colors of Vietnamese Culture (opening at 7:00 pm on 22 Nov) | Nguyen Hue Walking Street |
| 19 to 22 Nov | "Legends of Con Dao" book fair | Con Dao Special Zone |
| 19 to 24 Nov | HCMC International Photography Festival | Le Van Tam Park, HCMC Book Street, Dong Khoi Street and other sites |
| 20 to 24 Nov | "Vietnamese Culture Through the Pages" book fair | HCMC Book Street |
| 20 to 24 Nov | Publishing exhibition "Publishing, Connecting Knowledge, Spreading Vietnamese Culture" | Nguyen Hue Walking Street |
| 20 to 24 Nov | Fine arts exhibition "HCMC, Creative Culture, Building the Future" | HCMC Fine Arts Museum and the outdoor area of Lam Son Park |
| 21 to 24 Nov | 3D mapping light show | In front of the City People's Committee headquarters and the Rex Hotel |
| 22 to 24 Nov | Cultural Industries Space | Nguyen Hue Walking Street |
| Evening of 23 Nov (planned) | HOZO 2026 music programme (planned) | Saigon riverside park |
| 8:00 pm on 24 Nov (planned) | Art program with fireworks, live television bridge | Nguyen Hue Walking Street and two other sites |
Some programs may change time or place, so confirm before you go.
Event times and policies may change. Check official updates before attending.
HOZO 2026: Evening music programme on 23 November
As part of the activities around Vietnam Culture Day, the HOZO 2026 music programme is planned for the evening of 23 November at Saigon Riverfront Park. This November event forms part of the cultural programme; please confirm the exact start time, line-up and admission arrangements through official updates before attending.
You can combine the show with a riverside visit, but check the timing and route before finalizing your plans.
Artistic fireworks and 3D mapping shows
According to Plan No. 556/KH-UBND of the City People's Committee and Tuoi Tre (in Vietnamese), a special art program with artistic fireworks is planned for 8:00 pm on 24 November 2026, as a live television bridge across three sites: Nguyen Hue Walking Street, the New City Center park in Binh Duong Ward and the Thap Tam Thang square in Vung Tau Ward. Detailed scheduling will be updated through official announcements. If you are in the center, Nguyen Hue is the nearest place to watch.
The 3D mapping show runs from 21 to 24 November in front of the City People's Committee headquarters and the Rex Hotel, using images, sound and light to tell the story of Vietnamese and Ho Chi Minh City culture and history. Nightly showtimes are not published in the information we have, so follow the latest announcements.
The fireworks program is planned for 8:00 pm on 24 November; the 3D mapping runs 21–24 November. Confirm showtimes and traffic restrictions using official announcements before traveling.
The Cultural Industries Space on Nguyen Hue
From 22 to 24 November, Nguyen Hue Walking Street hosts a space for cultural industries such as film, performing arts, software and games, handicrafts, advertising, cultural tourism and digital transformation. According to Tuoi Tre, visitors can try things hands-on, watch artisan demonstrations and test AR and VR. It suits families or friends on the afternoon of Sunday 22 November, when the festival and the evening opening both take place.
Book fairs and the publishing exhibition
For book lovers there are two fairs. The "Vietnamese Culture Through the Pages" fair runs from 20 to 24 November at HCMC Book Street, with displays on heritage, history and literature, exchanges with authors and translators and book introductions, according to Saigon Giai Phong (in Vietnamese). The "Legends of Con Dao" fair runs from 19 to 22 November on Con Dao itself, so it only suits you if you plan a trip to the island. In addition, the publishing exhibition "Publishing, Connecting Knowledge, Spreading Vietnamese Culture" showcases the city's publishing, printing and distribution on Nguyen Hue Walking Street from 20 to 24 November. Opening hours and book discounts are not published in the information we have, so ask when you arrive.
Photography festival, fine arts exhibition and the arts
Beyond the main sites, the city also hosts the HCMC International Photography Festival from 19 to 24 November (at Le Van Tam Park, the HCMC Photographic Association, the HCMC Union of Literature and Arts Associations, Nguyen Van Binh Book Street and Dong Khoi Street) and a fine arts exhibition at the Fine Arts Museum and the outdoor area of Lam Son Park from 20 to 24 November. Theater and circus schedules differ by venue, so check the program of the place you plan to visit. If you prefer a quieter space, visit the Fine Arts Museum in the morning.
Holiday entitlements and ticket offers
The day off. Under National Assembly Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16, 24 November each year is Vietnam Culture Day and workers get the day off with full pay. In 2026 it falls on a Tuesday. According to Dai bieu Nhan dan (in Vietnamese), the adjusted proposal does not swap the adjacent working days, so this is not a four-day break.
Ticket prices. During the Culture and Great Solidarity Week, 18 to 24 November 2026, under the People's Committee's plan, state-managed museums, heritage sites, theaters and circuses will waive or reduce ticket prices, while private venues, socialized theaters and cinemas are encouraged to join offers for students, workers and visitors. The discount depends on each venue, and the reports do not give the exact amounts or the list of participating venues, so ask each place directly before you go.
24 November is a paid holiday under the source cited in the article; verify your own work arrangements.
Offers depend on participating venues. Check each museum or theatre for current ticket rules.
Tips for getting around
Nights with fireworks and 3D mapping are usually very crowded around Nguyen Hue, so arrive early and bring water and comfortable shoes. Driving your own motorbike or car into the center on the evening of 24 November may make parking hard, so ride-hailing, taxis or the Metro are tidier options. You can follow a route in exploring Ho Chi Minh City by Metro. For families with small children, go in the afternoon to see the cultural industries space and the book fair, then head back to rest before the busiest hours.
Arrive earlier than the showtime, use Metro or ride-hailing if convenient, and keep a flexible return plan because streets may be crowded or restricted.
Suggested itinerary for exploring Ho Chi Minh City on 24 November
This is a CityHouse suggestion, not the official program, so check opening hours and each event's schedule before you go.
Confirm each venue’s opening hours and exact event times before setting out.
Where to stay in central Ho Chi Minh City
If you want to walk to the event sites and return to rest in the middle of the day, staying in the center is the most convenient. CityHouse NEST LightHouse Saigon is at 179 Co Giang, Cau Ong Lanh Ward (former District 1), CityHouse NEST MK Urban Quarter is at 18A/13 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Sai Gon Ward (former District 1), CityHouse VIBE City Oasis is at 42/4 Ho Hao Hon, Cau Ong Lanh Ward (former District 1), and CityHouse SOUL Kabana is at 10-12-14 Cao Ba Nha, Cau Ong Lanh Ward (former District 1), currently in its soft opening phase. All four are in the center but not right beside the event sites, so you will still need to travel a little. We have not measured specific routes, so we give no kilometers or minutes here, and you should check the map. Check availability and check-in time for your exact dates, since availability changes by day.
These properties are in central Ho Chi Minh City, but they are not right at the event sites. Compare routes on a map, check traffic and confirm room availability for your visit date.
A chance to go slowly through the city's culture
You do not need to see every event on Vietnam Culture Day. A morning at the museum, an afternoon turning pages at Book Street and an evening standing on Nguyen Hue watching light play across the city's facades is already a memorable day. If you are planning for this occasion, explore CityHouse serviced apartments in central Ho Chi Minh City and pick a stay that suits your sightseeing plans.
Frequently asked questions about Vietnam Culture Day on 24 November
Are there fireworks in Ho Chi Minh City on Vietnam Culture Day 2026?
Yes, according to the plan, an art program with fireworks is expected to begin at 8:00 pm on 24 November, including a site on Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Time and sites may be adjusted. If you want to stay near this area, you can look at CityHouse NEST LightHouse Saigon .
When and where is the 3D mapping show?
From 21 to 24 November, in front of the City People's Committee headquarters and the Rex Hotel. Nightly showtimes should be checked in the latest announcements. For a place to rest in the center, you can look at CityHouse VIBE City Oasis .
Where are the Vietnam Culture Day book fairs?
The "Vietnamese Culture Through the Pages" fair runs from 20 to 24 November at HCMC Book Street, and the "Legends of Con Dao" fair runs from 19 to 22 November on Con Dao. From CityHouse NEST MK Urban Quarter , you will need to travel a short way to the center.
Is 24 November a paid day off?
Under a National Assembly resolution, 24 November is Vietnam Culture Day and workers get the day off with full pay from 2026. This year it falls on a Tuesday, with no working-day swap proposed for a longer break. If you travel for the occasion, you can look at serviced apartments in central Ho Chi Minh City for your dates.
Are museum and theater tickets discounted during this period?
