Fireworks spark on the sky above Saigon River Tunnel on April 30, 2026. (Trung Tuyen – VNA)
On April 30, Ho Chi Minh City’s sky lit up with fireworks coincidentally across eight different locations. The spectacle marked the 51st anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day. The vibrant displays were launched simultaneously from various points across the city, drawing large crowds of residents and visitors eager to witness the celebration. The fireworks illuminated the skyline in a coordinated show that formed the highlight of the national holiday commemorations.
City authorities arranged the displays at eight sites in total, comprising three high-altitude and five low-altitude locations. The sites were spread across the newly expanded administrative area following the merger of Ho Chi Minh City with neighbouring Ba Ria–Vung Tau and Binh Duong provinces, allowing more communities to enjoy the festivities.
High-altitude fireworks were staged at the Saigon River tunnel entrance in An Khanh ward, the new city centre in Binh Duong ward, and Ba Ria Park Square in Ba Ria ward. Meanwhile, additional low-altitude displays were organised in several districts to reach wider audiences throughout the city. Most of the fireworks shows lasted approximately 15 minutes, creating a colourful spectacle across the night sky. In contrast, the display in Can Gio district ran for a shorter duration of around five minutes. Despite the difference in length, each location attracted thousands of spectators who gathered along streets, parks and riversides to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere.
The fireworks were part of a broader series of cultural and artistic activities organised during the April 30-– May1 holiday. Alongside the evening displays, Ho Chi Minh City hosted a variety of public performances and cultural programmes. Among them were debut shows at the Phu Tho circus and multi-purpose theatre on April 30 and May 1, where audiences could watch circus acts and puppetry performances presented for the first time.
In the Vietnam capital, Hanoi was also decorated with flags and flowers for the occasion, drawing both domestic and international visitors to its main streets and landmarks. Reunification Day, observed annually on April 30, commemorates the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, when North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, leading to the reunification of North and South Vietnam and the formation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The date remains one of the country’s most significant national holidays.
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