Entering 2026, confidence and expectations for a new development phase are spreading strongly.
From the afternoon of December 31, 2025, the atmosphere of preparation to welcome the New Year 2026 became vibrant across the streets of Ha Noi. The achievements attained by the capital in 2025 are the crystallisation of competitive efforts by the Party organisation, authorities, and people of Ha Noi.
Ha Noi’s GRDP growth in 2025 is estimated at 8.16%, placing it among localities with relatively high growth nationwide; GRDP per capita reached 176.4 million VND. The scale of GRDP reached approximately 63.5 billion USD, equivalent to 12.5% of national GDP; total state budget revenue in Ha Noi by the end of December 31, 2025, amounted to 704,579 billion VND.
The stature of the capital Ha Noi in the era of national rise is taking shape. Notable projects include Tu Lien Bridge, Tran Hung Dao Bridge, the Red River urban landscape axis, the Olympic Urban Area, along with the road connecting Gia Binh Airport, Ring Road 4 of the Ha Noi Capital Region, and the system of urban railway lines, all expected to create breakthroughs in connectivity and expand development space.
In addition to the Hoan Kiem Lake area, the city organised fireworks displays at four other locations: Thong Nhat Park (Hai Ba Trung Ward), the F1 racetrack area (Tu Liem Ward), Van Quan Lake (Ha Dong Ward), and Lac Long Quan Flower Garden (Tay Ho Ward) on the night of December 31, 2025.
Present at Hoan Kiem Lake, Nguyen Hong Binh (Luong The Vinh Street) said: “I believe that on the foundation of the successes of 2025, the capital and the country will achieve many stronger advances in 2026.” One of the most prominent New Year welcoming activities was the “Ha Noi Countdown 2026” programme held at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square by Hoan Kiem Lake.
People in Hai Phong welcomed the New Year 2026 in a joyful atmosphere, as the city continued to maintain double-digit growth, estimated at 11.81%, ranking second nationwide; total state budget revenue exceeded 187,000 billion VND, equivalent to 127% of the central government’s assigned estimate.
According to Nguyen Minh Hung, Vice Chair of the People’s Committee of Hai Phong City, the city completed the establishment of the Free Trade Zone in accordance with National Assembly Resolution No. 226/2025/QH15. Digital transformation and the public service portal have been implemented in a synchronised manner; Hai Phong is the first locality to achieve “green” status on the monitoring map for the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW.
On the night of December 31, 2025, nearly 10,000 residents and visitors gathered at the Hue City Sports and Culture Square to immerse themselves in the Countdown art programme welcoming the New Year 2026 with the theme “Festive Tet – Celebrating Connectivity.” The consequences of four consecutive flood waves over 20 days in Hue had largely been addressed.
In 2025, Hue welcomed more than 6.3 million visitors, up more than 61% compared to 2024; tourism revenue is estimated at over 13,000 billion VND, the highest level ever recorded.
Nguyen Khac Toan, Chair of the People’s Committee of Hue City, said that in 2026 the city will focus on promoting green economic growth associated with science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation; while investing in urban, transport, and production infrastructure, focusing on sectors with advantages, ensuring social welfare, and gradually improving the quality of life of the people.
These days, the atmosphere of welcoming the New Year 2026 is spreading across Gia Lai Province. From ethnic minority villages in the western areas to coastal residential areas in the east, the colours of spring are present in the joy of reunions and the strong revival of life after a year marked by complex natural disasters.
Thai Dai Ngoc, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee, emphasised: “The province will continue to place people at the centre, focusing on improving the material and spiritual lives of the people, especially ethnic minorities and coastal residents. Economic development associated with cultural preservation and strengthening the great national unity bloc is the foundation for sustainable development.”
The year 2025 marked an important turning point in the development process of Ho Chi Minh City, continuing to affirm its role as the country’s economic locomotive with a strongly developing ecosystem of services, tourism, industry, logistics, start-ups, and innovation.
The city’s GRDP growth rate in 2025 reached 8.3%, with total GRDP value estimated at 3.03 quadrillion VND, accounting for 23.5% of national GDP.
In particular, total state budget revenue in the area reached 781,585 billion VND, leading the country and achieving 116.4% of the central government’s assigned estimate, establishing the development model of “three zones – one special zone – three corridors – five pillars.”
The city strives to achieve budget revenue of 805,000 billion VND; attract more than 11 billion USD in foreign direct investment; raise the digital economy’s share to 30% of GRDP; and maintain total social investment at around 30% of GRDP.
Nguyen Thi Ha Phuong, Cat Lai Ward, shared: “With a new development space, I expect that in 2026 the city will reap many new achievements.”
To welcome the New Year, on the night of December 31, the city organised high-altitude fireworks displays at three locations: the entrance area of the Sai Gon River Tunnel, An Khanh Ward; the New City Centre area, Binh Duong Ward; and Tam Thang Square, Vung Tau Ward; as well as a low-altitude fireworks display at Dam Sen Cultural Park, Binh Thoi Ward.
At the southernmost tip of the country, new opportunities for Ca Mau are shining brightly at the threshold of 2026. With more than 100,000 billion VND in investment capital, three key projects — upgrading Ca Mau Airport; constructing the Ca Mau–Dat Mui expressway; and building the bridge connecting the mainland with Hon Khoai Island and the Hon Khoai dual-use port — are taking shape.
Together with the Can Tho–Ca Mau expressway nearing completion, these will serve as “levers” to open up logistics flows, enabling seafood and other key products of the province to be exported directly to the world, promising double-digit growth in the near future. As the final seconds of 2025 gradually passed, thousands of people in public squares simultaneously counted down to welcome the New Year.
Brilliant fireworks lighting up the Ha Noi sky heralded a joyful, uplifting new year, full of energy, confidence, and hope for a new era of the nation.
On the evening of December 31, the festive atmosphere welcoming the New Year 2026 filled the area around Hai Phong City Theatre, where the art programme “Hai Phong Welcomes the New Year 2026” was held under the theme “Millennial Essence – Reaching the Era.”
After the art programme, at the exact moment of transition between the old year 2025 and the New Year 2026, at the two aforementioned locations, brilliant fireworks lit up the city’s sky, conveying confidence and aspirations for a city on a strong development trajectory, promising breakthrough achievements in the New Year 2026.
