Updated October 2026
New Year’s Eve in Thao Dien is for people who want the countdown without the crush: a creative afternoon, a booked dinner table, then a choice at midnight. One way to mark the new year is to blend your own perfume on 31 December at 34 Nguyen Duy Hieu, where 9base hosts NOTE – The Scent Lab’s 120-minute sessions — from $25.92, VAT included, booked on the9base.com.
Downtown Saigon on 31 December means road closures, packed pavements and a long wait for a ride home. If you live in District 2 or nearby, or simply prefer a smaller night, here is how to build New Year’s Eve around Thao Dien.
Is Thao Dien a good place to spend New Year’s Eve?
Yes, if you want a calm night with friends rather than a street party. Thao Dien’s restaurants and garden cafés make it easy to have a proper dinner and still hear each other; the neighbourhood is residential, so the mood is closer to a house party than a festival. If the main fireworks are non-negotiable, check the city’s plan first.
It suits couples, small groups of friends, families with children, and anyone who has done the downtown countdown once and does not need to again.
Where will the fireworks be this year?
The plan for 31 December 2026 had not been announced as of mid-October 2026. Last year the city published its plan on 8 December 2025: fireworks from 00:00 to 00:15 on 1 January 2026, with one high-altitude site at the Saigon River tunnel entrance on the Thu Thiem side. Wait for the official announcement in early December.
We will not promise a fireworks view from any Thao Dien terrace — it depends on the site, the building and the trees. Treat the fireworks as a bonus, not the plan.
Does the metro run late on New Year’s Eve?
It did last year. On 31 December 2025 Metro Line 1 ran until 2:00 a.m., with 20 trains every six minutes between 00:30 and 02:00, and rides were free on 1 January 2026 (VOH, 24 December 2025). This year’s timetable will come from the operator closer to the date.
Our Thao Dien metro guide covers the station and the walk; the Metro Line 1 guide covers the line.
What can I do on the afternoon of 31 December?
Make something that marks the change of year. An instructor walks you through three of nine scent families and you build your own blend from 30+ raw materials. You leave with a sealed bottle carrying its own serial number, and the formula is saved so you can reorder next December (refills 20% off). The Thao Dien studio is open 08:00–18:00, so the session ends well before dinner.
Sessions run in English or Vietnamese, up to 15 seats each. Some people go fresh for a clean start — bergamot, lemon, an airy note; others want something grounding — cedarwood, amber, white musk.
“… I learned so much about making perfume and how the notes work together. Now I have a signature scent”
— Camper462, review platform
“Very patient and friendly instructor! Recommend to all interested in scent”
— Wing Sze T, review platform
“What a cool class! I learned about what I like and don’t like as well as how to build a perfume. Making my own was really cool”
— Katherine C, review platform
A 10 ml bottle is $25.92 and the 50 ml is $69.12, with 20 ml ($47.52) and 30 ml ($58.32) in between — all including VAT. Plans change at year’s end, so note the free rescheduling up to 24 hours before. See open sessions on 31 December.
At the same address, the R Parfums showroom is worth ten minutes. Eau de Hajime — perfumer Rei Nguyen’s first creation, named after the Japanese word for “first” — suits a night about beginnings.
A sample New Year’s Eve plan
Three movements: a creative afternoon, a long dinner, a flexible midnight. Adjust to what you actually book.
- Early afternoon: your perfume session at 34 Nguyen Duy Hieu.
- Late afternoon: browse the R Parfums showroom, or the designer shops at 0123 Complex on Dang Huu Pho.
- Evening: a booked dinner — garden spots are listed in what’s new in Thao Dien in 2026; for a casual group, Shinsho Ramen in alley 30 Nguyen Dang Giai.
- Midnight: stay put, or head to a fireworks site if this year’s plan puts one nearby.
- 1 January: a slow, late brunch.
Planning it as a date? See date ideas in District 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the New Year’s Eve fireworks be in Ho Chi Minh City in 2026?
Not announced as of mid-October 2026. Last year one high-altitude site was at the Saigon River tunnel entrance on the Thu Thiem side; the city usually publishes its plan in early December.
Does Metro Line 1 run after midnight on New Year’s Eve?
On 31 December 2025 it ran until 2:00 a.m. The 2026 timetable has not been published yet.
Can a group of friends book the perfume session together?
Yes, up to 15 seats per session in Thao Dien; for a bigger group, contact the studio before booking.
Is the session taught in English?
Yes — English or Vietnamese, with an instructor beside you throughout.
Is the studio open on 1 January?
The studio opens 08:00–18:00 daily; check available holiday sessions on the 9base booking page.
However you count down, start the year with something that is yours. See the Thao Dien studio before you book.
