Date: December 4–6, 2026. Bib pickup Dec 4–5; 5km and Kids Run on Saturday, Dec 5; main race day Sunday, Dec 6.

Price: Reference prices: 42.195km 2,085,000 VND · 21.1km 1,685,000 VND · 10km 1,375,000 VND · Kids Run 685,000 VND. Spectating is free.

Location: Central Saigon landmarks, with a Marathon Village running all race week.

Scale

A record 24,000+ runners expected. The 2025 edition drew 23,000+ runners from 81 countries and territories, making it one of the biggest road races in Southeast Asia.

What it brings to you

Every distance for every level: full, half, 10km, the first-ever standalone 5km and a Kids Run.

An expanded Marathon Village with exhibitions and activities through the week.

A city in festival mode — the race is part of HCMC Tourism Week.

What this means

Running Saigon at dawn is the only time you will see these boulevards without a motorbike on them. Even if you are not racing, the early-morning cheering along the route is a very different side of the city.

Notes & Tips

Expect road closures downtown early on Dec 5–6, and book your room early — central hotels fill up for race weekend.

Check the official race site for start times and the 2026 route map.

Date: Expected December 4–12, 2026.

Price: Most public activities are free; tours and cruises are ticketed.

Location: Citywide, centered on the downtown core.

What it brings to you

Festivals and street programs timed to the start of peak season.

Tour deals and travel promotions across the city.

Extra energy around marathon weekend.

What this means

This is the city's main year-end push to welcome visitors. For you, it means deals on tours and a lively downtown during the first half of the month.

Notes & Tips

The detailed program is usually released in late November  watch the HCMC Department of Tourism channels.

Date: December 24–25, 2026, with lights and decorations up through most of December. The busiest night is Christmas Eve.

Price: Free.

Location: Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral and Diamond Plaza area; Pham The Hien Street, where five parishes build nativity scenes; plus Le Duc Tho, Pham Van Chieu and Thong Nhat streets.

What it brings to you

Streets lit with lights and nativity scenes - some built from bamboo and rattan.

Midnight masses and a street-festival atmosphere.

Seasonal decorations across the downtown shopping malls.

What this means

Saigon celebrates Christmas as a city-wide night out, not only a religious holiday. Thousands of locals most of them not Catholic ride and walk through the lit-up parishes to take photos and soak it in.

Notes & Tips

The Notre-Dame Cathedral is still under restoration (completion expected in 2027), so the interior may be closed the exterior and square are still the classic photo spot.

Christmas Eve traffic is intense. Walk or take a Grab bike and get dropped a few blocks away.

Date: December 31, 2026. Fireworks at midnight (last year: 00:00–00:15).

Price: Free. Rooftop bar packages are extra.

Location: Based on last year: the countdown party on Nguyen Hue Walking Street and Ho Chi Minh Statue Park; high-altitude fireworks at the Saigon River Tunnel entrance on the Thu Thiem side; low-altitude fireworks at points across the city.

Scale

The largest public gathering of the year. Last year, more than 20 central roads closed to traffic for the celebration.

What it brings to you

A countdown concert on Nguyen Hue.

Fireworks over the Saigon River.

Light installations along the central streets.

What this means

If you only do one night out in Saigon in December, make it this one. The whole city funnels toward the river, and the atmosphere on Nguyen Hue at midnight is hard to beat.

Notes & Tips

Last year vehicles were banned from Nguyen Hue, Le Loi, Dong Khoi, Ton Duc Thang, Ham Nghi and Hai Ba Trung from 9 PM to 1 AM  walk in and arrive before 9 PM.

Ride-hailing near downtown is nearly impossible right after midnight. Staying within walking distance makes the night much easier.

The official 2026 fireworks plan is usually announced in early December.