On November 19, 2024, the Danang Department of Tourism held a press conference to officially announce the Danang X’mas – New Year Festival 2025, promising to bring a vibrant festive atmosphere to the coastal city during Christmas and the New Year celebrations.
DA NANG’S FIRST EVER CHRISTMAS – NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2025
Taking place for the first time, the Danang X’mas – New Year Festival 2025 will run for 20 days (from December 14, 2024, to January 2, 2025) at three central locations:
- The northern scenic platform and East Dragon Bridge Park (Tran Hung Dao – Ly Nam De Street area).
- The northern scenic platform on the western side of Dragon Bridge (opposite VTV8).
- The southern scenic platform is west of Dragon Bridge (opposite the Museum of Cham Sculpture).
The festival will feature a variety of unique and innovative cultural, tourism, entertainment, and recreational activities designed to enhance the experience for locals and visitors while creating unforgettable moments as we usher in the New Year 2025.
Exciting, Unique, and Thematic Festive Activities
Christmas and New Year Photo Spaces
• Time: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM, December 14, 2024 – January 2, 2025.
• Highlights: Three stunning photo spots featuring a radiant Christmas tree, a giant gift box, and colorful “New Year 2025” letters. These installations promise iconic highlights, offering dazzling beauty and lively holiday vibes for locals and tourists to capture memorable moments.
Lighting of the Christmas Tree
• Time: 7:30 PM, December 14, 2024.
• Venue: Northern scenic platform on the western side of Dragon Bridge (opposite VTV8).
• Details: The event will feature a radiant light show, cheerful Christmas melodies, a children’s art performance, and a New Year’s wish-writing activity.
Festival Opening Ceremony
• Time: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, December 20, 2024.
• Venue: Northern scenic platform and East Dragon Bridge Park (Tran Hung Dao – Ly Nam De Street area).
• Highlights: A captivating arts program combining vibrant Christmas themes with dynamic festival activities, enhanced by immersive visual, sound, and lighting effects.
Santa Parade – “Fun with Santa Claus”
• Time: 7:00 PM, December 20, 2024.
• Route: Bach Dang Pedestrian Street (intersection of Bach Dang and September 2 streets) to the Christmas Tree (northern scenic platform, western side of Dragon Bridge).
• Details: The parade will feature dancing and singing, as well as participants from tourism businesses, residents, and tourists dressed in festive costumes.
Christmas and New Year Market
• Time: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM, December 20, 2024 – January 2, 2025.
• Venue: East Dragon Bridge Park (Tran Hung Dao – Ly Nam De Street area).
• Highlights:
• A space for Christmas and New Year-themed handicrafts, souvenirs, and OCOP products.
• A Vietnamese and International Culinary Space offering over 100 local, regional, and international dishes, including traditional holiday favorites such as mulled wine, pizza, pastries, cheese, steak, and BBQ.
• Unique beer festivals, BBQ spaces, and live wine-making experiences.
Entertainment and Experiential Activities
• Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, December 20, 2024 – January 2, 2025.
• Venue: East Dragon Bridge Park.
• Details: Activities include decorating Christmas trees, Santa Claus costume contests, candy cane relays, stocking filling, bauble hunts, beer-drinking and sausage-eating competitions, crafting New Year-themed cards, candles, wreaths, and calendars. Visitors can also experience cooking Vietnamese dishes like banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes) and spring rolls.
Nightly Art Performances
• Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM, December 20, 2024 – January 2, 2025.
• Venue: Northern scenic platform on the eastern side of Dragon Bridge.
• Details: Performances will include Christmas and New Year-themed shows and DJ sets on December 20, 24, and 31.
“Fun with Santa Claus” Gift-Giving
• Time: 8:00 PM, December 24, 2024.
• Venue: Northern scenic platform on the eastern side of Dragon Bridge.
• Details: Santa Claus will distribute meaningful gifts to residents and tourists, offering a chance to immerse in a festive atmosphere and receive surprises from local businesses.
City-Wide Connection and Collaboration
Throughout the festival, various districts and attractions across the city will host interconnected activities, including:
• There will be street parades, Han River dance performances, street music shows, bai choi singing, brass band performances, magic shows, youth art events (folk dances, street dances, hip hop), and food and photo spaces.
• Decorations and community events at Bach Dang Pedestrian Street and the eastern park near Nguyen Van Troi Bridge.
As the festive spirit unfolds, hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and supermarkets will come alive with enchanting Christmas and New Year decorations from December 1, 2024, to January 2, 2025, offering special holiday promotions.
The festival will unveil the Danang Food Tour campaign with a press conference on December 14, 2024, introducing an innovative Digital Culinary Map and Culinary Passport, inviting visitors to collect stamps at selected dining locations with exciting incentives.
With a rich array of meaningful and engaging activities, the Danang X’mas – New Year Festival 2025 promises to create joyful and unforgettable moments, emerging as an essential destination for tourists during the year-end holiday season. This event aspires to leave a lasting impression, spreading warmth, hope, and a vibrant start to 2025. It lays a strong foundation for its establishment as an annual highlight in Danang’s festive calendar.
DANANG DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
