In Ho Chi Minh City, restaurants, eateries see full houses again after Tet

Many streets in Ho Chi Minh City came alive again, while restaurants and eateries were packed with customers on Sunday evening, the fifth day of the lunar year and the final day of the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. 

Several downtown streets such as Vo Thi Sau, Cach Mang Thang Tam, 3 Thang 2, and Dien Bien Phu were crowded with vehicles and revelers, providing a stark contrast to the calm that had enveloped the city on the previous days. 

Both locals and tourists took advantage of the last day of Tet to stroll, snap photos, and soak in the festive atmosphere at popular spots like Nguyen Hue Flower Street in District 1, Ho Con Rua (Turtle Lake) in District 3, and Le Thi Rieng Park in District 10.

Thuy Tien, a resident of District 10, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that she and her friends had planned to gather at their favorite seafood eatery on Truong Son Street in the district, but when they arrived, all the tables were occupied. 

“I thought it would not be too crowded after the holiday, but we got there and it was packed,” she said.

“We had to leave it for another eatery, but we ended up having hotpot instead.”

Similarly, Pham Tin, a 22-year-old resident of Thu Duc City, faced the same fate when he and his friends tried to meet for their first meal of the Lunar New Year. 

“We had intended to hang out, grab a bite, go for coffee, and play board games, but we didn’t expect all the restaurants to be so crowded,” Tin recounted.

“We drove around the central area of the city for a while, but everywhere was packed. It wasn’t until we passed by two or three more eateries that we finally found an available table.”

He also said that the streets were buzzing again, with many ride-hailing drivers and delivery workers already back to work, reflecting the city’s gradual return to its regular rhythm. 

“It feels like a lot of people are making the most of the last moments of their holiday before returning to work,” he added.

However, multiple restaurants, coffee shops, fashion outlets, and beauty stores had yet to reopen. 

Several establishments are expected to welcome customers again starting Monday, the sixth day of the new lunar year, when most workers return to their work after the break.

Tieu Bac – Nhat Xuan / Tuoi Tre News