HCMC — Saigon Marina IFC Tower and parts of Nguyen Hue Walking Street are being lit up from December 29 to January 9 to mark new partnerships between the United Kingdom and Vietnam, according to the British Consulate General in HCMC.
The lighting display, organized in partnership with Sovico Group, runs daily from 6 p.m. to midnight. It features colours, national flags and symbols of both countries. The display will peak on New Year’s Eve, December 31.
The event follows the recent official visit to the United Kingdom by Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam. During the visit, the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level in Vietnam’s foreign relations framework.
The partnership covers cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, innovation, science and technology, green growth and climate action, education and research, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, according to the statement.
The lighting also marks the City2City Partnership between HCMC and Liverpool. During Party General Secretary To Lam’s visit, the two cities signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in healthcare, education and training, and science and technology.
Following the signing, leaders of the Liverpool City Region have engaged with partners and plan to send two delegations to Vietnam, focusing on healthcare and culture. A cultural exchange event is scheduled for late January 2026.
The British Consulate General said the light display highlights the next phase of UK–Vietnam cooperation and upcoming cultural activities linked to the HCMC–Liverpool partnership.
