Right now
What is changing in town and when — in time to adjust your plans.
French photographs of Vietnam: until 10 October
«Giao điểm Việt Nam», a photography show by three French photographers — Daniel Roussel, Gilbert Bertrand and Lily Franey — runs from 20 August to 10 October at 35 Ly Tu Trong, a ten-minute walk from the lake. Black-and-white and colour frames of everyday life in Vietnam from 1970 to 1987: the war years, the rebuilding, the country before đổi mới opened it up. Put on by the French Institute with Stop and Go Art Space and Pho Ben Doi. Opening hours and the price of entry are not in the announcement — worth checking before you go.
Licences go online: VNeID opens to foreigners
From that date the requirements for VNeID, the Vietnamese digital ID, are relaxed for foreigners: an account will be issued to anyone who has lawfully entered Vietnam or lives in it — a work permit and a temporary residence card are no longer needed. So from then on someone on a long visa can file for a driving licence exchange online too. Until 28 September it is simpler to go to the office in person.
Da Lat flies abroad again in December
Lien Khuong reopened on 19 August and took more than twenty-five flights on the first day, but everything is domestic so far. Singapore is announced for December, three flights a week, and Seoul the same month, four a week; Kuala Lumpur runs four times a week. The province names no exact dates inside December, and plans here have slipped before.
Flower Festival: 12–31 December
The eleventh Da Lat Flower Festival runs from 12 to 31 December: the opening is on the evening of 19 December at Lam Vien square, the closing doubles as the New Year programme on 31 December. Eleven main programmes and twenty-five side events — the busiest fortnight of the year, so rooms go early.
Tet 2027 starts on 6 February
Lunar New Year falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, with New Year's Eve on the 5th. The official holiday calendar is not signed yet: the ministry has put forward two options — 4–10 February or 5–14 February. Plan around it: family businesses shut for a week or more, and transport and rooms are booked out well in advance.
Crypto fines start on 1 September — but not for everyone yet
Decree 284/2026/ND-CP takes effect and sets a fine of 30–50 million dong for trading crypto assets outside a venue licensed by the Ministry of Finance. Two things narrow it. The offence points to article 7(2) of resolution 05/2025, which only starts to bite six months after the first venue is licensed — and none has been. And it is written about domestic investors, which the law defines by Vietnamese citizenship. Other offences in the decree, and the ban on paying with crypto, do reach foreigners.