Lion and dragon dance in Saigon

What you'll see

• Drums, cymbals and gongs set the rhythm while two dancers inside each lion leap, bow and 'sleep'; acrobatic troupes balance on tall poles.
• The lion 'plucks the greens' (lettuce and a red envelope hung over a door) to bring luck to the shop or home.
• Dragons are carried on poles by a team of dancers, chasing a pearl through the street.
• Some Cholon troupes also bring out the Ông Địa (Earth God) character, who fans and teases the lion.

How to get there

• Cholon is 20–30 minutes from District 1 by car; bus 1 also goes there.
• At Tet, malls and big hotels in District 1 often book troupes in the first days of the year.
• For the biggest show, follow the Lantern Festival parade in Cholon.

Local tips

• Follow the drums: you will usually hear a troupe before you see it.
• Don't step between the lion and the greens it is trying to reach.
• Small red envelopes (lì xì) for the troupe are welcome but not expected from visitors.

Watch: videos from past years

Videos by local creators and travellers, linked to their original YouTube channels. View counts as of October 2026.

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