The flower road on downtown Ho Chi Minh City’s Nguyen Hue Street officially opened to visitors from 7pm yesterday, with thousands taking part.
Themed “Viet Nam Que Huong Toi” (Vietnam my home country), the annual flower road displays spectacular arrangement of fresh flowers and ornamental trees to welcome Tet.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hua Ngoc Thuan, deputy chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, said the flower road had continuously improved each year its launch in 2004.
He also wished everybody a Happy New Year.
The street this year is decorated with plants picked from different areas across Vietnam, including Da Lat roses, Sa Dec daisies and kumquat trees, Ha Noi peach-blossom branches, HCM City ochna-flower trees, among others.
The highlight of the street is a 26m-long and 5m-high dragon made of bamboo, and knitted and braided with dried water hyacinth.
The dragon, which blows colorful flowers, is installed on one end of Nguyen Hue Street to welcome visitors. Five other smaller dragons represent the five basic elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth.
There are many other decorative items made of flowers representing the culture of the three regions like banh chung (square sticky rice cake), banh tet (cylindrical sticky rice cake), non quai thao (flat palm hat), non la (conical hat).
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The dragon welcomes visitors
Sea and islands settings are vividly displayed through white sand, palm trees, coracles and fishing nets, all of which are made of flowers.
On Mac Thi Buoi Street, books about Vietnamese history, traditional cultural values, and HCMC in the past are on display under the theme “Con Duong Truyen Thong” (The Street of Tradition). The highlight of the road is books featuring Vietnam’s historical sea & island sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly islands.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Hue Street, reflecting the theme “Con Duong Giao Thoa Hien Tai Huong Toi Tuong Lai” (The Intersection of the Present and Future) will showcase new books published by local and foreign publishers, modern tools for e-books and digital documents, and spring newspapers publications.
Ngo Duc Ke Street, named “Con Duong Tuong Lai” (The Street of Future), will gather books and documents about the city’s projects in the next few years. The street also includes children’s and braille books, as well as a playing area for children and book cafés.
The Flower Street, which will be closed to traffic, is open to visitors until 10pm January 26.
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Baskets of flowers
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A foreign tourist looks at old photos of Saigon displayed on Mac Thi Buoi Street
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The book road
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A giant banh chung (square sticky rice cake)
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