IN BLOOM: HCM City’s annual floating flower festival “Trên Bến Dưới Thuyền” (On the Wharf - In the Boat) at District 8’s Bình Đông Wharf displays hundreds of various kinds of flowers and fruit from flower growers and gardeners in the city and Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta. VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Tuyết

HCM CITY -- HCM City has launched six flower fairs to entertain residents and visitors during the upcoming Tết (Lunar New Year festival), which falls on January 22 this year.

The fairs are located at September 23 Park and Lê Văn Tám Park in District 1, Gia Định Park in Phú Nhuận District, Phú Mỹ Hưng Urban Area in District 7, Bình Điền Wholesale Market in District 8, and in Thủ Đức city.

They offer various kinds of flowers and ornamental trees from HCM City’s suburban districts of 12 and Củ Chi, and  the Mekong Delta provinces of Đồng Tháp and Bến Tre.

On January 6, the city launched its annual floating flower festival “Trên Bến Dưới Thuyền” (On the Wharf - In the Boat) at District 8’s Bình Đông Wharf.

The festival includes 666 stalls and boats, displaying hundreds of various kinds of flowers and fruits from flower growers and gardeners in the Mekong Delta provinces of Long An, Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Vĩnh Long and Đồng Tháp, and the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) province of Lâm Đồng.

Traditional flowers such as rose, chrysanthemum, raspberry chrysanthemum, and marigold, are expected to be best-sellers this year. They are priced from VNĐ100,000-350,000 (US$4-15) per pot.

Apart from flowers and fruit, the festival offers Southern folk music performances and kylin dances to entertain visitors.

All the fairs will open until January 21, or Lunar New Year’s Eve.

In addition, the city’s annual Spring Flower Festival will open at Tao Đàn Park in District 1 on January 16.

The festival will display more than 2,500 indigenous and foreign flowers, ornamental fish, bonsais and trees.

The exhibits are provided by florists and artisans from HCM City, Hà Nội and the provinces of Bình Dương, Bến Tre, and Tiền Giang.

The event will also feature miniature sunflower gardens, mai (ochna) gardens, and rice paddies around the park so visitors can have beautiful photos for the spring festival.

Music and dance performances will be held along with traditional food sercice at the festival.

The flower festival will end on January 27. Entrance fee is VNĐ30,000. VNS