NEW PARK: The sunflower field at the Sài Gòn Riverside Park in Thủ Đức City’s Thủ Thiêm Ward is expected to blossom on the New Year and Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays. — VNA/VNS Photo Tiến Lực

HCM CITY — HCM City has launched new entertainment and cultural venues in Thủ Đức City to entertain its residents and tourists.

The Sài Gòn Riverside Park promises to become a new destination for the public during the up-coming New Year and Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The park covers an area of nearly 20 hectares, extending from the Ba Son Bridge to the Thủ Thiêm Tunnel in Thủ Thiêm Ward.

It includes more than 200 trees, a floating raft system above an artificial lake, a fountain, and a multi-functional playground with a modern LED screen system to serve outdoor performances and other activities.

In particular, the park has a sunflower field with an area of 5,200 square metres across the Sài Gòn River, of which around 15,000 plants are expected to blossom in the New Year holiday, and 20,000 plants in Tết.

Nguyễn Thảo Nguyên, a resident of Thủ Đức City, said with a fresh and clean atmosphere, the park will become a new place for her and her friends to meet every weekend, and take numerous beautiful photos.

Hoàng Tùng, chairman of the Thủ Đức City’s People’s Committee, said: “Sài Gòn Riverside Park is not only a green park but also aims to promote the historical and cultural values of Thủ Thiêm with outstanding relics such as the An Khánh Temple built at the end of the 17th century and the Thủ Thiêm Church established 150 years ago.”

He added that the park would be a place where people meet, play, and build friendships.

The city will host a countdown festival, an air balloon showcase, street art performances, and a food court at the park until January 1 to celebrate the New Year.

NEW BOOK STREET: The Thủ Đức Book Pedestrian Street offers readers a place to relax and enjoy their favourite books. — Photo courtesy of the HCM City Book Street Company

Meanwhile, a new book pedestrian street opening in Thủ Đức City’s Hiệp Phú Street will offer a series of activities promoting reading culture for local people.

The 190-metre section on Hồ Thị Tư Street includes 22 stalls managed by the country’s leading publishers, distributors and book companies, such as the HCM City General Publishing House, the Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House, the Kim Đồng Publishing House, Nhã Nam Book Company, and First News.

The stalls showcase books and magazines from domestic and foreign publishers, as well as audio and visual products. Rare and old books and magazines are also on display.

A book coffee shop and a kid's zone offer readers and children a place to relax and enjoy their favourite books.

In addition, a Hồ Chí Minh cultural space is also set up to introduce President Hồ Chí Minh’s legacy, including literary and artistic works, newspapers, and documents about the President and his thoughts on life to the public.

The street also offers discussions between readers and authors, on reading habits and skills, book introductions, as well as music performances every weekend.

Lâm Đình Thắng, director of the HCM City’s Department of Information and Communications, said the Thủ Đức Book Street was a major achievement in boosting reading culture in the city.

The city plans to build more book pedestrian streets as well as book spaces in other districts to encourage residents to develop their reading habits, he added.

The book street opens from 9am to 10pm daily. — VNS.