HÀ NỘI — The ‘Bulgaria Rose Festival with Friends’ opened yesterday in Hà Nội, attracting thousands of local and foreign lovers of nature from different regions of Northern Việt Nam.   

The festival, the biggest ever in Việt Nam, is being held from March 3-8 in the capital city, featuring 300 kinds of roses from Bulgaria and other countries.

The event is taking place on Thống Nhất island in Thống Nhất Park. The island has been decorated with roses in different sections, each with its own theme.

The festival is being organised by the Embassy of Bulgaria in Việt Nam and the Việt Nam-Bulgaria Friendship Association, on the occasion of the National Day of Bulgaria and 67th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Việt Nam.

The Bulgarian embassy also offered Hà Nội’s People Committee some damascene roses, the most typical rose variety from Bulgaria.

The Ambassador of Bulgaria to Việt Nam, Evgueni Stoytchev, said at the festival’s opening ceremony that he highly appreciated the efforts of the Việt Nam-Bulgaria Friendship Association in co-organizing this festival. He also highlighted the close friendship between the two countries.

Gorgeous gift: Bulgaria’s Ambassador Evgueni Stoytchev presents the City of Hà Nội with Bulgaria’s special rose roots, specifically picked to fit with the tropical climate of the city.— VNS Photo Mỹ Hà

“The rich culture of Bulgaria is well known in Việt Nam, and cherished in the hearts and memories of the tens of thousands of Vietnamese people who studied and worked in Bulgaria in the last decades of the last century. They remember Bulgaria as the land of roses, land of opportunities and their second homeland,” he said. 

“Ever since, Việt Nam has remained one of Bulgaria’s main partners in Asia, and we have enjoyed a most vibrant and close relationship,”

Bulgaria has been famous for rose festivals in the Rose Valley for centuries. Since 1903, this traditional festival has been held on the first Sunday of June and attracted millions of tourists from all over the world. In 1971, it became a national festival.” 

 “It is not the first time a Bulgarian rose festival has been held abroad but it is the first time such a large-scale Bulgarian rose festival has been held abroad,” he said.

Nguyễn Doãn Toàn, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee of Hà Nội, also highlighted the significance of the event.   

“The event is a milestone in our bilaterial relations and a cultural bridge between Việt Nam and Bulgaria in general, and between Hà Nội and Kazanlak in particular,” he said.

“We will plant, preserve, and propagate the Damescene rose, thus contributing to the beauty of Hà Nội as well as the solidarity and friendship between the two peoples and between Hà Nội and Kazanlak,” he said.

The opening ceremony of the festival included traditional Bulgarian dances. The five-day-long event will offer diverse cultural activities to entertain nature-lovers. Some of the highlights of the festival include a street parade with circus artists and cars decorated with flowers, and performances by street artists from Bulgaria and Việt Nam. The Queen of Rose contest will also be held to pick the most beautiful woman.

Flower fest: A traditional dance troupe from Bulgaria performs at the opening ceremony.— VNS Photo Mỹ Hà

Divided opinions

This rose festival is one of the most anticipated events of the year. However, opinions are divided. Some people expressed their disappointment at to the festival’s opening day as they had expected something even grander.

“I was very excited when I heard about the event. I expected to admire a lot of roses from Bulgaria, but not many are on display here. The bridge was decorated with roses, but they are fake,” said Trần Tố Nga, a 40 year old teacher.

On the other hand, Mai Thị Ngọc appreciated the event, saying:

“It’s the first time that I have been able to admire such a wide variety of roses at a park! It’s great moment.”  

The public will be able to enjoy and take part in more activities over the coming days.— VNS