HCM CITY— A wide range of fruits from the southern region will be on display for three months at the 13th Southern Fruit Festival, starting from June 1 at Suối Tiên Theme Park.

The annual event aims to promote delicious fresh fruits and the art of fruit decoration as well as honour farmers’ creativity and work.

A floating market of more than 20 boats will sell 150 species of fruit at prices 20-30 per cent lower than market prices.

Visitors at four-star and five-star hotels in HCM City will be invited to savour fresh fruits or juices during Vietnamese Fruit Week from June 1-11.

During the week, local fruit specialties will be discounted by 20 per cent at commercial centres, supermarkets and fruit stores.

And during the summer, there will be displays of precious and rare fruits, giant fruits, cultural and art performances, and fruit decoration contests  

The event, co-organised by the city’s departments of Tourism, Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, and the Suối Tiên Culture-Tourism Corporation will last until the end of August.

On Wednesday, the annual Ẩm Thực Đất Phương Nam (Southern Land Cuisine) Festival opened at Đầm Sen Park in HCM City’s District 11.

The five-day event features more than 70 booths offering 250 dishes and 100 types of Vietnamese puddings and cakes.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bùi Tá Hoàng Vũ, director of the city’s Tourism Department, said the festival was a good opportunity for travel firms and provincial tourism agencies to promote tourism activities to local and foreign visitors.   

A ticket to the festival, which is VNĐ250,000 (US$11), entitles the visitor to food items. — VNS