HCM CITY — Amusement spots in HCM City were packed with people looking for a place to get away with their family as the three-day National Day holiday drew to a close yesterday.

The Sài Gòn Zoo and Botanical Gardens in the heart of the city was one of them.

Phạm Văn Tân, director of the Saigon Zoo Limited Liability Company, said around 40,000 visitors came this time, 10 per cent more than last year.

The zoo has added some new animals including six kangaroos and two Japanese cranes and set up new games facilities and a water park for children, he said.

Another popular destination was the Suối Tiên Cultural Amusement Park in District 9 which received around 60,000 visitors.

Huỳnh Đông Tuấn, deputy general director of the park, said around VNĐ60 billion (US$2.6 million) has been spent recently to upgrade facilities.

Đầm Sen Theme Park in District 11 was also packed with visitors, especially to see the fireworks display on September 2.

Sea Festival
The heat has sent many holiday-goers to the beach city of Vũng Tàu in Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Province, which is less than a two-hour drive from HCM City.

Picnicking in the zoo was a popular choice in HCM City during the National Day holiday. — Photo danviet.vn

The Sea Festival, held in Vũng Tàu from August 28 to September 3 as part of the National Day celebrations, was also an attraction for tourists.

Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, director of Thùy Vân Hotel in Vũng Tàu, said the festival brought a large number of tourists.

But his and other hotels had kept prices unchanged during the holiday at 20-25 per cent above normal rates.

According to the Vũng Tàu Tourist Zones Management Board, around 153,350 visitors came to the beach city between August 28 and September 2, with 111,500 coming on September 2 alone.

Tribute to Uncle Hồ

Meanwhile, as many as 38,625 people, including 1,133 foreigners, paid tribute to late President Hồ Chí Minh at his mausoleum in Hà Nội City on September 1 and 2.
On September 2, Việt Nam’s National Day, visitors to the mausoleum were served free water bottles and loaves of bread. 

The President Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, opening to the public on August 29, 1975, is an important landmark of Hà Nội. 

After his death, President Hồ Chí Minh was embalmed and put for view in this granite mausoleum. The mausoleum, modelled after Lenin’s tomb in Moscow, was built in two years, from 1973 to 1975, with materials donated by people from all over the country. — VNS