An overview of the Spring Flower Street at Chợ Rẫy Hospital. — VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — The largest hospital in the South, Chợ Rẫy in HCM City’s District 5, has created a landscaped “flower street” to celebrate Tết (Lunar New Year holiday).

It features 30 landscaped areas arranged with flowers and ornamental plants, dragon mascots and lanterns, which create a colorful scenery.

Artisans wearing áo dài (long traditional dress) do calligraphy on demand from visitors.

Speaking at its opening on Monday, Dr Nguyễn Tri Thức, director of the hospital, said the spring flower street is an annual event that brings together medical workers from various departments, offices and units, and ushers in the holiday spirit and spring atmosphere for patients and hospital staff.

It helps relieve pain and homesickness for patients since Tết is a time for family reunions, he said.

There are 800-1,000 patients in the hospital, he said.

Besides the flower street, the hospital has also organised various activities to support patients and their families who have to spend Tết there such as giving gifts, lì xì (lucky money) and bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake), he added.

Gifts were presented to more than 700 patients and their families at the opening ceremony.

The flower street will remain open until February 14.

Deputy Director of Chợ Rẫy Hospital Lâm Việt Trung gives Tết gifts to inpatients. — VNS Photo Thu Hằng

Bình Dân Hospital in the city’s District 3 on Monday opened a similar street along a pedestrian overpass that connects the hospital’s buildings on the two sides of Điện Biên Phủ Street.

The 50-metre long street has 37 miniature landscapes arranged with apricot trees, peach blossoms, lanterns, and câu đối (red parallel sentences).

Từ Dũ Hospital has a flower street in its campus for 300-500 inpatients who cannot return home for Tết. — VNS