In celebration of the biggest national holiday in Vietnam - the Lunar New Year, locally known as Tet, Ho Chi Minh City opens up multitudinous entertainment activities, namely colorful flower streets and festivals. The flower festival at Tao Dan Park in District 1, is one of the major hot spots for an impressive exhibition of Vietnamese flowers blooming in profusion in the most beautiful time of the year.
Address: 55c Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (intersection of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Truong Dinh)
Entrance fee for the festival: VND 30,000/adult
Entry costs VND 30,000, children under 1.2m are free
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Generally, the flower festival at Tao Dan is held between 10 - 12 days, from a few days before the Lunar New Year's Eve till after the 6th day of the holiday.
The Year of the Rat (2020) - marked the 40th annual edition of the festival. Each year, the flower festival carries a different theme based on the Vietnamese zodiac's sign of the year.
Amazing displays of Vietnamese flowers, bonsai plants, ornamental fish are brought to the festival from all over Southern Vietnam (Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Ben Tre) either for sale or for competition. So, there are high chances that you will get to see beautiful collections of indigenous and imported flowers and plants, take tons of vibrant pictures, and probably bring home some iconic pieces.
There are also exhibitions of traditional handicraft villages and Vietnamese arts, such as calligraphy, carving, etc. Last but not least, a food fair with snacks and Vietnamese staple dishes for you to treat yourself.
Apricot blossoms
One important factor is that though the flower festival in Tao Dan Park attracts thousands of visitors daily, it is still much less crowded and touristy than the one in Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street. That is to say, no need to worry about jostling through the crowds just to enjoy the flowers.
The yellow apricot flower represents wealth and prosperity. Therefore, families showcase and display the apricot trees during Tet. Famous yellow apricot flower villages in Vietnam include Binh Loi, Thu Duc in Ho Chi Minh City, Phuong Dinh in Vinh Long, Tan Chau in An Giang, etc.
The festival attracts hundreds of artisans to bring their bonsai artwork to showcase
The Tao Dan Park's flower festival happens once a year at Tet
Bonsai plants
People dressing up nicely in ao dai to take pictures at the festival
Display of Tet's traditional sticky rice cakes
Learn more about Traditional Tet Dishes
Nothing says getting into the Tet's holiday spirit than surrounding yourself with blossoming flowers. Want to know about spending the Lunar New Year in Ho Chi Minh City? Let us know in the comments below!
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© Written by Kim Hoang for itourvn.com
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Comments
The apricot trees are exquisite