Flower festival to mark Hanoi’s 1000th great anniversary

The Hanoi Flower Festival will take place from December 12, 2009 to January 3, 2010. This is the first of over 80 big events of the capital city to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi as Vietnam’s capital.
This festival, which is being held for the second time, will be Vietnam’s first major cultural and tourism activity in 2010.
Nguyen Khac Loi, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, chief organizer of the flower festival, said that the festival, the second of its kind in Hanoi, will expand to the area around the Hoan Kiem Lake and will have the participation of some foreign agencies.
Notably, the Dutch Embassy will contribute 3000 tulips while the Swiss Embassy will present a flower-made clock.
Nguyen Thi Hoa, vice chief of the festival organisating broad says the flowers will be displayed on the sidewalks and along the edge of Sword Lake. The The Huc Bridge, Ngoc Son Temple and King Le Thai To’s statue will also be decorated with flowers and Dinh Tien Hoang Road will accommodate pedestrians.
A highlight of the festival will be the symbol of a sacred dragon and a 6m high flower tower surrounded by 9 dragons made from flowers and fruits. A huge book also created from flowers and fruits will be placed opposite the Thap But (pen tower) and Dai Nghien (ink pad).
Some flower arranging contests and the ao dai show will be organized.