City lights up streets for Tet holiday

Nguyen Hue Boulevard in downtown HCMC will be transformed into a street of flowers for the country’s biggest holiday, Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.
The theme this year, Xuan Binh Minh (Spring Dawn), was chosen to illustrate the city’s belief in resurgence of tourism after the global financial crisis.
The flower festival, which will take place from February 11 to 16, is divided into six areas with different themes: Vang Thai Duong (The Sun), Xuan Yeu Thuong (Spring of Love), Binh Minh Tu Hoi (Gathering in the Dawn), Suc Manh Doan Ket (Strength of Solidarity), Goc Que Huong (A Corner of Motherland), and Huong ve Thang Long (Looking toward Thang Long Citadel).
An apricot flower garden with dozens of apricot pots and hundreds of Mokara orchid branches will be placed in the Uncle Ho statue park in front of City Hall.
Yellow and red flowers in square and round shapes, which are symbolic of Vietnam’s traditional banh chung (square glutinous rice cake), and banh day (round glutinous rice cake), will surround the feet of apricot trees.
The arrangement aims to honour President Ho Chi Minh, as well as express the hope for a happy and successful year.
The sacred object of the year, two tigers, will be placed near a century-old tree at the top of Nguyen Hue Boulevard, opposite Cay Lieu (Willow Tree) roundabout.
Lacquer objects by Nguyen Minh Phuong have made many objects for Nguyen Hue Flower Street in recent years.
The Spring of Love section from Le Loi Street to Mac Thi Buoi Street will feature bamboo, timber, mangrove, and stone.
Rows of trees and mountain ranges will be stylised into flower forests and flower waves.
Because this Tet coincides with Valentines’ Day, images of love including giant hearts, a pair of flower shoes, and spring roses will be displayed for visitors to take photos.
The Gathering in the Dawn section will be around the Dong Ho (Clock) roundabout, pictured, where huge mirrors will be installed.
Huge hills of flowers named Song Hoa Binh Minh (Flower Waves in the Dawn), and Binh Minh Tay Nguyen (The Dawn in Central Highlands) will beautify the section called Strength of Solidarity, stretching from Huynh Thuc Khang to Hai Trieu streets.
Tigers will be fashioned in many shapes and materials like wood and bronze-plate.
The image of five tigers that symbolises the five basic elements will be printed on the fabric of lamps.
The section A Corner of Motherland will include paddy fields, golden straw hills, white stork’s wings, and papooses filled with popcorn.
Drums and flower trellises will also decorate the area.
This is the sixth consecutive year Saigontourist organised Nguyen Hue Flower Street.