Festivities begin countdown to New Year

CELEBRATING TẾT: HCM City will launch fireworks performances at eight venues on February 10 (Lunar New Year’s Eve) to welcome the year of the Dragon. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ

HCM CITY — HCM City is preparing a series of activities to celebrate Tết (Lunar New Year holidays).

The city will launch fireworks performances at eight venues on February 10 (Lunar New Year’s Eve) to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

Long-range fireworks displays will be set off at Thủ Thiêm Tunnel in Thủ Đức City and Bến Dược Memorial Temple in the outlying district of Củ Chi.

Short-range fireworks will be set off at Bến Nọc Memorial Site in Thủ Đức, Đầm Sen Theme Park in District 11, Sác Forest Square in Cần Giờ District, Láng Le Bàu Cò Relic Site in Bình Chánh District, Gò Vấp Cultural Park in Gò Vấp District, and Ngã Ba Giồng Historical Relic Site in Hóc Môn District.

The fireworks will begin at midnight and last 15 minutes.

The Department of Culture and Sports will organise free music performances on February 9 and 10 (December 29 and 30 of the lunar calendar) to serve people, students and workers living in Thử Đức, and the outlying districts of 12, Tân Phú, Bình Tân, Bình Chánh, Hóc Môn, Củ Chi, Nhà Bè and Cần Giờ. The shows will feature songs and plays praising spring and the country.

The performances will attract artists and performers from the city’s leading theatres such as the city Music and Song Centre, the city Hát Bội (Classical Drama) Theatre, and Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương (reformed opera) Theatre.

During Tết, the city will arrange LED light decorations along downtown streets, including Nguyễn Huệ, Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Lê Duẩn, Lê Lợi, Đồng Khởi, Tôn Đức Thắng, and Phạm Ngọc Thạch, and along major streets in the districts of 6, 4, 11, Bình Thạnh, and Bình Tân.

FLOWER POWER: The city’s annual Tết Flower Fair at Tao Đàn Park in District 1 will open for the public from February 6-15. — VNA/VNS Photo Hứa Chung

The city’s annual Tết Flower Fair at Tao Đàn Park in District 1 will open for the public from February 6-15.

The fair will display more than 2,500 rare and unique flowers, ornamental plants and fish from artisans in the city and the provinces of Lâm Đồng, Đồng Tháp and Bến Tre.

The showcase will include mai (ochna) trees, orchids, plumeria (also known as frangipani), endangered and imported plants, ornamental plants, and old bonsai trees.

In addition, dozens of flower markets will pop up across Thủ Đức and other districts from February 2-9. — VNS