HCM City annual Tết ‘flower road’ opens

A family pose for a photo at HCM City’s 2022 flower road this morning (January 30). — VnExpress News Photo Việt Dũng

HCM CITY — The annual HCM City Tết ‘flower road’ along Nguyễn Huệ Street in District 1 has opened to the public with a wide variety of colourful flowers and tiger models and statues to symbolise the Year of The Tiger.

On Sunday morning, thousands of people came with friends and family to the Flower Road to take photos, admire the decorations or simply take a stroll.

The annual event’s theme is based on the year’s Zodiac animal.

Visitors wearing the traditional Vietnamese áo dài take a photo next to a tiger statue made from gravel that soars 3.5 metres and weighs nearly two tonnes. — VnExpress News Photo Việt Dũng

This year, the 600-metre road features tiger replicas in various sizes and poses and made from various materials.

This tiger model is made from glass, mica and green moss to replicate a tiger camouflaged in a jungle. — VnExpress News Photo Việt Dũng

The most prominent convey the strength, ferocity and solitary nature of the animal.

Officials from the consulates of nine countries in HCM City have set up areas for artistic floral displays. — VnExpress News Photo Việt Dũng

Speaking at the opening ceremony on the evening of January 29, Dương Anh Đức, deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, said this year’s flower road has a special significance: “[It] is not only a place to admire works of art, but also signifies an unforgettable period in the history of the city, which is gradually recovering from being the country’s COVID epicentre for many months.”

It aims to show appreciation for the people of Việt Nam who stood by the city, and honour the sacrifices and hardships suffered by frontline workers, he said.

An empty tiger head model where people can donate money to struggling locals affected by COVID. The donations can also be done through bank transfer or by scanning QR codes put up throughout the road. — VnExpress News Photo Việt Dũng

 

Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Hân, a HCM City local, takes a selfie next to flowers. She told Việt Nam News, “I feel very lucky and happy that my city has returned to normal, and that everyone … is now able to enjoy the Tết vibe.” — VnExpress News Photo Việt Dũng

 

Chris Edwards, a US expat, takes a photo of a replica of a rice field. He said: “This is my first time here. I was aware the city was working on something big, but I did not know that this flower road would be this nice.” — VnExpress News Photo Việt Dũng

Visitors are required to wear masks, follow a one-way path to ensure smooth flow of people and limit crowding, comply with other pandemic preventive measures such as hand sanitisation and make health declarations. 

Nguyễn Ngọc Quốc Bảo and his son have their photos taken with masks on. “The pandemic is still unpredictable, so protecting our health is important. We also wore masks when we visited last year’s flower road.” — VnExpress News Photo Việt Dũng

The flower road will remain open until February 4. Depending on the pandemic situation, city authorities might change its daily opening hours or even temporarily close it.

The event has been organised since 2004 by Saigontourist Group and other businesses along with official agencies. — VnExpress News