ID :
157840
Wed, 01/19/2011 - 09:40
Auther :

Tet Tan Mao To Take Place In City's Downtown

HCM City (VNA) — The HCM City People's Committee has assigned local tour company Saigontourist Holding Company and other administrative agencies to organise the Tet Tan Mao (Lunar New Year of the Cat) Festival in the city's downtown.

Since the first time it was held in 2004, Tet Giap Than (Lunar New Year of the
Monkey), the Nguyen Hue Flower Street and the related Banh Tet (cylindrical
glutinous rice cake) Festival has been a hit with residents and tourists in HCM
City.

The event has become one of the city's unique cultural offerings, and is welcomed by
both local and overseas Vietnamese.

It also offers a great sightseeing opportunities for tourists coming to HCM City
during the Tet holiday.

Tet Tan Mao holiday is going to be bigger and better than ever with lots of
interesting activities: Nguyen Hue Flower Street and Banh Tet Festival, fireworks,
special lighting, snapshots of New Year, The Face of Tet decoration contest and door
shows.

The eighth Nguyen Hue Flower Street will be held from January 31 until February 6
(December 28 – January 4 on the lunar calendar) and will be hosted in the area
along Nguyen Hue Boulevard from City Hall to the Sai Gon River.

It will be closed to traffic for the holiday week.

In addition, the nearby Le Loi Street from Quach Thi Trang Square to the Municipal
Theatre will be open for pedestrians from 6-11pm on February 6.

This year's Flower Street is titled New Heights as the city strives for higher
achievements in economy, politics and society.

The street will be divided into several smaller parts decorated in different spring
themes: Hon Viet (Viet Nam's Soul), Tet Phuong Nam (Southern Tet), Noi Vong Tay Lon
(Circle of Unity), Tam Cao Moi (New Height), and Xuan An Vui (Happy and Peaceful
Spring).

The entire street will be especially colourful, illuminated by a myriad colour.

Attractions will include flower arrangements, a wishing pond to collect money for
charity, coffee stalls, folk music and games.

The Banh Tet Festival from January 26 to 31 is jointly organised by all the city's
24 districts.

Activities will include a banh tet cooking contest and a 10,000 banh tet gift
programme for disadvantaged children and alms houses in the city, organised by
Saigontourist in co-operation with the HCM City Department of Labour, War Invalids
and Social Affairs, and Dam Sen Cultural Park.

The fireworks displays on Lunar New Year's Eve (February 2) will take place at eight
places around the city while Le Loi and Dong Khoi streets will be decorated with
hundreds of lights from January 26 to February 14.

Saigontourist will also hold the The Face of Tet decoration contest and door shows,
and a series of performances including lion dances, folk music, and drumming at the
Caravelle, Rex, Majestic, Grand, Continental, Kim Do, Oscar, Bong Sen and Palace
hotels from January 31 to February 6./.

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