Southern Fruit Festival 2019 opens in HCM City

The 15th Southern Fruit Festival officially opened at the Suoi Tien Cultural Amusement Park in Ho Chi Minh City on June 1.

Delegates cut the ribbon to launch the festival. (Photo: nld.com.vn)
Delegates cut the ribbon to launch the festival. (Photo: nld.com.vn)

At this year’s event, visitors can not only buy delicious and safe fruit at cheaper prices than in the market, but also enjoy a series of special art programmes provided for free by the Suoi Tien tourism site, including performances of “Don ca tai tu” (southern folk song), street music, and an artistic water basket dance.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, deputy director of the HCM City Tourism Department, said that the festival, which lasts until August 31, features a floating fruit-selling market reduplicating a unique cultural feature of the southern river and water region – a national intangible heritage – with more than 50 boats filled with fresh, ripe, early-season fruits.

The art of creating fruit-formed shapes is also considered among the major events of the 2019 Southern Fruit Festival, aiming to contribute to honouring, preserving and promoting the southern cultural quintessence and the Vietnamese national cultural identities, she said.

Visitors have the chance to enjoy drinks made from fruit by professional bartenders. (Photo: nld.com.vn)

Visitors will also have the chance to join in a procession of fruits, taste delicious dishes made from fruit, learn about the art of making drinks from fruit, and witness a competition on delicious and safe southern fruits.

A representative from Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Joint Stock Company said that in order to create favourable conditions for tourists, those who buy entrance tickets will be able to tour all activities at the festival free of charge. In particular, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy a dish made from 32 fruits which established a Vietnam record in 2012.