On June 1, at Suoi Tien Cultural Park, District 9 in Ho Chi Minh City, tens of thousands of visitors attended the opening ceremony of the 11th Southern Fruit Festival 2015 to enjoy hundreds of specialties and fruit of Southern Vietnam and of everywhere in the country. As being one of annual festivals in Ho Chi Minh City for over 10 years, Southern Fruit Festival is organized to honor the results of local farmers and the fruit shaping art, to contribute to the preservation and promotion of the identity of Vietnam culture. Thereby, the event creates a motivation for Vietnam tourism and tourism in Ho Chi Minh City to develop.
Southern Fruit Festival is held by Ho Chi Minh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism JSC, to promulgate the diversity of types and quality of fruit in Southern part and nationwide. At the same time, the festival is organized to praise the achievement of farmers and the art of fruit shaping, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Vietnam cultural identity. The highlight of the festival is "Fruit Floating Market" with 50 booths described as boats full of fruit. More than 150 types of fruit are sold 20-40% cheaper than that at markets. Visitors can enjoy local specialties and fruit of famous brands such as pomelo from Vinh Long, mango from Hoa Loc, longan from Tien Giang, grapeful from Bien Hoa, mangosteen from Lai Thieu, and green grapeful from Ben Tre...
The Southern Fruit Festival in Ho Chi Minh City is also attractive with many cultural activities of fruit visual art as a culture to inspire, develop and celebrate a traditional carrier of Southern people. The organizing committee said that there were 600 artworks of artisans from cities and provices such as Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Long An, and Tay Ninh... Besides, there is a series of collections of strange, rare and giant fruit. Some contests of delicious and safe fruit, parades, photography contest, and exhibition of traditional villages of Cham people, Vinh Nghiep Brocade, and Bau Truc Pottery are held. Especially, the art performance at the festival is the convergence of international art troupes from India, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. They performed featured dances on the opening ceremony and during the festival.
Mr. La Quoc Khanh - Vice Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said that over 10 times of organizing, Southern Fruit Festival is defining its position as one of important festivals in Vietnam, and in region. In addition, the festival this year witnessed the participation of performances of art troupes from different country. They come here to meet, exchange, and honor the outstanding cultural identity of Vietnam. On the occasion, Suoi Tien Cultural Park has a promotion on 100% free entrance ticket for children on June 1, from June 1 - August 30, entrance tickets will be discounted 50% for students who are excellent students, and reduce ticket price for workers at industrial zone, and processing refinery production in Ho Chi Minh City and industrial zone nearby. In addition, the festival this year takes place to June 20. There is participation of art performances of troupes from different countries. They come here to meet, exchange, and honor the outstanding cultural identities.