Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, vice director of HCM City Department of Tourism and head of the festival’s organizing board, says the annual cultural and tourism event aims to promote the special qualities of the wide variety of southern fruits, honour the fruits of the work of farmers, and promote national cultural identities.
It is considered a special tourism product which will attract greater numbers of foreign and domestic visitors during the summer months, says Mrs Hoa.
The City received nearly 2 million foreign visitors during the first quarter of 2018, a year-on-year rise of 17%, and brought in an estimated turnover of VND32.117 trillion from tourism, up 16% against the same period last year.
The festival drew more than 1 million visitors last year and the number of visitors is expected to increase by 50% this year, says Mrs Hoa.
This year’s events feature many activities, such as a floating fruit market which runs from May 30 to August 30. Visitors can also take part in the 'Southern Delicious and Safe Fruit' competition, and a parade of “giant fruit' for a fashion show of fruit patterned clothes, and visit a garden showcasing ornamental plants, and pets and traditional craft villages. In what promises to be a highlight of the event, a program featuring a range of fruity dishes will introduce a dish made from 32 kinds of fruits, which set a Vietnamese record in 2012.
Some images at the festival:
