The event was organised by the Hanoi Municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to welcome the forthcoming New Year.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang said that the event also aimed to highlight the refined flower hobby of Hanoians and promote Hanoi’s culture.

“The festival will be a memorable event for both local residents and foreign tourists,” she said.

Three new Vietnam Guinness Records on display at the festival, including the longest train on an ao dai (traditional dress), the biggest rattan vase of lotus flowers and the biggest shell-inlaid wooden block presenting a royal proclamation by King Ly Thai To, were recognised at the ceremony.

While flower designer Nguyen Manh Hung used up to 1,000 flowers to form the 10m-long train on the traditional dress, artisan Nguyen Phuong Quang from Hanoi’s Chuong My district spent more than two years on the 6.5m-high rattan vase.

The 1.9m high and 1.3m-wide royal proclamation was completed by veteran artisan Tran Ba Nam from Hanoi’s Phu Xuyen district, who spent three years on the work. The royal proclamation made by King Ly in 1010 states that the country’s capital will be relocated from Hoa Lu (in Ninh Binh province) to Thang Long (the former name of Hanoi).

During the five-day event, visitors will also have a chance to see some of Hanoi’s typical images, including the Temple of Literature and Long Bien Bridge. Replicas of these works have been created from flowers and are on display at the festival.

A 6m-high tower with nine dragons curving around and up, created from flowers and fruits, which represents 215 years of power of the Ly dynasty and a tulip carpet, created from 22,000 tulips donated by the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Gerda Verburg, have attracted many visitors.

A flower show, entitled One Thousand Years of Thang Long – One Thousand Flowers Bloom will be held on December 31 at the festival. The contest will gather competitors from 29 districts in the city, and all of the award-winning flower creations will be presented.