In response, the Singaporean Tourism Board has launched a programme to introduce a special spring festival in Ho Chi Minh City to attract more Vietnamese people to the island nation. The “Chunjie” spring festival will take place from January 3 to February 15, 2009 with three main events: a festival to welcome Tet in Chinatown, a Chingay parade and a Singapore River Hongbao festival.

The spring festival will begin with a firework display on January 3 and lion dances performed by 11 art troupes from Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, China, Thailand and Singapore. Tourists can enjoy the jubilant atmosphere of festivities, shopping, cuisine and the special cultural features of people of Chinese origins. In addition, there will also be a wide range of Buddhist activities held in 169 year-old temple Thian Hock Keng.