Two Vietnamese gardens have been included in a book which features Southeast Asia’s most beautiful gardens printed by the Malaysian government, Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said on June 6.

The book, entitled “ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations]’s most beautiful gardens,” was published by the Malaysian Ministry of Culture and Tourism on the occasion of the 2014 ASEAN Tourism Forum held early this year, aiming to introduce the region’s most typical gardens to international friends.

The two Vietnamese gardens, including the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden at 2B Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1 and Da Lat Flower Garden at 2 Phu Dong Thien Vuong Street in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat, are among the most beautiful gardens published in the book.

Construction of the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, also known as Thao Cam Vien, started in March 1864 and completed in 1865.

It became a member of the Southeast Asian Zoos Association (SEAZA) in 1990, attracting a large number of visitors including Vietnamese and foreigners every day.

After 130 years of operation, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden currently houses 950 animals of around 125 species, 1,800 plants which belong to 260 species imported from several countries including Cambodia, Laos and India, 23 local orchid species, and 33 species of cactus.

Da Lat Flower Garden, also known as Bich Cau Garden, covers a total area of around 7,000 square meters, displaying hundreds of flower species such as roses, mimosas, daisies, orchids, and tulips.

The garden draws millions of visitors each year, especially during the Vietnamese traditional Tet holiday, thanks to its charm and attractiveness.

The book also presents other gardens in ASEAN including Brunei’s Kampung Parit Park and Empire Hotel and Country Club, Cambodia’s Wat Phnom Park and Royal Palace, Indonesia’s Taman Bunga Nusantara Flower Garden and Bogor Botanical Garden.