The second orchid festival kicked off at Tao Dan Park in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, featuring 29,000 orchid branches and pots.

The five-day festival, themed “Charming Perfume and Beauty,” is aimed at celebrating Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day (April 29), Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers’ Day (May 1).

During the holiday, public workers in Vietnam have five days off.

A series of programs such as an orchid exhibition, an orchid contest and a seminar on orchid will take place during this year’s event, co-held by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and other units. 

Over 200 artisans and gardeners in the city and neighboring cities and provinces are participating in the festival, showcasing 29,000 orchid products.

The festival is also expected to popularize the farming product and promote the value of orchid in the agricultural industry.

The organizer said that the 2023 orchid festival highlights the spaces of introducing orchid growing and caring steps, introducing orchid seedlings and varieties, and displaying orchid miniatures. 

In addition, revelers can enjoy various art performances every evening during the festival. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vo Van Hoan, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said that the city’s only orchid festival made a comeback after a four-year pause by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The festival will create a link between State officials, farmers and consumers, moving toward building a modern and ecological farming industry.

He proposed the municipal Departments of Agriculture-Rural Development and Construction and Ho Chi Minh City Green Tree Park Company join hands to develop Tao Dan Park into a flower park in Ho Chi Minh City.

He wanted a detailed plan for the Tao Dan Park development to be submitted in May.

On Friday morning, the organizer awarded prizes to 55 typical orchid products among all 300 registered for the orchid contest.

Festival-goers pose for a photo with an orchid miniature at Tao Dan Park in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, where the second orchid festival kicked off on April 28, 2023. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Within the framework of the orchid festival opening ceremony, designer Viet Hung debuted his collection of orchid-inspired ao dai (Vietnamese traditional costume).

Designer Hung told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that it took him a month to complete the collection.

The collection of ao dai features unique orchid patterns.

“Thanks to orchid varieties, the collection of 12 ao dai designs was made to offer spectators a new view of orchid-driven fashion.

“I hope Ho Chi Minh City will become a fashion city,” said designer Hung.

A collection of orchid-inspired ao dai was introduced at the second orchid festival at Tao Dan Park in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

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