Nearly 15,000 local people and visitors joined the event, which included a traditional musical performance featuring cultural highlights of the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands).

The show included more than 2,000 performers from art troupes from Lam Dong Province and neighbouring provinces.

The event also saw dozens of automobiles decorated with flowers parading around Xuan Huong Lake.

Speaking at the ceremony, Doan Van Viet, deputy chairman of the Lam Dong Province's People's Committee and head of the festival's steering board, said: "With theme of Da Lat – Muon Sac Mau Hoa (Da Lat – Multitude of Colourful Flowers), the festival highlights the city's horticulture and honours outstanding businesses and farmers involved in the industry."

"The event is also a place where flower lovers, florists and flower researchers meet and share their interest in floriculture," he added. "It also creates a great opportunity for Da Lat to introduce and promote the city's hi-tech agricultural products."

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu spoke at the ceremony that the festival becomes a national cultural event, which is very popular among international tourists.

"The festival is also a chance to call for investment in manufacturing and exporting flowers in Da Lat City and other provinces and cities across the country," he said.

The five-day festival features miniature flower gardens at Xuan Huong Lake, Le Dai Hanh Street, Ong Dai Bridge and tourism destinations, which were organised by the Da Lat Flower Association.

According to Nguyen Dinh Son, chairman of the association, the annual growth rate of the city's horticulture reaches up to 15 per cent.

The flower farming area in the city covers more than 4,000ha with a yield of seven billion branches.

The association also offers tours to the city's famous flower villages Van Thanh, Thai Phien and Ha Dong, and the Dalat Hasfarm Flower Company.

A showcase of the city's specialties including tea, coffee and wine is located on Ho Tung Mau Street.

In addition, amateur and professional artists are offering calligraphy, paintings, and photography exhibitions on the beauty of Da Lat and its floriculture at Xuan Huong Park.

The organisers will host a special music show at Lam Vien Square on Friday to honour outstanding organisations and individuals, who have made a great contribution to the city's horticulture.

The festival also includes an exhibition at the city's Flower Garden featuring hundreds of kinds of flowers and ornament plants made by more than 140 artisans across the country.

A flower and vegetable fair on Nguyen Van Cu Street presents 70 stalls showcasing fresh and clean vegetables and fruits, and flower and plant seeds from 40 companies, cooperatives and villages.

A free buffet offering a various kinds of salads and boiled vegetables prepared by chefs from local restaurants and hotels is also installed at the fair.

A science conference on flowers, floral arrangement and painting contests, and a trade fair are also included.

Nguyen Vinh Phuc, deputy chairman of the city's People's Committee, said the city expected to attract 500,000 visitors to the festival this year.

Some pictures of Da Lat several hours before the opening of the festival:

VNS