VietNamNet Bridge – The Southern Fruit Festival opened at Suoi Tien Tourist Area, HCM City on June 1 to honor the value of exotic fruits and growers in Vietnam and the southern region in particular.

One of the highlights of the annual festival is a floating market with 50 booths selling more than 150 kinds of regionally distinguished fruits, like Nam Roi grapefruit, Queen dragon fruit, Luc Ngan lychee, and Cai Mon Ben Tre durian.

A fruit parade, a show of rare fruits, and a fruit cooking contest were part of the festival.

Music performances staged by both domestic and foreign art troupes from India, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, as well as and folk games were also held.

On the first day, the festival attracted thousands of visitors. The event will last until June 20.

Begun in 2004, the annual festival has become a popular cultural tourism event of Ho Chi Minh City.

The southern region boasts 415,800 ha of land for fruit cultivation, producing around 4.3 million tons per year, accounting for 53.2 percent and 57 percent of the country’s area and output, respectively.

The strange fruits on display at the festival this year:

A giant yam of up to 70 kg. A giant jackfruit weighing 50 kg, 10 times more than usual. A palm fruit of 50kg, originating from Africa, used to produce cooking oil and soap. Orange variety from the southwestern region, weighing up to 1kg/fruit. Purple mango and longan from Thailand. Purple corn. Red okra from America. Tropical pitcher plants.         Buddha hand-shaped grapefruit.

Ngan Anh