VietNamNet Bridge – Around 150 kinds of regionally distinguished fruits will be sold on 50 boats at the "Fruit Floating Market" at the 2015 Southern Fruit Festival to be held early next month in HCM City, a press briefing was told on Thursday.

Illustrative image -- File photo

The 11th annual festival, organised by the HCM City's Department of Tourism in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Suoi Tien Culture Tourist Corporation, will take place at Suoi Tien Tourist Area in District 9 from June 1 to 20.

The festival aims to show respect to fruit growers in Viet Nam and in particular the southern region. It will sell fruit at below-market prices with discounts of 20-40 per cent, said organisers.

Fruits include Vinh Long Province's Nam Roi grapefruit, Long An Province's Queen dragonfruit, Bac Giang Province's Luc Ngan lychee, Ben Tre Province's Cai Mon durian, and many others.

The floating market will run from May 30 to September 2.

The event will also feature a collection of rare and giant fruits grown nationwide: purple longan, purple kohlar, purple mango, black tomato, red okra, a 25kg waxy pumpkin, 6kg gourd, 4kg green grapefruit, and 1kg thick-skinned orange.

A fruit parade showcasing 200 people wearing clothing in the shape of ripe fruits and a fruit carving contest will be part of the festival.

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

VNS