VietNamNet Bridge – The Suoi Tien Cultural Tourist Park in HCM City's District 9 is preparing to host the 16th annual Southern Fruit Festival on June 1-6.

The festival, which originated as a local annual market in 2004, has grown into an event that brings together the produce of farmers from 21 provinces and cities.

"One of the highlights of the festival will be a floating market with 70 boats that sell 45 different kinds of fruits at 12-15 per cent lower than market prices," said Nguyen Bao Anh, deputy head of the Tourism Promotion Division under the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

He said at a press conference on Friday that starting on May 28, the market will remain open during the summer vacation days. It is expected to attract a million visitors who will buy over 1,000 tonnes of fruit.

A collection of fruits from the southern region of Viet Nam will display more than 300 varieties.

"The collection will apply for the Viet Nam record for the largest number of fruits displayed in a festival," Anh said.

Department director Nguyen Thanh Rum said they expect to expand the festival into a national level event, attracting farmers from other regions.

"We hope to have a Viet Nam fruit collection in the near future," Rum said.

The market and festival will also present many processed fruit products including dried fruit, jam, fruit wine, palm sugar and coconut candy.

The festival will feature several cultural activities, including the "Parade of Magical Fruits" that will bring together more than 200 actors and actresses.

Other highlights will include a fruit artwork contest with the participation of more than 100 artisans on June 6 that will also attempt to set a Viet Nam record.

Another events include a contest will have 600 farmers present their safe fruit collection, the introduction of 30 fruit dishes at the Long Phung restaurant, and an exhibition of fruit-shaped stones.

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the festival has become a social, cultural, economic and tourism event.

Besides promoting the fresh fruit potential in Viet Nam, upholding the unique culture of the country, and promoting HCM City as a tourist destination, the festival also teaches children about the wide range of fruits available in the country, Khanh said.

On Children's Day, June 1, the park will offer free entrance tickets to every child attending the festival with one parent, and 50 per cent discounts for pre-registered groups of children and teenagers from institutions like schools and clubs.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News