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Early in the morning, the zoo organized a festive animal parade to celebrate spring, drawing large numbers of visitors. Many children were visibly excited as they observed horses up close for the first time.

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Van Mai, a pony brought to the zoo from the Netherlands, quickly became a favorite. The friendly mare with a neat fringe appeared comfortable interacting with the crowd and eagerly posed for photos.

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In addition to Van Mai, the parade featured parrots, goats, sheep and geese. Leading the procession were four parrots named Cau, Dua, Du and Sung. They were followed by goats and sheep named Tai, Loc, Tan and Toi. Four geese named Van, Su, Nhu and Y added to the joyful, bustling atmosphere of the celebration.
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During the Tet holiday, entrance ticket prices remained unchanged compared to regular days.

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A representative of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens said that, as in previous years, the peak days are usually from the third to the fifth day of Tet. Compared to last year, more than 38,000 tickets were sold in the first two days of the Lunar New Year.

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Hai Yen, a resident of Thong Tay Hoi Ward, said that during major holidays her family often prefers to relax and have fun close to home rather than travel far. This year, they chose to visit the zoo together.

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By midday, temperatures in HCMC had climbed to 35 degrees Celsius, yet streams of visitors continued arriving at the zoo.

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Many families quickly sought out shaded areas or breezy lawns to spread mats, rest and share meals together.

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During the Lunar New Year holiday, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens follows a “three no” policy: no closure for Tet, no price increase and no surcharges.

Tuan Hung