HCM CITY -- The third Tết Festival honouring Vietnamese food and culture opened for visitors at the HCM City Youth Cultural House on Jan 16.

The 14-day long event, which features a series of activities, such as hot-air balloon performances, water sports, online photo contests and more, aims to contribute to the promotion and preservation of traditional cultural values.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairwoman of the city People’s Committee Phan Thị Thắng expressed her delight at the exciting atmosphere in the first days of New Year and the belief in the recovery plan after a difficult pandemic period.

The festival has a great significance for the city, which has been officially recognized as a green zone and is once again bustling in accordance with the “safe and flexible adaptation to and effective management of the pandemic.”

The festival is part of the city’s pilot program on welcoming back foreign tourists, as approved by the Government, promoting the city's image as a safe, friendly and attractive destination.

The event is co-organized by the municipal Department of Tourism in coordination with the HCMC Youth's Cultural House. VNS