The country's first ever Lotus Festival will kick off in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, known as the lotus kingdom, from May 19 to 21.
With the theme "Lotus of a New Day", the festival is expected to attract thousands of attendees after more than two years of hiatus due to Covid-19. It aims to promote and honor the value of the lotus, a symbol of the beauty and integrity of Vietnamese people, and to boost lotus farming as well as tourism.
At the festival, visitors can enjoy an ao dai (traditional long dress) performance, cultural works display, lotus pond miniatures, along with other hands-on and lotus farming activities. These events will take place on main streets, Van Mieu Square, and the Cao Lanh town park.
A seminar to connect tourism between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 Mekong Delta localities will be held as part of the festival. The festival's highlight is trying to set a record of 200 lotus-based dishes.
“Currently, approximately 200 lotus-based goods are available to help households make ends meet. Long term, the leaders of Dong Thap plan to restructure the lotus sector in order to raise the value of the flower, so contributing more to GDP," said Nguyen Ngoc Thuong, Director of the local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The lotus museum at Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Thap Muoi district is now under construction, with the goal of promoting the beauty of the lotus as well as Dong Thap's image.
Dong Thap received nearly 1 million tourists in the first four months of this year, a rise of 3% in arrivals and 11% in revenue year-on-year. It is the Mekong Delta's most prolific lotus province. Lotuses are grown in various areas of Dong Thap, including Thap Muoi, Cao Lanh, and Tam Nong.