According to Lao Dong newspaper's records, the entrance area of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is always crowded with people. The bustling spring atmosphere covers all the inner-area streets when streams of people wearing ao dai, carrying food and carpets flock to the grassy fields shaded by ancient trees.
Under the 35°C sun of Ho Chi Minh City, being immersed in a green space and enjoying unique animal performances has become a priority choice for many families during the Tet holiday.
Many tourists said that even though they missed the "wild-haired" horse parade of Van Mai and the animal troupe in the morning (the New Year's animal parade program), they still choose to stay or flock here in the afternoon to enjoy the green, airy, and bustling space of Tet.
At many corners decorated by the Zoo and Botanical Gardens, many young people wearing ao dai took photos, capturing joyful moments in the first days of the new year.
Ms. Diep Linh (Thong Tay Hoi ward) who is resting with her family on the lawn shared: "My family lives in Ho Chi Minh City, so we often choose to rest on the spot instead of going far away. This afternoon the sun is quite harsh, so coming here is the most reasonable. Although there are many guests, the space is spacious, and everyone consciously maintains order and hygiene, so the atmosphere is still very comfortable and pleasant for the children to play.
Sharing the same feeling, Mr. Quoc Bao (Binh Thanh ward) said: "I brought my whole family here from noon, even though the animal group is no longer parading at this time, sitting under the shade of cool green trees like this is also a very relaxing way to celebrate Tet. The fact that ticket prices have not increased helps families with many members like me feel very comfortable when choosing this place to travel in spring for many years.
As the evening gets cooler, the flow of people continues to flock to Thao Cam Vien. Representatives of the unit said that security and order assurance and environmental sanitation are maximized to serve tourists in the upcoming peak days (from the 3rd to the 5th day of Tet).
