HCMC leaders include the city Party's Committee Secretary Le Thanh Hai, People's Committee Chairman Le Hoang Quan, People's Council Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam, and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee Vo Thi Dung.

Flower Street this year has been organized in Ham Nghi Street to replace the annually held Nguyen Hue Street. It stretches along 500 meters with about 120,000 pots of fresh flowers of varied species displayed in three sections namely Hao khi Vietnam, Ban Sac Vietnam and Vinh Quang Vietnam (Vietnamese Spirit, Vietnamese Identity and Vietnam Glory).

The number of visitors to the Flower Street is expected to top one million this year.

Book Street starts with a section about historical theme, showcasing domestic and foreign books and photos about April 30 Victory, which had liberated the southern region and unified the country, about Uncle Ho and heroes in building, protecting and developing the country.

The next section introduces 50,000 books on HCMC's economic development and integration into nations in the Southeast Asia and the world.

The center of the Book Street displays books, images and documents on Vietnam's sea and island sovereignty comprising a 3.6m long and 2.4m wide Vietnamese map with Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagos on it. Tourists can clearly read names of islands, coral beaches and rock tops on these two archipelagos.

A 6m long North-South train modal has also been showcased to mark the 40th anniversary of the country's reunification day. It stands for the first train connecting the country's northern and southern regions on December 31, 1976. 

The end section of the Book Street displays publications in the early 20th century, when the city was considered as the most developed publishing center of Vietnam.

The Flower and Book Street will serve residents and visitors until February 22, the fourth day of the new lunar year.

(SGGP)