Lights, flowers and fireworks will take centre stage on Ho Chi Minh City's streets during the upcoming New Year and Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays. The city's central streets of Nguyen Hue, Le Loi and Dong Khoi will be lit for Christmas and New Year from December 18, 2008 to January 4, 2009 and for Tet from January 18, 2009 to February 14, 2009.

Nguyen Hue Street will host the Flower Street Festival on January 23-28, 2009 during Tet. With this year's theme of Vung Tin (Keeping Faith), local authorities want to show the city's determination to overcome obstacles caused by the global economic crisis.

This year Nguyen Hue Flower Street will feature images of Vietnam's traditional villages with bamboo and buffalo blending with nature's sounds to depict a joyful spring. On January 28, 2009 street performances of flamenco and traditional music will be held along Nguyen Hue and Le Loi streets, as well as traditional games.

Unlike previous years, this year the city will organize a contest to make Banh Tet (cylindric glutinous rice cake) on January 21 and 22, 2009. The winning cake will be offered to ancestors at the Temple of the Hung Kings, and the Ho Chi Minh and Ton Duc Thang museums on January 25, 2009. On the event of Tet, the city will put on fireworks.

During the festival, the hotels managed by Saigontourist Travel will organize door-shows and hang exterior decorations to celebrate the holidays. The city has also asked offices and households along the streets of Nguyen Hue, Le Loi and Dong Khoi to decorate their storefronts and homes.

The Flower Street Festival and HCM City's annual holiday festivities have been organized by Saigontourist since 2004.