In recent days, many workers have been seen busy building surrounding bricks and pouring sand to create 9 clusters of flower beds on an area of over 1,600m² at the campus southwest of the Dragon Bridge along Bach Dang Street.

Floral decorations are underway along sidewalk of Bach Dang Street, opposite the APEC Sculpture Park. Photo: BAO LAM

Concrete blocks have been brought to the campus by a crane to make the base for the 6m-high and 16m-wide archway with a stylised image of a dragon winding in the clouds, aiming to create an initial impression for visitors.

Right behind the entrance gate is a cluster of details and motifs illustrating simulated images of Lac Long Quan and Au Co, who are believed to be the parents of all Vietnamese people. These details stimulate the story of 50 children following their father Lac Long Quan to the sea, and the rest 50 following their mother Au Co to the highlands.

Installed by the municipal Department of Tourism, the check-in model with the colorful 2024 numbers and the Danang Fantasticity symbol is retained and is decorated with flower beds. Behind the 2024 model is a flying dragon mascot model made of shaped foam.

A total of more than 14,000 flower pots of 12 types of flowers such as raspberry chrysanthemums, firecracker flowers, lemon yellow marigolds, poinsettias, Hasfarm daisies, roses, azaleas, begonias, Japanese grass, purple flowers, and colourful butterfly flowers are arranged in harmony with mascots and decorative motifs.

Meanwhile, at the campus northwest of the Dragon Bridge, the ‘I LOVE DANANG’ model, and 30 large and small-sized pinwheels, are being relocated to the seaside areas.

Teams of workers are creating 7 clusters of flower beds with an area of 750m². The entrance gate to the flower garden is 9.5m in width and 5m in height. It has an arch shape simulating a winding dragon body with a stylised dragon head on the left and a stylised phoenix bird with the number 2024 on the right.

The central flower bed features a winding flying dragon mascot in combination with fire, water, and "jewel" effects.

In the flower beds, there are bamboo figures holding flower baskets, heart-shaped bamboo baskets, flower boats and flower baskets in different shapes.

A total of more than 9,350 flower pots in 12 types of such flowers as hydrangeas, raspberry daisies, petunias, red azaleas, firecrackers, poinsettias, persimmon, begonias, and colourful butterfly flowers are used for decorations.

In the area in front of the T-shaped Bridge, opposite 42 Bach Dang, workers of the the Da Nang Green Trees-Park Company have been seen rushing to move old decorative flower pots in order to hand over the site to the construction units.

On a 100m-long and 18m-wide area, there will be 2 entrance and exit gates to the flower garden and 10 continuous flower beds.

In particular, a stylised dragon mascot themed "Mark of Sacred Dragon" will be placed in the main flower bed. The image evokes memories of the time when King Hung built the country, whilst the image of a flock of ‘Lac birds’ flying up represents Da Nang’s desire to rise high and reach far to the world.

Workers are constructing flower beds and installing flower decoration models at the campus south of the Dragon Bridge. Photo: HOANG HIEP

​According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Management Board of Industrial and Civil Engineering Construction and Investment Projects, aside from the city’s budget, the municipal People's Committee calls for private businesses to get involved in making floral displays and lighting decorations, further promoting cooperation and companionship from the business community operating inside and outside the city.

Specifically, the MoNo BoGo Viet Nam Co., Ltd. has decided to create a mascot of the Year of the Dragon for the city at a total cost of VND1.5 billion.

The 5m-high dragon mascot is inspired from the dragon statue under the Ly Dynasty at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Ha Noi. It, made of Bat Trang ceramic, will be installed at the T-Bridge area opposite the building located at 42 Bach Dang.

As its name “Viet Nam’s aspirations”, the work expresses the hope that Da Nang in particular, and Viet Nam in general, will continue to prosper during the Lunar New Year of the Dragon.

In addition to the MoNo BoGo Vietnam Co., Ltd., the Acecook Viet Nam Company is responsible for making floral and lighting decorations at the sidewalk area of extended Bach Dang Street with a length of about 50m and the semicircular bridge area opposite the intersection of extended Bach Dang and Binh Minh 4 streets.

It is expected that the floral and lighting decoration work to welcome in the 2024 Lunar New Year will be completed before February 7, 2024 (on the 28^th day of the Lunar New Year of the Cat). Spring flower streets across the city will be open to the public from February 8 - 19.

​Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Translating by M.DUNG