In her speech at the opening ceremony, Bui Thi To Trinh, deputy general director of the park, said the annual event features a diverse and exotic range of tropical fruits grown in the country; honours farmers; and intensifies cultural and tourism activities.

It covers a market selling local specialty fruits such as plums, avocados, mangos, mangosteens, watermelons, and longans, along with OCOP products, at low prices.

Visitors can enjoy delicacies from all over nation at a food market boasting over 20 stalls.

A gigantic fruit collection, parades, fruit sculptures, and musical performances are also being held on the occasion.

Besides the usual festivities, there will also be several debut events such as the Green Unity Campaign competition in which artistic projects will be created using only recycled materials.

Fruit lovers can pick their own fruits and eat them at the Suoi Tien Farm where over 30 foreign fruits are grown in line with strict organic and VietGAP standards.

The Southern Fruit Festival was recognised as an iconic tourism activity of the southern city in 2004 and typically attracts around one million visitors annually.

It is also a highly anticipated part of the second HCM City River Festival this year and will run until August 31.