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| A lotus-shaped installation formed by 50,000 spring flower pots at Ham Nghi Square. Photo: Le Dinh Hoang |
In early February, Ham Nghi Square, located within the Hue Citadel, becomes livelier than usual. Amid the area’s ancient and dignified surroundings, a giant lotus flower in full bloom has drawn large numbers of residents and visitors coming to admire the display and having commemorative photos. The lotus installation is crafted from 50,000 pots of spring flowers, meticulously arranged with layers of petals rising upward to create a striking visual effect.
Ms. Ngo Thi Huyen, a resident of Thuan Hoa Ward, shared: “I visited the site with friends after seeing photos of the floral display at Ham Nghi Square circulating on several Facebook pages. Drawn by the beauty of the installation, we decided to come and experience it in person. The vibrant colors of the flowers evoke a strong sense that Tet is just around the corner, and the choice of the lotus as the centerpiece serves as a spring greeting from Hue, both traditional and contemporary”.
To bring the lotus-themed floral centerpiece at Ham Nghi Square to life, the staff of Hue Green Parks Center began planting and caring for the flowers in early December 2025 to meet the schedule for spring decorations. By early lunar December, the artistic floral arrangements at the square were installed in line with requests from the Phu Xuan Ward People’s Committee, in preparation for the “Phu Xuan Tet – Colors and Flavors of the Ancient Capital” program, held from February 2 to 8. Once the installation was completed, the Center has continued to tend the flowers, ensuring they remained fresh and vibrant throughout the event.
Beyond Ham Nghi Square, many other public spaces across the city are also being “awakened” by the colors of spring flowers. Parks such as Ly Tu Trong, Tu Tuong, and Thuong Bac are gradually adorned with new floral displays, creating vibrant splashes of color in the urban landscape and bringing a sense of calm, along with the atmosphere of Tet, to residents during the busy final days of the year.
“This year’s Spring Festival is held under the theme “Hue Spring Festival 2026 - Identity and Integration”. To highlight Hue’s spirit, cultural identity, and heritage, compared to the previous year, Hue Green Parks Center has invested in a larger number of flowers, with a total of 150,000 plants. Most of them are local varieties such as red cockscomb, yellow butterfly flowers, and miniature roses… Prioritizing flower species that are well suited to the local soil and climate not only ensures quality and blooming schedules, but also preserves Hue’s distinctive character and landscape,” said Mr. Dang Ngoc Quy, Deputy Director of Hue Green Parks Center.
Thanks to the careful preparation and favorable weather conditions, most of the flowers have now bloomed, ensuring the readiness of decorative spaces for the 2026 Spring Festival. Hue Green Parks Center is expected to complete the installation and arrangement of floral displays by the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, in time for the Hue Spring Festival 2026.
In addition to the floral displays, Hue Green Parks Center is also preparing to install zodiac mascot models in several public areas, including Quoc Hoc Stele Park and the fountain square in front of the City’s People’s Committee headquarters. “This year’s mascot is the horse, a symbol of strength, endurance, and the aspiration to move forward. Horse-themed models offer a wide range of expressive and visually appealing designs for installation. The Center has selected suitable designs and plans to assemble the horse models at Quoc Hoc Stele Park and the fountain square after the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, in time for residents to welcome the Lunar New Year,” said Mr. Quy.