Giant flying cat to herald New Year
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A manned hot air balloon 18m in diameter with the face of a smiling cat will rise high on the New Year Eve February 2 in downtown Ho Chi Minh City to welcome the Year of the Cat.
The balloon, which is to be piloted, will fly 50 meters high from District 1’s 23/9 Park near the iconic Ben Thanh market.
The aerostat measures 22 meters tall, 18 meters in diameter and 2,000 cubic meters in volume.
Visitors can see and photograph the balloon from February 3-6 at 7AM-9AM30 and 17PM-20PM30.
Before taking flight, the balloon’s wicker basket will open to take in written notes from visitors and passers-by. Their messages of hope and love will surely fly high.
Established 7 years ago, Ho Chi Minh- based Chien Thang Company who designs and produces the balloon participated in many cultural festivals throughout the country as well as business campaigns.
It also employs the first hot air balloon flight crew in Vietnam.
Fireworks dazzle the city
Ho Chi Minh City also announced it will hold firework displays in 9 spots spreading over 9 districts of the city to welcome the new year.
The displays start the same time at midnight February 2 and will last fifteen minutes.
High-altitude fireworks will be set off at the Caric Shipbuilding Factory in District 2, District 7’s Administrative Center project site in District 7, Go Vap Cultural Park project site in Go Vap District, Hoc Mon District’s Nga Ba Giong Memorial Temple in, and Ben Duoc Memorial Temple in Cu Chi District.
The four other displays, at a slightly lower height, will be at the National Culture and History Park in District 9, District 11’s Dam Sen Cultural Park, Mau Than 1968 Memorial Temple in Binh Chanh Districts and Can Gio District.
