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After a week of vibrant spring colors, the Nguyen Hue Flower Street for Tet Binh Ngo 2026, themed "Spring Gathering - Steadfastly Moving Forward," officially concluded its overall display phase on the evening of the 6th day of Tet. However, given the strong appeal of this year's mascot and the continued high demand from locals and international tourists, the organizers have made a meaningful decision.
According to the latest announcement from Saigontourist Group, the two most iconic displays at the main gate and the end of the flower street will remain open to the public until March 22, 2026. This is considered a special spiritual gift from Ho Chi Minh City to those who missed the opportunity to visit this cultural icon during the peak days of the Lunar New Year.
After the Nguyen Hue flower street (Saigon ward, Ho Chi Minh City) closed on the evening of February 22nd (the 6th day of Tet), the large display area featuring the horse mascot at the main gate and the end of the street was kept open for another month.
Nguyen Hue Flower Street has long been the "soul" of Tet in Saigon, and in the Year of the Horse 2026, its scale and technology have been elevated to a new level. Opening on the 28th day of the 12th lunar month, the largest floral art installation ever, featuring over 100,000 baskets of diverse flowers, has attracted tens of thousands of visitors daily. Although the smaller displays and flower-decorated areas will be removed to clear the pedestrian street, maintaining the two main horse sculptures is a highlight that will extend the festive atmosphere, making it the hottest tourist destination in Ho Chi Minh City this coming March.
At the main entrance, at the intersection of Le Loi and Nguyen Hue streets, the large-scale horse mascot has been the center of attention since its initial unveiling. Inspired by the legendary image of Saint Giong riding an iron horse flying to heaven, this year's mascot features a vibrant bronze-gold color scheme, symbolizing prosperity and the nation's aspiration for greater heights.
The Nguyen Hue Flower Street for Tet Binh Ngo 2026, themed "Spring Gathering - Steadfastly Moving Forward," will open on February 15th (28th day of the 12th lunar month) and close at 9 PM on February 22nd (6th day of Tet).
With its massive size, including a body 7m high and 9m wide, placed on a 4m high base, this model is not only visually impressive but also showcases sophisticated foam craftsmanship. In particular, the internal mechanical system allows the mascot to move its head and legs, creating a lively interactive effect as if welcoming visitors, making it an unmissable check-in spot in the heart of District 1.
At the end of the flower street, the grand display titled "Beautiful Landscape" will continue to accompany the city's residents for another month. This is an elaborate installation featuring nine eternal horses in a powerful galloping posture. Three of these horses in the center represent the three leading economic hubs of the South: Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, and Binh Duong.
To continue serving the viewing needs of locals and tourists, the two large horse mascot displays at the main gate (Le Loi - Nguyen Hue roundabout) and at the end of the street will be kept in place until March 22nd.
The remaining large and small landscape features will be removed, restoring the area to its previous clear and unobstructed state.
Their solid, monolithic form symbolizes strong connections, conveying a message of the convergence of strength and the aspiration for breakthroughs in the key economic region. The remaining six horses are designed in a multi-layered style, catching light in layers along the "path of light," creating a captivating visual art space that promises to remain a popular destination for photographers and tourists in the future.
The Nguyen Hue Flower Street 2026 also made a strong impression when, for the first time in its 23-year history, visitors experienced two completely different versions: day and night. While the daytime showcased the brilliance of thousands of blooming flowers, the nighttime was a sublime display of 3D mapping technology, modern lighting art, and augmented reality (AR). The integration of AR technology on the TikTok platform allowed visitors to interact directly with the main displays via their personal phones, providing vivid videos with realistic moving mascots. The combination of the urban narrative "Spring Integration, the Origins of Splendor, and a Steadfast Future" with high-tech elements transformed the flower street from just a sightseeing spot into a creative digital cultural space.
Tourists are enjoying the experience of checking in at this location during the 2026 Lunar New Year.
While large-scale displays such as the Nine-Maned Horse, the Steadfast Horse, and the "Brilliant Memories" area were dismantled as planned for the closing ceremony on the evening of February 22nd (the 6th day of the Lunar New Year), the continued presence of the two largest horse displays ensures the preservation of the spirit of the Year of the Horse. The area around the statue of President Ho Chi Minh will retain the vibrant yellow of the precious apricot blossom trees from Binh Loi apricot village, creating a solemn yet spring-filled atmosphere. Retaining these symbols not only serves the needs of visitors and photographers but also carries feng shui significance, representing perseverance, steadfastness, and "successful arrival" for the entire new year.
