Residents queued up with masks on their face and maintained social distance norms after Saigon’s famous Flower Street opened Wednesday morning to celebrate Tet. 

The Nguyen Hue Flower Street opened at 8 a.m. Wednesday, but only a limited number of people were allowed to enter at a time. HCMC has recorded 33 local Covid-19 cases in the last 11 days. Authorities had ordered that the opening ceremony of the street be canceled and that it closes at 5 p.m. every day, instead of opening until late night as in previous years.

Security guards stood on hand to spray sanitizer on visitors’ hands and ensure that they maintain all social distancing protocol. They closed the entrance to the street when it was deemed too crowded.

Visitors were required and reminded to wear masks at all times.

Only two main entrances to the street were opened, in order to maintain order. There were six exit gates along the street to quickly clear the crowd.

Many women visited the flower street dressed in the traditional ao dai and had photographs taken while wearing masks.

Those who tried to remove their masks to take photographs were directed by security guards to wear them.

"My family and I have been visiting this street during Tet for over 10 years. This year is unique. The large crowd is missing and it is strange that we are wearing masks even for photographs," said District 1 resident Nguyen (in red).

Ha Thi Hong Van, 21, and her boyfriend, dressed in matching red ao dai kiss for a photograph while wearing masks. "The street is much more beautiful this year, especially the buffalo mascots. I hope all visitors follow the regulations to prevent the spread of the virus," Van said.

As it got hotter towards noon, many visitors said the masks made them uncomfortable.

The 720-meter flower street stretches from City Hall on Le Thanh Ton Street to Ton Duc Thang Street by the Saigon River. It has been decorated with 60 mascots and 100,000 flower pots to welcome the Year of the Buffalo.

After it first opened in 2002, the flower street has become an important part of the country celebrating its biggest and most important festival.

The street is scheduled to remain open until February 15 afternoon.