On the morning of 1/9, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden in Saigon ward was packed with visitors during the National Day holiday. Most visitors were families bringing young children to explore.

Nguyen Thanh Nhut, deputy director of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, stated that by the third day of the holiday, the venue had welcomed approximately 40,000 visitors. "This holiday period is long, so we expect to welcome 80,000 to 100,000 people," he said.

Long queues formed at the ticket booths, where adult tickets cost 60,000 VND and child tickets 40,000 VND. For this occasion, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden offered online ticket sales, allowing visitors to scan QR codes (subsequent photo) to reduce waiting times. However, the parking lot was crowded, forcing many visitors to park outside.

During the holiday, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden organized a series of activities: animal parades, tug-of-war with tigers, animal behavior shows, and artistic musical performances.

A highlight was the Zoobiz parade vehicle, carrying various animals throughout the zoo, offering visitors opportunities to observe, interact with, and capture close-up moments with the animals.

The "Zoobiz stars" included: miniature horses, goats, sheep, parrots, geese, cats, and South American dragons. The vehicle was vibrantly decorated, with each section featuring a different animal, moving slowly for nearly an hour to allow visitors to observe and interact with them. This activity was newly introduced by Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden this year.

Beyond the animal behavior shows, visitors could also interact with and observe species such as crocodiles, capybaras (giant guinea pigs), gibbons, raccoons, rhinoceroses, and giraffes. The petting zoo area, featuring capybaras, meerkats, raccoons, and otters, was particularly popular with young children due to direct interaction. Visitors entered in timed turns, each lasting about 15 minutes, with a 70,000 VND ticket including food for the animals.

The enclosure of the miniature horse family named Ca Cao was another popular stop for visitors, especially children.

Many other animal enclosures, including those for elephants, goats, giraffes, and hippos, were bustling with visitors. Outside the elephant enclosure's fence, many parents had to lift their children high so they could easily see inside. Some families purchased sugarcane and vegetables to feed the elephants.

Nguyen Hoang Nam, 28, and his wife checked into the zoo with their daughter. Visiting Ho Chi Minh City from Tay Ninh for the holiday, he chose Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden as their first destination to help his child learn about the animal kingdom.

As noon approached, pathways, animal enclosures, and play areas became increasingly crowded. The sightseeing tram service was also consistently busy with tourists.

Around large trees, grassy areas became resting and dining spots for visitors. Families from other provinces even brought hammocks, tarps, and food.

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, initially named Botanical Garden, was established in early 1864. It is the 8th oldest animal and plant conservation center globally. The garden houses over 1,000 animal individuals across 125 species, more than 2,000 trees from 260 species, dozens of native orchid varieties, cacti, bonsai, and green lawns spread across an area exceeding 17 ha.

Quynh Tran