As the owner of the mascot named "cat pageant" for the previous Year of the Cat, 33-year-old Dinh Van Tan in the central province of Quang Tri was chosen by the authorities to create a dragon mascot for this year.
The mascot spans 4.5 m in height and 7 m in length. It has golden-colored scales and perches on top of the model of a mountain. The materials used were styrofoam and gypsum. The statue weighs 500 kg.
"The materials I used are suitable for transportation," Tan said.
The mascot will be taken to the central park of Lao Bao Town for exhibition.
Photo by Vo Thanh
A model of "Twin Dragons Watching the Moon" is displayed at a park on Quang Trung Street, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, another HCMC's neighbor. It is over 12 m tall, and each dragon spans over 70 m in length.
The Vung Tau People's Committee said the statue resembles images of the dragon during the Ly dynasty (1009 - 1225).
"The structure sends a message of bringing natural energy and luck to the city," a representative of Vung Tau said.
Photo by Truong Ha
Several other locations in Vung Tau are also decorated with dragons. At Trung Trac-Trung Nhi Park, a dragon sculpture is made of steel frames covered with fabric.
Photo by Truong Ha
In Dak Nong in the central highlands, two dragon mascots were completed by officers at the provincial military command over two months. The sculptures are made of cement. Dragons holding bronze jewels in their mouths are considered a symbol of power.
Photo by Ngoc Oanh
This year, Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam decorates four dragons to celebrate Tet, with three dragons at Ba To Park.
Quang Ngai urban environment company, responsible for the sculptures' construction, said the dragons were designed by a HCMC company. By Feb. 5, the mascots will be completed, and a spring festival will be organized at the park.
Photo by Pham Linh
The Dong Nai Tourism Association in the southern province had a dragon mascot made of styrofoam displayed at an exhibition site of Buu Long Tourism Area.
Photo by Phuoc Tuan
