By the end of this year, nearly 17,000 cherry trees will be planted around a lake in the city already famous for its flowers.

The Tuyen Lam Lake Resort Zone's five year plan will install 60,000 such trees along its shores, making Da Lat the largest cherry blossom destination in Southeast Asia.

The 365-ha lake is already a major tourist destination, boasting spas, golf courses, villas, conference halls and artists’ clubs. Cherry trees will be planted amid an existing stand of aged pines.

Nguyen Xuan Thanh, chief manager of Tuyen Lam Lake Tourism Zone, said the cherry blossoms will add a special green space to the area.

Most of the funds for the project came from individuals and private organizations.

Vietnam News