(VOVworld)- With its unique architecture, Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City has become a tourist attraction. Shaped like a lotus, the tower symbolizes Ho Chi Minh City’s prosperity.

Located in District 1, Ho Chi Minh city, Bitexco Financial Tower covers nearly 6,100 square meters and required an investment of 400 million USD. On the tower’s 50^th floor, there is a helicopter pad. Vu Quang Hoi, President of the Bitexco Group, says the design of the tower was inspired by the beauty and charm of Vietnamese lotus flowers: “It’s difficult for us to ensure both the economic benefit and cultural and architectural features for our project. We gathered the most elite experts and mobilized builders from the Republic of Korea to implement this project. The tower is well operated like other symbolic skyscrapers around the world and guarantees the best service for visitors”.

The tower began operation on October 31, 2010 as the tallest building in Vietnam at that time and now ranks second after the Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower which was completed a year later. From its inauguration, the tower is now the 110^th tallest skyscraper in the world and was ranked by the US Committee for High-rise Buildings as one of the world’s greatest skyscrapers. Mr. Carlos Zapata of the US, the main architect of the project says that the design of the tower was not aimed at competing for its height but to show the vitality of the tower through the images of a lotus bud and conical hat reflecting Vietnam’s culture. The tower is 262 meters high and is comprised of 68 floors. Thousands of reinforced glass panels were imported from Belgium and processed in the Republic of Korea. Each panel is different from the next. 37,000 square meters of the tower are dedicated to office space and 11,000 square meters for shopping areas, recreation and services. The observation deck “Saigon Skydeck” on the 49^th floor offers visitors a 360-degree view of HCMC.

Do Quoc Le is a member of staff at the tower: “With its outstanding height and observation deck, the tower has become a tourist attraction in Ho Chi Minh City. From the tower, visitors can have a panoramic view of the city. The tower demonstrates Vietnamese people’s wisdom, strength and potential”.

The tower sparkles at night in laser light and in recent years, the tower has served as a venue for magnificent firework displays.