Messenger of Spring

Spring always comes early in the highlands of Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai province, with a special messenger, the wild peach blossom, or "to day" in the H'Mong language.

To Day - this affectionate local name makes many tourists not afraid of long journeys, setting foot on the high mountains of the Northwest to immerse themselves in the "pink space" among the towering mountains.

Just like the cherry blossoms mentioned every spring in Da Lat, the cherry blossoms are considered a typical spring flower that blooms right at the end of December and New Year's Day in Mu Cang Chai. This woody plant blooms according to its altitude distribution, usually in higher areas the flowers bloom first and the flowering season lasts until the end of Tet.

Trong Tong and Trong Pao Sang villages, La Pan Tan commune, at an altitude of over 1,000m, are the areas where flowers bloom earliest. After that, visitors can enjoy the flowers in other places such as Thao Chua Chai village in Che Cu Nha commune, or in Mo De, Nam Khat, Pung Luong, De Xu Phinh communes and all the way to Lao Chai commune.

The thick flowers have 5 light pink petals with long red pistils forming large clusters that sway in the wind. The blooming season is as radiant as a princess wearing pink clothes, dispelling the cold sadness of winter. The flower patches blooming next to houses or on both sides of the road are like romantic movies that captivate visitors.

Notably, there are ancient peach trees over 20m high with wide canopy, bearing a strong character, defying harsh weather.

The blooming season also attracts photographers from all over the region to come and take pictures. Anyone who comes here for the first time is overwhelmed by the space filled with colorful flowers, seen from above like a pink silk ribbon flowing across the valley.

In addition to going to Mu Cang Chai to see the flowers, visitors can also learn about the unique traditional cultural beauty during the blooming season. The H'Mong people believe that the beauty of the To Day flower is likened to a young girl full of vitality, captivating the hearts of the young men in the village who are in love.

The blooming of the To Day festival is also the happiest time for the H'Mong people in the spring festival, when young men and women date, practice the high and low melodies of the khen, the bustling sound of the flute and go to the village to play the pao throwing game. Source link