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Every year around this time, as the plum and cherry blossoms timidly bloom in the cold wind, spreading their delicate white petals to welcome the spring sun across the Northwestern mountains and forests, it marks the arrival of spring in Pa Khen, the village of the Mong people in Moc Chau, Son La. When embarking on a journey to Moc Chau during the cherry blossom season, travelers will witness a breathtaking scenery of blooming cherry blossoms or immerse in the lively atmosphere of the Mong New Year celebration.
The Cherry Blossom Season in Moc Chau
As the winter weather in the highlands of Northwestern Vietnam enters its later stage with more frequent appearances of sunlight, it signals the beginning of the cherry blossom season in Moc Chau. The cherry blossom forests at this time start to burst into a vast expanse of white. White above, white beneath the feet. The white hue of cherry blossoms covers the forests, mountains, extends into the houses, and adorns the shoulders of young men and women during the spring festivities.
The white cherry blossom branches embellish the land of Moc Chau. (Image: Internet)
This is also the time when the Hmong people in Moc Chau prepare for their traditional New Year, preserving their unique customs and traditions that bring many interesting experiences to visitors.
Hmong New Year Amidst the Cherry Blossom Season
The Hmong people in Moc Chau, and in Son La province in general, usually have two occasions for holiday travel in a year. The Independence Day holiday typically falls on September 2nd annually. Meanwhile, the traditional Hmong New Year usually takes place in early December according to the lunar calendar. According to the tradition of the Hmong people in Moc Chau, the traditional New Year usually lasts for 3 main days. Before and after these main 3 days, the Hmong people can still take time off to visit relatives, work in the fields, celebrate around the village, and organize festivals and games.
The Mông ethnic group prepares for Tet by making traditional rice cakes called bánh giầy. (Image: Internet)
Similar to other ethnic groups across the country, the Mông people also clean their houses meticulously, and each family will raise a pig and chickens to honor their ancestors. Afterwards, they will sacrifice the chickens and use their feathers to attach to pre-cut paper pieces in the shape of saw teeth. These are then stuck onto various household items, beams, pillars, and above the main door to ward off evil spirits. The Mông people believe that objects also have souls, so on Tet days, both humans and objects get a well-deserved break after a year of hard work.
A Mông maiden in Mộc Châu. (Image: Internet)
According to tradition, on the morning of the 30th day of Tet, all family members return home to prepare for Tet together. Every household slaughters pigs, pounds sticky rice cakes, and prepares delicious chicken dishes to invite their ancestors to share a meal at the stroke of midnight.
The Mông people's Tet coincides perfectly with the blooming season of cherry blossoms. (Image: Internet)
Furthermore, on the first day of Tet, the Mông people living in Pa Khen village dress in their finest attire. Young men and women, along with the elders, flock to the spacious land below the valley, immersing themselves in the pure white of apricot and cherry blossoms, adorned with the fresh pink of wild peach flowers. They embrace the warm and vibrant atmosphere of spring.
Cherry blossoms in Mộc Châu. (Image: Internet)
This is the perfect time to embark on an affordable trip to Mộc Châu, where you can participate in the lively traditional games of the Mông people and admire the abundant cherry blossoms throughout the forests and hills of Mộc Châu. Young men and women, in the midst of their springtime vigor, sway to the tunes of bamboo flutes or the soul-stirring melodies of Mông men playing for their beloved. The resonant sounds of the flute echo through the mountain crevices, blending with the whispers of the wind, gently caressing the white blossoms covering the forest.
Contact the Mytour hotline now for consultation and booking of the Mộc Châu cherry blossom season tour with attractive programs and the best prices from Mytour.
