Gunflower season is approaching in both Northern and Southern regions.

Plan your trips and capture the beautiful scenes of gunflowers blooming every autumn across both Northern and Southern regions.

Gunflower season is approaching in both Northern and Southern regions.

Gunflowers originate from India, thriving in ponds, lakes, and marshes. The round-shaped flower leaves float on the water surface. During the flowering season, the tree trunk rises high and bursts into bloom with purple flowers, decorating a corner of the sky.

There are many types of gunflowers nowadays, with various colors such as white, purple, and green... Among them, the most common species is the purple gunflower, planted everywhere on the map of Vietnam.

With the arrival of autumn, people gather to the fields to admire the blooming gunflowers or pick branches to cook a delicious sour soup. From South to North, gunflowers carry a simple yet endearing beauty.

According to folk wisdom, this flower is remarkably easy to grow. Just sow the seeds, wait for a few rain showers, and behold, the gunflower sprouts effortlessly from the soil. The more rain, the taller the gunflower grows, with its tender, vibrant stems. Interestingly, it seems to rise as the water level increases, sometimes reaching over a meter in height.

Gunflowers typically bloom in autumn, from September to November, especially in the Mekong Delta during the flooding season. They bloom most splendidly in the morning. So, to fully enjoy the beauty of the gunflower season, it's best to go early in the morning to admire the dewy petals, still wet from the night's mist, yet smiling brightly as a morning greeting.

During this season, travelers to the western provinces like Đồng Tháp and An Giang will encounter vast fields of gunflowers adorning the landscape. In the western region, one can explore these flowers in marshy areas such as the Trà Sư cajeput forest, Tân Lập cajeput forest, and Búng Bình Thiên. Here, visitors can glide through the marshes on boats, immersing themselves in the serene beauty of these humble yet enchanting gunflowers. Against the backdrop of the vast blue sky and expansive waters, the sight of gunflowers adds to the sweet charm of the riverine region.

In years past, when floods were regular occurrences, gunflowers mostly grew naturally, their stems following the water's flow. However, in recent years, due to less frequent flooding, people have resorted to planting gunflowers both for sale and sustenance, enhancing the beauty of the western region when autumn arrives.

The common variety of gunflowers found in this region, often referred to as 'native' gunflowers, boasts deep purple hues, robust yet supple stems. These gunflowers are not only grown for ornamental purposes but also serve as an essential vegetable in the culinary specialties of the westerners.

First and foremost, gunflowers are a staple in hotpot dishes. Whether it's sour hotpot, fermented fish hotpot, Thai hotpot, or any other variety, a bundle of gunflowers always accompanies the raw vegetables. The crisp texture and slightly sweet taste of gunflowers, when dipped into the hotpot broth and paired with a dash of chili fish sauce, create a culinary experience like no other. Despite its humble origins, the gunflower is indispensable in both the material and spiritual life of the people of the Mekong Delta.

While in the Southern region, travelers easily come across vast fields of gunflowers, in the Northern region, there's a spot abundant with these blooms that shouldn't be missed. That's Yen Stream within the scenic site of Huong Pagoda (My Duc district, Hanoi). During the gunflower season, Yen Stream exudes a dreamy, somewhat ethereal beauty.

If the beauty of Western gunflowers carries the essence of rustic life, those at Yen Stream exude a serene, poetic charm. The months of October and November witness the peak bloom of gunflowers here. Leisurely rowing along the cool stream, visitors can delight in the abundance of blossoms, gently swaying and casting their reflection in the crystal-clear water.

Along the banks, rows of leafy trees stand still, while beneath the water, clusters of pink and purple gunflowers quietly flaunt their hues, creating a heart-stirring spectacle that captivates many a traveler's heart. To witness the beauty of gunflowers up close, to capture the finest moments of these blooms with a camera, visitors can rent a boat to cruise along Yen Stream, priced at around 150,000 VND per boat.

As the weather transitions to autumn, the gunflower season approaches its peak. If one admires these humble yet naturally beautiful flowers, they should prepare for a journey to the West or head to Huong Pagoda to behold the beauty of these blossoms.

As reported by Ngôi Sao

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour