Buzz
Grapefruit blossoms, mimosa, and redbud trees blooming in the spring weather, or the redbud trees shedding their leaves along the lake, all leave travelers pleasantly surprised.
March's Delicacies - A Memorable Experience in Hanoi
In Hanoi, people not only count time by days and months but also by the seasons of flowers, leaves, and weather. March - the transitional period - when the drizzling rain brings the warmth of spring into the city, making hearts feel sentimental and dreamy. Living in Hanoi for a long time, you truly feel the beauty of this city and understand why, despite all the hustle and bustle, changes, people far away always look back to this place.
Drizzling rain, mist covering the streets
March is one of the toughest times in Hanoi, with high humidity, overcast skies, and clothes taking forever to dry. The light drizzles and dusty rains make the atmosphere constantly gloomy and damp. But it's precisely this gloominess that brings a unique charm, enchanting visitors from the South. Waking up early in the morning, strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, or any lake, any corner of Hanoi, you'll enjoy the misty scenery, floating gently in the air.
Traveling during these days also encounters some difficulties due to the uncertain dust rains. But don't be too bothered, bring along a small umbrella to share with your companion, walking together, exploring every corner, full of solemnity and ancient charm.
Grapefruit Blossoms
For the busy souls, often unable to recall dates, but as soon as they pass through streets like Phan Dinh Phung, Xa Dan, Kim Ma, Giang Vo... – where flower vendors gather, catching the fragrant and gentle scent of grapefruit blossoms, they know March has arrived.
In the city, it's challenging to find a grapefruit tree because of their large size compared to the cramped urban gardens. But in suburban areas, almost every neighborhood, every village, you can encounter clusters of pristine white grapefruit flowers, spreading their sweet fragrance in the days after Tet. These pristine white flowers will be carried by flower vendors traversing the city streets, evoking childhood memories in many hearts.
Grapefruit trees are characteristic of the Northern Delta region, where people not only eat the fruit but also use grapefruit flowers to infuse tea, sugar cane juice, accompany desserts, brew shampoo, and many families even break a branch of grapefruit flowers to offer on the ancestral altar on the full moon day.
Mimosa Flowers
The appearance of the lagerstroemia trees in Hanoi is a mystery, with their towering figures silently adorning the streets until March arrives, when clusters of delicate white flowers compete to bloom, revealing their presence to passersby.
One day passing through Hoang Hoa Tham, Hung Vuong, Hoang Dieu streets under a heavy rain, suddenly witnessing the white petals dancing in the wind, one looks up to see a corner of the sky painted white by the flowers, turning the street corner into a scene reminiscent of a picture captured in the Western sky. For photography enthusiasts, March is signaled by the question, 'Have the lagerstroemia blossoms bloomed yet?' across various forums, prompting them to dress up and head out for photography sessions.
Ban Flowers
This mountain flower species isn't widely planted in Hanoi but is concentrated in streets around the Bac Son mausoleum area such as Bac Son, Hoang Dieu, Hung Vuong... So, around the lunar February, they collectively paint these streets purple, as if bringing spring back to the city.
Blooming lower on the branches than lagerstroemia flowers, with thin petals in shades of light purple mixed with white, they create stunning images. Moreover, the quiet streets of Bac Son and the lakeside of West Lake see fewer pedestrians, making it convenient for posing and finding beautiful angles for photographs. The blooming period of ban flowers, like lagerstroemia flowers, is short-lived, fading quickly after a rainfall, so if you catch a glimpse of these flowers, seize the opportunity to capture beautiful moments with friends, or else you'll have to wait until the next season.
Loc Vung Leaves Change
Not being a typical flower species, nor commonly planted along the streets, the lagerstroemia tree still leaves many residents of the capital city eagerly anticipating, anxiously awaiting each time they prepare to change leaves. In just a short period of about 2-3 days, the green canopy will quickly transition to a vibrant orange-yellow hue, illuminating a corner of the sky. Typically, other types of trees change leaves in autumn, but the lagerstroemia tree changes leaves in spring, a distinctive feature of Hanoi's springtime.
Due to its rarity, one can hardly read about the names of the most famous trees in the city, among which the 'senior' lagerstroemia tree lying gracefully by the side of Hoan Kiem Lake cannot go unmentioned. Every time it changes leaves, a corner of the lake's bank lights up in golden hues, then sheds its leaves swiftly after a few days, creating a magnificent scene, not unlike that of Europe.
Miss Ban's Chill
Lunar March - roughly the end of March in the solar calendar each year - marks the beginning of the last cold snap of the year, concluding a chilly winter season. Northern residents are familiar with this late cold spell, but for distant travelers, it's truly a rare opportunity to experience Hanoi's chilly charm, steeped in poetry and art. Even the name evokes nostalgia and romance. This cold snap usually has a mild intensity, lasting only a few days before the onset of summer.
According to Ngôi Sao
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourMarch 17, 2016
