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In Part 1, we presented a variety of delicious and nutritious fruits from Sa Pa. Part 2 of the article will delve into different types of blossoms, vegetables, and unique specialties exclusive to Sa Pa.
Feast your eyes on the abundance of blossoms in Sa Pa
Known as the paradise of flowers, especially those from the temperate climate, Sa Pa is famous for its vibrant flower varieties. In the past, it hosted flower farms and served as a renowned center for producing flower seeds that supplied many regions across the country. Visit the Sa Pa flower gardens to experience the unique beauty of this breathtaking destination.
Sa Pa Cherry Blossoms – Fragile yet Resilient, Robust
When talking about the floral beauty of Sa Pa, the conversation must commence with cherry blossoms. Within the homesteads, on the mountain slopes, amidst rice paddies, cherry blossoms grace every corner. Most are mature trees, their trunks rugged, adorned with patches of white mold. The Sa Pa tourist destination boasts an ancient cherry blossom garden on Ham Rong Mountain, featuring several hundred gnarled trees with twisting branches, some larger than human trunks, with canopies spreading as wide as six or seven blankets.
In Sa Pa, cherry blossoms manifest in three to four distinct varieties, some blooming early, others arriving fashionably late, extending the cherry blossom season considerably. During the chilly months preceding Tet (Vietnamese New Year), the cherry trees accumulate sap within their trunks. When spring arrives, and the weather warms, that sap rises, giving birth to robust, vibrant blossoms. Visit Sa Pa and revel in the beauty of these cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossoms here bloom for almost a month, and the spectacle seems almost impartial. If you observe closely, each cherry variety boasts a unique flower style and a distinct hue. Those with less vibrant, less beautiful blossoms often bear fruits more delicious than their counterparts.
There's a cherry blossom variety with delicately layered petals, gracefully arched branches, and a sinuous trunk. It's primarily cultivated for ornamental purposes in gardens rather than for its fruit. This particular cherry blossom variety unfurls its blooms right around the Lunar New Year. Approximately a week before Tet, people trim the aesthetically pleasing and robust blossoming branches for sale. This happens in the enchanting surroundings of Sa Pa tourist destination.
Purity akin to the white hues of plum blossoms and apricot blossoms
Also around Tet, plum trees are in full bloom. While cherry blossoms are just beginning to reveal their fresh buds, plum blossoms have fully blossomed. The delicate white petals gracefully cover the thick branches, creating a spectacle reminiscent of a myriad of twinkling snowflakes in the Sa Pa flower garden. The entire plum tree seems to be nothing but flowers, draped with layers of white curtains, obscuring any sight of branches and leaves.
Another spring-blooming tree is the apricot. This variety also produces delicate white blossoms that are elegant and refined, but it bears fewer fruits, and they are not as delectable. Hence, people usually plant a few apricot trees in front of their houses for decorative purposes. The slender branches and small leaves make them a favorite during Tet. Plum blossoms and apricot blossoms compete for attention in the Sa Pa flower market.
Elegance embodied in Sa Pa Roses
The majority of farms in Sa Pa cultivate roses, often surpassing the quality of Dalat roses. There are instances where locals don't even have enough roses for sale, and prices soar to over a thousand dong per blossom right in the town.
While journeying along the paths to Cat Cat or Silver Falls, one can witness the vibrant displays of Sa Pa's flower gardens. Many places feature extensive gardens covered with arched iron frames, resembling translucent domes – these are greenhouse spaces dedicated to cultivating exquisite flowers for sale and seed production. Numerous foreign companies have invested in joint ventures to establish enormous flower farms in the valleys of Sa Pa. These flower farms are strategically located in areas with minimal wind, high humidity, where the roses can fully showcase their inherent elegance and sophistication.
Famous varieties of fresh green vegetables in Sa Pa
Sa Pa is renowned for its variety of fresh, visually appealing vegetables, cultivated in its temperate climate. These Sa Pa specialties are irresistible gifts that you shouldn't overlook when traveling to this destination.
Bottle gourd
Along the mountain slopes, stretching from the roads leading to Silver Falls and around the mouth of the O Quy Ho Valley, lies an extensive region dedicated to Sa Pa's bottle gourds. From a distance, if you spot soft, lush climbing vines covering large swaths equivalent to hundreds of woven blankets, those are the bottle gourds of the lowland settlers who have been residing in Sa Pa tourist destination for decades. Some vineyards cover nearly a hectare, enveloping an entire mountain foothill.
Cultivating bottle gourds is a relatively effortless profession, and intriguingly, these vineyards seldom face insect infestations or rodent disruptions. Although each vineyard sprawls extensively, it typically consists of only two or three dozen plants. In the following growing season, residents don't replant; instead, new shoots emerge from each plant, and people simply trim excess shoots. However, every two years, there's a meticulous process of rejuvenating the vineyard.
Catnip greens
The indigenous cabbage in Sa Pa is the catnip greens, cultivated by local villagers along the edges of rice paddies and cornfields. The leaves of catnip greens are wrinkled at the edges, while the stems are round and firm. Stir-fried with beef, it becomes a delightful dish—crispy and flavorful, with a hint of pungency. It's a local delicacy in Sa Pa that you must try.
This is one hundred percent organic as it's not grown in gardens but scattered across narrow plots of land adjacent to the fields, often referred to as seed sowing areas. The plants continue to grow, and even if someone wanted to use pesticides, it's practically impossible because these plots are usually a few kilometers away from residential areas. If not consumed entirely, the catnip greens are bundled into handfuls and taken to the market for sale.
Various other vegetable varieties
Vegetables suited for temperate climates like corn cabbage and turnips thrive best when cultivated in Sa Pa's soil. Once, the entire Northern Delta purchased Sa Pa's special turnip seeds for cultivation, and the corn cabbage seeds gained renown. However, once a plot was sown with turnips, it couldn't be sown with corn cabbage. These two species cross-pollinate, resulting in plants that yield neither turnips nor corn cabbage.
In Sa Pa, there's a unique variety of Japanese cabbage with leaves as large as half a newspaper sheet. For a family meal, just three leaves are sufficient. This variety has to be imported as it's not derived from plants native to Sa Pa. Another type of white cabbage grown here can weigh up to three to four kilograms per plant.
Especially aromatic vegetables in Sa Pa, such as bitter melon, garlic chives, basil, curly parsley, and perilla leaves, are incredibly fragrant. Wherever you dine, be it in restaurants, hotels, or roadside stalls, refreshing plates of Sa Pa's crisp vegetables always accompany every meal.
It's challenging to enumerate all the flower, fruit, and vegetable varieties in Sa Pa. Yet, regardless of the type, if it grows on Sa Pa's tourist land, it's vibrant, rich, flavorful, sweet, and exudes the refreshing fragrance of the forest.
Explore the vibrant world of local specialties at the enchanting Sa Pa tourist destination. Delight in the freshness of these delicacies showcased in the Sa Pa market, inviting travelers to indulge and purchase them as delightful souvenirs. We invite you to stroll through the lower floor of the market, where a paradise of flowers, fruits, and Sa Pa's green vegetables awaits.
