Buzz
'In the month of autumn, buzzing on Facebook and social media with posts about Hanoi's milk flowers. From childhood until now, I have never set foot in the capital, so the milk flower is an extremely unfamiliar flower to me. Some say the milk flower is very fragrant and they love it, while others say the scent is dark and hard to smell, so they don't like it. Amidst these different opinions, I became curious about a tiny flower like the white streaks of milk from the heavens. So, I went online to search for information about them, saved photos of them... Then the flower season flew away. Years passed. Autumn came, winter arrived, spring returned, and summer turned... And Autumn came again many times after that. Milk flowers 'bloom' all over social media when the autumn month just enters a week-long cycle. Suddenly, I remember the milk flower like an old friend reunited. I suddenly feel like I'm smelling the characteristic strong fragrance that I've never known... what the milk flower is. 'Excerpt: Here together - Author: Little Fate
2. Autumn - The Season of Wild Sunflowers in Full Bloom
In November, the Tây Nguyên mountainous region bursts into brilliance with the untamed wild sunflowers, heralding the approach of winter. The crisp sunshine and cool weather only add to the allure of the wild sunflowers, accompanied by a gentle fragrance that captivates the footsteps of every traveler. As I arrived, clusters of wild sunflowers were unfurling their vibrant golden petals, imprinting a lasting smile in my mind, lingering throughout the journey.
Wild sunflowers, a symbol of loyalty, may be just wildflowers growing along the roadside. In our daily affairs, we may overlook these delicate blossoms, forgetting the withered flowers by the wayside. However, with a refreshing rain, wild sunflowers suddenly stretch upwards like a sleeping princess.
' There's a forsaken flower
Growing everywhere, along every road
On the windswept land of the Central Highlands
Wild sunflowers, the vitality of the flower kingdom.'
Wild sunflowers are considered an iconic flower of Da Lat city, representing their robust and vibrant spirit.
3. Aroma of Autumn: Fragrance of Harvested Rice
In the literature program of the 7th grade, there is an article: ' A Gift from Tender Rice: Com' by writer Thạch Lam, reminiscing about when autumn arrives. 'Com is a unique gift of the country, a gift from the lush green rice fields, carrying the taste of all things rustic, simple, and pure of the Southern countryside.' Com is truly a distinct gift. It is made from a product closely associated with the people of the countryside. It is an offering from the fields to humanity. The aroma of com is the aroma of rice, a fragrance that is rustic, simple, and pure of the countryside. Com is not just a common dish; it becomes a cultural gift, especially in marriage customs. Therefore, com is indeed a unique gift.
Com is a dish made from matured glutinous rice by roasting and winnowing to remove the husk. Although encountered in many regions throughout Vietnam, it is particularly popular in the cuisine of the Red River Delta, especially in Hanoi.
Com can be enjoyed in various ways. The fresh green color of com, like an emerald, stands out against the deep blue of the aging lotus leaves... that color seems to dissolve into the light blue expanse of the universe above. Autumn in Hanoi, perhaps, is at its most beautiful here.
AUTUMN CALLS FOR COM
Author: Vũ Dung
Autumn, the aroma of com callsLively, bringing the scent of the first season Pale yellow sun, gentle breezeHeo may sizzling, a thousand years of Hanoi The glutinous rice, like pearls in the fieldClean, a gift of green land and sky Far away, bearing heavy thoughtsNostalgic for the fragrance of com in a distant land Hanoi autumn, perhaps the most beautifulThe fragrant aroma blends in the streets of the cityWest Lake's lotus still exudes fragranceFreshness of milk flowers on your way Com, green wrapped in aging lotus leavesThe flavor, lingering, drifting sweetlyCom rings softly, as it did onceImmersed in the scent, drifting in loveSoft com carries the weight of dewIn the breeze, a hint of the first loveMany days, where are you returning to?Remembering Hanoi autumn, remembering the green of com.
4. Beyond the Maple Leaves Changing to Red
As autumn begins, not just Hanoi but seemingly all of Vietnam has adorned itself with an irresistibly charming attire. The rhythmic passage of time seems to pause in anticipation of the gentle arrival of autumn through the old quarter, gliding over moss-covered tiled roofs and leaving behind a tapestry of rustling golden leaves, a sky imbued with nostalgia...
Autumn rain is peculiar. The rain dissipates, and the sky becomes crystal clear. Fluffy white clouds float gracefully across the azure sky. The sun begins to peek out from behind the thick, dark clouds. Sunlight permeates everywhere, casting golden streaks of the summer evening down the streets. Or the winds whimsically dance through the vibrant red canopies of tall phoenix trees. Droplets on the edges of leaves fall hastily to the ground, as if pouring out everything left after the rain. Everything feels as if just beginning a new day.
5. Radiance of Ripe Rice Season on the Field
Some places to admire terraced fields with ripe golden rice in the Northwest:
- Sapa
- Tú Lệ
- Mù Cang Chải
- Mộc Châu
- Đồng Văn
- Hoàng Su Phì
- Xín Mần
In autumn, golden ripe rice fields resemble an endless, vibrant painting under the sun's honeyed rays, spreading far beyond sight. The sun floods, and the ripened yellow rice everywhere captivates tourists, who get lost amidst the undulating fields, releasing their souls along with the song “You walk amidst
the golden sea, feeling vastness on the singing rice field.” While lacking towering terraced fields, the beautiful plateau possesses unique landscapes, creating a 'beautiful and distinctive' picture. Terraced fields are one of the most prominent images in the Northwest of Vietnam. The long stretches of golden ripe rice fields within view attract thousands of tourists each year.
6. Fragile Wild Daisies in the Autumn Afternoon
Unlike the buckwheat fields planted after the September rice harvest, the wild daisy flowers independently rise and bloom brightly on the rocky outcrops. They intermingle with cornstalks, reaching out to embrace the golden sunlight of autumn. These flowers adorn the path, stirring the hearts of those passing by. The petal's delicate dance, like the smile of a H'mong girl in the bustling harvest season, sways gracefully in the early winter breeze.
Sharing the fate of other wildflowers, wild daisies still maintain their unique charm as autumn arrives. They continue to exude fragrance and color, despite being small and fragile in the autumn wind. It can be said that wild daisies, along with buckwheat flowers, become the most cherished flowers every time autumn arrives in the highland regions.
7. Explore the Buckwheat Flowers in Ha Giang
If you appreciate the rugged beauty and faint purple hue of this flower, along with the crisp mountain air, then Ha Giang is the ideal destination during this season.
The buckwheat flowers typically bloom from October to early November. They only bloom for about a month, initially displaying a light purple tint before transitioning to a deep pink. The flowers flourish in the northern mountainous regions such as Simacai, Bát Xát, Bắc Hà, Mường Khương, Trà Lĩnh, and most notably during the buckwheat flower season in Ha Giang.
The buckwheat flowers are concentrated along National Highway 4C in the Dong Van district, along roads from Xi Man to Hoang Su Phi, stretching along the roads in a spectacular fashion, including Pho La commune (the road to Pho Bang town), Sung La valley, Ma Lau village, and Ma Le commune.
8. Celebrate Independent Tet in Moc Chau
Independence Day (Tết Độc Lập) celebrated by the Mông people takes place from August 29th to September 2nd, with the main festivities on September 1st. Similar to the traditional New Year, the Mông people perform ancestral worship rituals. While traditional Tết celebrations are limited to family and close communities, Independence Day extends its reach, fostering connections among various ethnic minority groups across different regions.
To prepare for the festival, the Mông people start getting ready days in advance. They choose the most beautiful and vibrant traditional attire. Men wear headscarves, adorn themselves with necklaces, and carry flutes. Women wear colorful dresses, play mouth organs, and parade down the town. The red flags commemorating September 2nd harmonize with the vibrant hues of the Mông people's woven garments, creating a colorful tapestry.
Notably, the night of September 1st is a 'white night' for those present in Mộc Châu town—a night of love and connections. Young men and women, having toiled all year, dress in their finest clothes to seek out soulmates, sharing their joys and sorrows. Thus, the Tet night becomes a night of friendships and budding romances. Participants can also immerse themselves in the cultural space of culinary delights and enjoy spectacular cultural performances such as folk songs, dances, traditional musical instrument performances, or partake in entertaining activities like rice cake pounding, cooking competitions, archery, bamboo pole pushing, stilt walking, sack throwing, and other skill games...
9. Season of Mustard Flowers and Memories
'In a season of mustard flowers, golden sunlight mesmerizes...'
Mustard flowers are unlike other flowers. They emerge from vegetables and are cut during harvest. For children, when the mustard season blooms, the entire field becomes a vibrant yellow canvas beneath the vast blue sky. Kids follow their parents to the fields, playing and frolicking amidst the sweet and gentle yellow hues. The subtle yellow of mustard flowers encapsulates our dreams. Alongside the buffalo on the embankment, there are times when we don't engage in any games but gather firewood, sitting together to warm ourselves and enthusiastically discuss the upcoming festival. Each delicate mustard flower petal sways in the wind, signaling, 'Autumn has arrived! Autumn has truly arrived!'
