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In late March, Hanoi seems to don a delicate cloak of transitional flowering seasons. Gone is the biting cold of winter, yet not the stifling heat of early summer; March brings gentle weather, with a hazy morning mist enveloping the streets. And within this picture, flowers bloom profusely, adding a charming and poetic touch to Hanoi.
Hanoi seems to be draped in a delicate cloak of interwoven natural landscapes.
Quang Anh, a photography enthusiast who runs a camera business in Hanoi, calls March the most special time of year, when the city gradually transitions between two seasons, and the seasons of flowers follow one another. "In my eyes, Hanoi in March is a picture that is sometimes gentle, with a hint of spring, yet also subtly reminiscent of early summer. In the mornings and evenings, the city seems to be draped in a thin layer of mist, creating a poetic scene," Quang Anh shared.
The delicate petals of the crape myrtle flower are pure and pristine.
The crape myrtle flowers bloom in pure white on the streets.
Unlike other flowering seasons, March in Hanoi is a blend of many colors. While the purple bauhinia flowers still linger on Hoang Dieu Street, the crape myrtle blossoms are already in full bloom on Phan Dinh Phung Street, and the kapok trees are beginning to blaze with red, creating captivating contrasts. "Each flower is like a piece of a puzzle that makes up a picture of Hanoi full of emotion, not overly vibrant but enough to make people turn their heads," Quang Anh said.
This is also the time when the bellflowers are in full bloom.
While the bauhinia flower evokes a romantic, ethereal beauty reminiscent of a miniature Northwest Vietnam, the kapok flower carries a nostalgic charm, recalling days gone by. But for Quang Anh, the flower that captivates him most is the sưa flower. Not as vibrant as the kapok flower, nor as gentle in purple as the bauhinia, the sưa flower possesses a pure, pristine beauty.
The vibrant red blossoms of the kapok tree against the blue sky add a dazzling highlight to Hanoi's streets in March.
The streets suddenly become more romantic as clusters of pure white crape myrtle flowers bloom, then gently fall, covering the sidewalks with a thin layer. Just a gentle breeze is enough to send the delicate petals falling like snow. "Many people compare this scene to those abroad, but to me, it's truly very Hanoi," the young man expressed.
Hanoi is not only known for its flowers, but also for the red-tinged leaves of the Terminalia catappa trees, signaling the arrival of the autumn foliage.
In March, Hanoi is not only adorned with flowers, but also with the reddish hues of the Terminalia catappa leaves, signaling the arrival of autumn. Fresh, vibrant green leaves appear on the bare branches, creating lively splashes of color as the city quietly awaits the summer. Each street, each corner, has its own unique charm, but for Quang Anh, the most beautiful area is still Phan Dinh Phung – where rows of white Dalbergia tonkinensis trees stretch along, combined with ancient villas, creating a beauty that is both romantic and nostalgic. Additionally, the rows of Bauhinia trees on Hoang Dieu Street are always his favorite destination in March.
The rows of bauhinia trees on Hoang Dieu Street are always a favorite destination for locals and tourists during the month of March.
Through Quang Anh's lens, these images are not simply beautiful moments, but also preserves memories. He shared: "Each photograph tells a story, a moment that may become the past in a fleeting instant. Hanoi changes every day, but the March flowers still come, still bringing familiar emotions, so that when each person looks back, their heart finds peace amidst the hustle and bustle of life."
Just pause for a moment, look up at the trees, and you'll see a very gentle Hanoi flowing through every street corner and alleyway.
And perhaps that's why Hanoi in March always stirs such emotions. Not because of its overwhelming brilliance, but because of the subtlety in each flower's color, each street, each breeze that passes by. A Hanoi so gentle; just pause for a moment, look up at the trees, and you'll see a season of flowers quietly flowing through every street corner, every breath of the earth and sky.
