Bon Stream - purple valley in the middle of the jungle
Suoi Bon Village is located in Van Ho Commune, about 25 km from the center of Moc Chau, Son La. Located at an altitude of 800 to 1,000 m above sea level, the climate here is cool and fresh all year round. In early September, thousands of purple mua flowers bloom simultaneously, turning the entire valley into a brilliant purple sea. Amidst the green of terraced fields and mountains, the color of the flowers becomes a charming highlight.
Purple mua flower hills in full bloom, standing out among the green of Van Ho mountains and forests
Different from the pure white of plum blossoms or the brilliant yellow of wild sunflowers, purple mua flowers bring a strange feeling, both gentle and attractive. According to local people, this flower variety was brought from Australia, with the scientific name Melastoma candidum D.Don. When mature, the tree is more than 3 m tall, with a canopy of 3-5 m. The petals are thick, large and much darker purple than mua flowers commonly seen in Vietnam, making visitors surprised when admiring them.
Mua flowers in Moc Chau are larger in size and darker in color than the mua flowers commonly found in Vietnam.
Quang Kien, a native of Moc Chau, came to Suoi Bon sim hill, Van Ho to take photos on September 6 and shared: "The purple mua flower gives a very different feeling, it is both gentle and makes people surprised as if entering a fairy tale space in the middle of nature." He also added that this year's flower season is really brilliant, the sim tree is taller, the flowers bloom thicker and more fresh than previous years. It is expected that the flowers will maintain their beauty for the next 2-3 weeks depending on weather conditions.
The brilliant moment of mua flowers
Purple mua flowers usually bloom in September, when the weather in the Northwest begins to get cold. This year, the flowers bloomed earlier than usual, showing their colors from the beginning of the month. Each year, the flowering season only lasts about a month, so many tourists come to capture this brief but brilliant moment.
In the misty morning mist, the purple mua flowers seem to be covered with a layer of dreaminess. Mr. Quang Kien, a local of Moc Chau, commented that this year the flowers bloom evenly and more brilliantly than in previous years.
The flower hill area is planted by local people, open for free for locals and tourists to visit and take pictures. Mr. Kien's check-in photos with the purple flower carpet quickly spread on social networks, turning Suoi Bon into a sought-after destination.
According to the experience of Quang Kien, the morning from 5am to 8am is the best time to visit the flower hill. When the sun gradually appears, the gentle light embraces the purple color, creating a scene that is both pure and magical. If lucky, visitors can also hunt for the sea of clouds drifting across the mountainside - a moment considered a specialty of the Moc Chau - Van Ho plateau.
Blackberry bushes beside the sea of clouds - Van Ho specialty
The afternoon from 4pm to 5:30pm is also the ideal time to admire the sunset. The orange-yellow color of the afternoon sun blends with the purple color of the flowers to create a harmonious and impressive natural picture. Visitors can also camp from the previous afternoon, stay overnight to admire both the sunset and sunrise on the flower hill. This experience not only brings beautiful pictures but also brings a feeling of closeness to nature.
Journey to Bon Stream
Bon Stream is located about 25 km from the center of Moc Chau, equivalent to 40 minutes of travel. To get to Bon Stream, visitors go from National Highway 6, turn about 3 km to the foot of the slope leading to the flower valley. The road is quite easy to go, only about the last 200 m is a dirt slope, when it rains it can be slippery. If you do not have a steady hand, Mr. Kien advises visitors to park their vehicle at the foot of the slope and walk to ensure safety. As for skilled drivers, the feeling of being between the earth and the sky on this road will make the journey more interesting.
The road to Suoi Bon gives a feeling of being between heaven and earth.
Currently, the Suoi Bon area does not have any food or accommodation services. Visitors should choose to stay in the center of Moc Chau and then travel here during the day. In addition to checking in with mua flowers, visitors can combine exploring the golden season on terraced fields, walking on the grasslands, or experiencing waterfall bathing and learning about the wild nature of Van Ho commune.
Suoi Bon is still a spontaneous check-in point, without an official management unit. Therefore, the awareness of each visitor plays an important role in preserving the beauty of this place. Visitors are encouraged to take care of their personal property, keep clean, and not litter. Small actions of each individual contribute to preserving the purple color of Mua flowers of Suoi Bon for the following seasons.
The purple mua flower season in Suoi Bon is short, but enough to stir the hearts of those who love nature. In the middle of the Northwest, the purple color is like a gentle invitation, bringing travelers closer to the earth and sky. The weather this season is chilly, so visitors should bring a light jacket and can combine a visit to the waterfall and rice fields near Suoi Bon village.
As September gradually comes to an end, Moc Chau is covered in the golden color of the ripe rice season, in October it is the brilliant red-orange color of the crispy persimmon season, and the tea hills are still green until the end of the year.
