Every time the sky turns to autumn, the cool weather comes, backpackers, photographers, and young photography enthusiasts from all over flock to the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam to witness the buckwheat flowers blooming everywhere.
Buckwheat, the name does not suggest a flower but it is a very beautiful flower, spreading on the red dirt road, giving people a feeling of excitement after a long, drizzling rain. When the sun rises, the flower blooms. The tiny white rose, the petals gather into a cone shape, with three triangular faces, holding a precious buckwheat seed in the middle.
Normally, the flowers will bloom in late October and early November. People here often use buckwheat flour to make cakes or mix the seeds with corn to make wine, creating a very special flavor such as Ban Pho specialty wine (Bac Ha), Nam Pung (Bat Xat), Man Than (Si Ma Cai)... Some places use it to raise livestock, but because the yield is lower than corn and rice, the area is not expanded much.
To see buckwheat fields, you can go to Lao Cai (Simacai, Bat Xat, Muong Khuong districts), Cao Bang (Tra Linh, Trung Khanh). However, the most famous are still the buckwheat flower fields in Ha Giang, with familiar flower viewing spots such as: Sung La, Lung Cu, Xin Man...
In the past, the road to Cao Bang and Ha Giang was quite difficult to travel, but today, you can completely go and return in 3 days, 2 nights by bus from Hanoi or form your own motorbike group, which is both fun and convenient for stopping and resting to see the flowers.
Time:With the current good traffic conditions, a two-day, three-night weekend trip is a good way to arrange a flower-viewing trip. You should travel by night bus from Hanoi to Cao Bang, Ha Giang and vice versa, the cost is about 200,000 VND/passenger/way.
Pay attention to check the information about the time when buckwheat flowers bloom to have a trip that is "full of eyes" and full of colors. Usually, the flowers will bloom in late October, early November, depending on the previous planting time of the farmers. The life cycle of buckwheat flowers is about a month, the flowers are white at first, then turn pink, purple and finally dark red. In particular, buckwheat fields in Cao Bang, most of the flowers are white.
Famous places with buckwheat flowers:
In Lao Cai, the northern districts bordering Ha Giang such as Simacai, Bat Xat, Bac Ha, and Muong Khuong all grow buckwheat, but less than Ha Giang in terms of scale and density.
In Cao Bang, Tra Linh - Trung Khanh are two destinations that grow a lot of buckwheat.
In Ha Giang:most famous with too many places "nailed" on the buckwheat map because of the vivid and impressive beauty of the landscape such as: Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man, Pho Bang, Pho Cao, Sung La, Dong Van, Lung Cu, Ma Le...
In addition to exploring the colorful buckwheat flower landscape, you also have many opportunities to learn about the lives of the indigenous people in each land you pass through.
A few other notes:
- Camera:An indispensable item if you come to the buckwheat fields. This is the most effective tool to save images, the beauty of life on the highlands. Don't forget to bring colorful scarves to get interesting pictures to share with friends.
- Arrange your schedule to have more time to leisurely walk in the flower fields, enjoy the fresh air, the bright beauty of nature and share interesting stories with your companions. Don't just ride a horse to see the flowers when coming to the flower season of the highlands.
- Be careful not to step on the flowers or knock over or break the buckwheat plants. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and do not damage your crops.
- Buckwheat flower fields: are an ideal and wonderful wedding photography location for many couples.
