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Every year, as autumn arrives and the weather turns cool, travelers, photographers, and young photography enthusiasts from all over flock to the mountainous regions of northern Vietnam to witness the buckwheat flowers blooming everywhere.
Buckwheat, a name that doesn't suggest a flower, yet it's a very beautiful flower, stretching along the red dirt road, giving people a feeling of exhilaration after a long, drizzling rain. When the sun comes out, the flowers bloom. Tiny pinkish-white flowers, their petals clustered together to form a cone shape with three triangular sides, holding a precious grain of buckwheat in the center.
Buckwheat flowers typically bloom in late October and early November. Locals often use buckwheat flour to make cakes or mix the seeds with corn kernels to brew alcohol, creating unique flavors like the specialty wines of Bản Phố (Bắc Hà), Nậm Pung (Bát Xát), and Mản Thẩn (Si Ma Cai)... In some places, it is used for livestock farming, but due to lower yields compared to corn and rice, the cultivated area has not been expanded significantly.
To see buckwheat fields, you can visit Lao Cai (Simacai, Bat Xat, and Muong Khuong districts) and Cao Bang (Tra Linh and Trung Khanh districts). However, the most famous buckwheat fields are still in Ha Giang, with familiar viewing spots such as Sung La, Lung Cu, and Xin Man…
Previously, the roads to Cao Bang and Ha Giang were quite difficult to travel, but nowadays, you can easily make a trip there and back in 3 days and 2 nights by bus from Hanoi or by forming your own motorbike touring groups, which is both fun and convenient for stopping to admire the flowers.
Time:With the current relatively good transportation conditions, a two-day, three-night weekend trip is quite feasible for flower viewing. You should travel by overnight bus from Hanoi to Cao Bang and Ha Giang and back, costing around 200,000 VND per person per way.
Be sure to check the information on when buckwheat flowers are in full bloom to ensure a visually stunning and colorful trip. Typically, the flowers bloom in late October or early November, depending on when the farmers planted them. Buckwheat flowers have a lifespan of about a month; they initially bloom white, then turn pale pink, then purplish, and finally deep red. However, most buckwheat fields in Cao Bang have white flowers.
Famous locations known for buckwheat fields:
In Lao Cai, the northern districts bordering Ha Giang, such as Simacai, Bat Xat, Bac Ha, and Muong Khuong, all cultivate buckwheat, but on a smaller scale and at a lower density than Ha Giang.
In Cao Bang, Tra Linh and Trung Khanh are two destinations where buckwheat is widely grown.
In Ha Giang:Most famous for its numerous landmarks "etched" onto the buckwheat triangle map due to the vibrant and impressive beauty of its landscape, such as: Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man, Pho Bang, Pho Cao, Sung La, Dong Van, Lung Cu, Ma Le…
Besides exploring the vibrant buckwheat flower fields, you'll also have many opportunities to learn about the lives of the local people in each region you visit.
A few other notes:
- Camera:These are essential items if you visit the buckwheat fields. They are the most effective tool for capturing images and the beauty of life in the highlands. Don't forget to bring colorful scarves and dresses to get interesting photos to share with your friends.
- Plan your schedule to allow ample time to leisurely stroll through the flower fields, enjoying the fresh air, the vibrant beauty of nature, and sharing interesting stories with your companions. Don't just glance at the flowers when visiting the highland flower season.
- Please be careful not to step on the flowers or knock over and break the buckwheat plants. Enjoy the fruits of the farmers' labor without harming their crops.
- Buckwheat flower fields: an ideal and wonderful location for wedding photoshoots for many couples.
