Nguyen Hong Nhat (34 years old) is an architect living in Hanoi. In addition to his design work, he also spends time pursuing his passion for photography and travel experiences. For him, trips are not only a chance to relax but also an endless source of creative inspiration. And every season when wild sunflowers bloom, Ba Vi National Park becomes a familiar meeting place that he can hardly ignore.
Watching wild sunflowers in Ba Vi is a traditional annual trip of Hong Nhat's family.
Ba Vi - Close but special
“Ba Vi is very close to Hanoi, it only takes about an hour to travel from the city center. This helps me to flexibly arrange my time, especially when I need to watch the weather to take photos,” Hong Nhat shared. For him, the beauty of Ba Vi is not only contained in the roads filled with yellow wild sunflowers, but also in the unique terrain. The winding mountain slopes, the cool green pine forests and especially the moment of cloud hunting – all blend together to create a wonderful space.
The winding road leading to Ba Vi National Park, both sides are brilliant with yellow wild sunflowers under the afternoon sunlight.
The wild sunflowers in Ba Vi usually bloom from October to early December, covering both sides of the road and stretching across the hillsides. Nhat recounted: “Along the way up, the brilliant yellow color is like a carpet. There are sections where the flowers grow in straight rows, just standing there will give you a beautiful photo.”
A hillside covered with wild sunflowers, creating a picturesque scene in the middle of Ba Vi mountains and forests.
A memorable trip
On his most recent visit, Hong Nhat and his wife went to Ba Vi on an early winter afternoon. They set off at 2pm, spent the whole afternoon wandering around looking for photo angles and only went down the mountain when the sunset had completely disappeared. "That day the weather in the center of Hanoi was quite hot, but when we reached the garden gate, the air was much fresher and more pleasant. The higher we went, the cooler it was, so walking around and taking photos didn't feel tiring or hot at all," he recalled.
Sweet moments in the nature of Ba Vi
The most memorable memory of this trip was the appearance of a “special guest” – Cat, the couple’s pet. Despite careful preparation, the baby got carsick halfway through, forcing the whole family to return halfway. “Unfortunately, this year the baby did not get to take photos with the wild sunflowers. But for sure, next year the whole family will come back, and I will prepare more carefully so that the baby can have a complete experience,” Nhat said.
Ba Vi wild sunflowers - Unmistakable beauty
Compared to other places, wild sunflowers in Ba Vi have a unique charm thanks to the high mountain terrain. In the morning, visitors can hunt for clouds, and in the evening, clouds from the valley rise up and blend with the yellow color of the flowers, creating a spectacular scene. The clouds are like streams slowly embracing the flower slopes, a beautiful scene that is hard to describe in words.
Besides admiring the flowers, Hong Nhat also often spends time visiting famous places in the national park such as Cot 400 pine hill, Cot 600 ruined church or Thuong Temple. For those who want to stay overnight to enjoy the typical cool air of Ba Vi, he suggests two resorts: Ba Vi Resort (Cot 400) and Melia Ba Vi Mountain Retreat (Cot 600).
Compared to other places, wild sunflowers in Ba Vi have their own charm thanks to the high mountain terrain.
Experience for wild sunflower season trip
For Nguyen Hong Nhat, viewing wild sunflowers in Ba Vi is not only a trip but also an annual tradition of his family. “In my opinion, every year the flowers are more numerous and more beautiful, perhaps because Wild Sunflower is a wildflower so it is very strong and grows quickly, hopefully next year there will be even more flowers than this year,” he excitedly said.
He also gave some advice to those who want to explore the wild sunflower season here. First, pay attention to traffic safety, especially when stopping on the roadside to take photos. In addition, preparing enough batteries and free space for the camera or phone is essential to not miss any beautiful moments.
Wild sunflowers not only dye the mountain road yellow but are also a beautiful highlight in every journey to Ba Vi.
Ba Vi in the wild sunflower season, with its yellow color flooding the roads and fresh air, is not only a place to relax but also a source of creative inspiration. For Nguyen Hong Nhat, Ba Vi is a place that brings a different feeling every time he visits. Although it is only more than an hour drive from Hanoi, this place still makes him feel like he is far away from the city, immersed in nature. And with the brilliant yellow color of wild sunflowers every season, Ba Vi not only holds his footsteps, but also touches the hearts of anyone who has ever set foot here.
