"White mist covers the mountains and forests
Like the white snow screen, the sun is shining..."
(The love story of white bauhinia flowers - Van Lang land)
As the last days of March approach, the early spring cold gradually disappears, giving way to warm golden rays of sunlight filtering through each high hill, the land of Dien Bien - the "treasure" of the Northwest, where heroic and heroic history pages are kept, is "stretching" radiantly, wearing a pure white cloak, pure and full of dreams.
The entire Dien Bien sky is dyed white by the color of the Bauhinia flowers, creating a picturesque scene, signaling the arrival of Bauhinia flower season in every corner and hill of this land. Although it only blooms for a short period of 2-3 weeks, the beauty of Bauhinia flowers still makes many tourists not afraid to travel far to admire it.
Located about 40km from the center of Dien Bien city, Nam Cum village, Ngoi Cay commune, Muong Ang district, still retains its original wildness and tranquility. The ancient ban trees here, with tall trunks and wide canopies, have stood tall in the mountains and forests for generations, like historical witnesses to the changes of the earth and sky.
Each flower petal is associated with the life of the people of the Northwest.
The Ban flower is a "gift" bestowed by nature, making the Northwest become attractive, making the footsteps of travelers linger when the season of Ban comes. The pure beauty of the Ban flower is like the soul of a Thai girl, carrying within it a beautiful legend of love. The legend says: Once upon a time, in the Northwest region, there was a young man named Khum who fell in love with a girl named Ban. Khum was both good at farming and hunting. Ban was also skillful at weaving and had a singing voice that captivated many young men. However, Ban's father, because of his greed for wealth, married her to the son of a village chief, who was a lazy young man with a hunchback.
March, when the peach blossoms have faded and the spring rains are still falling, is also the time when the Bauhinia season begins, and the Bauhinia season will last until the end of April.
Bauhinia flowers are a "gift" from nature, making the Northwest attractive.
Despite the girl's pleas, the father did not give up. He discussed with the village chief to prepare a wedding for the two. In desperation, Ban ran to Khum's village to see him and ask for help. Unfortunately, when she arrived at Khum's house, she learned that he had followed his father to buy a buffalo in a faraway place. She took her Piêu scarf, tied it to the stairs of someone's house, and then set out to find him. She went from mountain to mountain, from forest to forest, calling her lover's name until her voice was hoarse, but he was far away and could not hear her.
Finally exhausted, she collapsed after crossing a high mountain range. Where she fell, a flower tree grew with white buds like the buds of a girl's hand. Soon, that flower species spread throughout the mountains and forests of the Northwest. And every year, when spring comes, the flowers bloom white like cotton. People named that flower species Hoa Ban.
Bauhinia flower season, the whole Northwest sky is filled with flowers, beautiful as a painting
For the people of the Northwest, the pure white flowers symbolize the steadfast loyalty of love.
Going to the Northwest, you will see vast fields of Ban flowers, but the holy land of the Thai people - the holy land of Ban is Dien Bien. Throughout Dien Bien, Ban flowers can be seen everywhere. Walking along the mountains and forests, through the roads leading to Dien Bien Phu city or the small paths to the villages, you will see rows of Ban flowers blooming brilliantly, blending into the dry sunlight of the Northwest. Ban flowers cover the distant valleys, their petals fluttering, dotting the deep blue sky with pure white dots...
For thousands of years, Bauhinia flowers have been associated with the lives of the people of the Northwest, contributing to the unique cultural features of this land that cannot be found anywhere else.
However, when exploring the ancient ban forest, people born and raised on Dien Bien land are also overwhelmed by the scenery of Nam Cum village in the blooming ban season.
Village in the middle of a sea of white bauhinia flowers in Dien Bien
On the road from Dien Bien city center to Nam Cum village, a beautiful natural picture gradually appears before the eyes of tourists. The pure white color of Bauhinia flowers spreads all over the road, blending with the cool green color of terraced fields and small streams flowing along the road. The scenery changes continuously through each section of the road, not just a trip to a normal tourist destination, but also a journey to discover and fully enjoy the beauty of the Northwest nature.
Every moment of the day, Nam Cum Bauhinia forest has its own unique beauty, touching the deepest emotions in the hearts of travelers. When the afternoon falls, the sunset dyes the whole space golden, the ancient Bauhinia forest puts on a "coat" of silence and stillness. In the early morning, when the first rays of sunlight appear, the Bauhinia forest bursts into a fierce, pure and energetic life.
Most of the Bauhinia trees are 5 m tall, deciduous, leaving only white flowers.
Stepping into the midst of the brilliant Bauhinia flowers, visitors seem to be lost in another world, where time seems to stop. A feeling of youth, love of life and excitement wells up in the heart, dispelling all the fatigue and anxiety of daily life. The gentle fragrance of Bauhinia flowers spreads in the air, combined with the chirping of birds, creating a melodious and peaceful natural symphony.
According to local people, the rainy season usually lasts more than a month (March - April).
Not only a destination for flower viewing, Nam Cum is also a place for tourists to learn about the culture and people of the Mong ethnic group. Traditional stilt houses, small winding dirt roads, friendly smiles of the local people, all blend together to create a picture of a simple and close life.
The time when the Bauhinia flowers are in full bloom is also the time to hold the Bauhinia flower festival.
The traditional stilt houses in Nam Cum, with their jet-black tiled roofs and rustic wooden walls, hidden among the pure white Bauhinia trees, create a scene that is both simple and romantic. The morning sunlight shines through the flower canopies, creating shimmering, magical streaks of light, further enhancing the fairy-tale beauty of this place. Not only that, the fresh and peaceful atmosphere of the village is also a big plus, attracting tourists to visit and experience. The familiar sounds of daily life, such as birds chirping, the sound of streams flowing, the laughter of the local people, all blend together to create a vibrant countryside symphony.
Previously, few people knew about the ancient ban forest, so not many people came to the village to visit and explore.
Recently, the Ban forest has gradually become more known to more people, and the number of people coming to enjoy it is increasing day by day.
There are about 1,200 Bauhinia trees here, with ages ranging from tens to hundreds of years, creating a majestic and magnificent natural landscape. The ancient Bauhinia trees, with rough, silver-gray trunks and diameters of 50-60cm, grow naturally on steep mountain slopes. The houses of the Mong people, built on these mountain slopes, create a vivid picture of life in harmony with nature.
When I see the white patches of banana leaves and the light smoke from the kitchens rising above the rooftops, all my fatigue seems to disappear.
The scenery here is very beautiful and poetic, the people are also extremely friendly and hospitable.
The concrete road curves like a fish bone, weaving between houses and the Bauhinia forest, creating a unique and impressive scene. During the Bauhinia season, from March to April, the whole village is immersed in a sea of pure white flowers. Previously, few people knew about the beauty of the ancient Bauhinia forest in Nam Cum. However, in the past two years, photos of this place have spread widely on social networks, attracting many tourists to visit and admire.
Nam Cum village is one of the places that Muong Ang district is interested in and investing in developing community tourism.
Building and promoting the image of people and the beauty of Ban flowers in Nam Cum village makes tourists know and explore more.
To serve the needs of tourists, local people have set up temporary shelters under the canopy of the Bauhinia trees. This is an ideal place for tourists to rest, sightsee and take souvenir photos. With its wild, rustic and unique beauty, Nam Cum village is gradually becoming an attractive tourist destination, bringing visitors unforgettable experiences.
