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For Phan Thanh Dat – a young photographer living and working in Ho Chi Minh City – the flamboyant tree is not simply a summer flower, but a key that unlocks the door to memories: the vibrant days of his school life, the sudden rain showers, and the emotional farewells in the schoolyard.
“For me, the flamboyant tree is a symbol of summer, of school, teachers and friends, of the vibrant and unforgettable student days,” Dat shared. He didn't hesitate to call the flamboyant tree the most representative image of summer memories. Because for him, just seeing the red petals falling all over the schoolyard is enough to hear the school bell ringing after the last class, to see the images of his friends playing under the flamboyant tree, and to clearly feel the sweet mixed with regret of a youth about to end.
The flamboyant tree (Delonix regia) is native to Madagascar and was introduced to Vietnam during the French colonial period.
More than just the characteristic color of summer, the flamboyant tree – a species native to Madagascar and introduced to Vietnam in the 19th century – has become a symbol associated with school days, especially the farewells at the end of the school year.
Every time he sees a flame tree, Dat feels as if summer is approaching, "the season of rain, the season of farewells and indescribable emotions." It's the time when farewell notes are exchanged, promises to stay in touch are made, and lingering glances are exchanged, reluctant to part... "If I could encapsulate the memories of summer in one image, it would definitely be the flame tree," Dat affirms.
With its distinctive vibrant red color, the flamboyant tree flower has long been a symbol associated with school days.
In his memory, the summer of his senior year of high school was the most unforgettable season of blooming flamboyant trees. It was the season of coming of age, the first time he experienced the feeling of leaving something familiar behind. “There were days when we skipped school, sitting with friends in the corner of the courtyard under the red flamboyant trees, sharing all sorts of stories. Then we thought about the future, about the days when we wouldn’t be able to see each other like that anymore,” he recalled. And when the last flamboyant petals fell, it was also the time of the coming-of-age ceremony – a moment marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one.
A corner of Tien Giang in summer, vibrant red yet so gentle.
As a native of Tien Giang, the vibrant red blossoms of the flamboyant trees in the Mekong Delta left an indelible mark on Dat. "A characteristic of the Mekong Delta is that flamboyant trees are planted along every road, big and small. When summer comes, they all bloom a brilliant red, painting the sky," he describes. Cycling along those roads to school, Dat always felt the essence of summer – the gentle sunshine, the breeze rustling through his white shirt, and the bright red flamboyant trees beckoning him back to the most beautiful years of his life.
And when the last phoenix flower petals fall, that's when the coming-of-age ceremony takes place.
Tien Giang – a fertile land in the Mekong Delta – is not only famous for Cai Be floating market, Thoi Son islet, or its fruit orchards laden with ripe fruit, but also for its peaceful country roads, where flamboyant trees bloom like a vibrant red painting against the deep blue sky. For those who have left their hometown like Dat, every time they return, just passing by that old road brings back a flood of memories.
Through the lens of a photographer, Dat not only captures the beauty of nature but also conveys glimpses of memories and emotions through each frame. And with each passing summer, the flamboyant tree continues to bloom silently in red – a steadfast witness to time, to youth, and to the most beautiful things that have ever existed.
