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"Wild sunflowers bloom bright yellow in front of the gate."
The old memories remain, not yet forgotten.
Not arrogant, but gentle and kind.
Not overpowering, but possessing the charming scent of the countryside.
(The season of wild sunflowers - Hoang Lan)
The city of a thousand flowers, Da Lat, is always fragrant with color and scent throughout the 12 months of the year. The cherry blossom season captivates visitors with its vibrant pink and red hues that blanket the entire landscape. The white bauhinia flowers, nicknamed the "spring snow," intertwine with the cherry blossoms to create a stunning natural masterpiece unique to Da Lat. The jacaranda blossoms evoke fond memories for those who visit during the middle of the year. And of course, the wild sunflowers steal the hearts of many visitors every autumn in Da Lat.
The wild sunflowers captivate many tourists every time autumn arrives in Da Lat.
The vibrant life of wildflowers
If you have the chance to visit Da Lat in the autumn, you can easily spot fields of wild sunflowers blooming all along the city's streets. Da Lat seems to transform itself with the vibrant yellow color of these flowers.
Wild sunflowers are known for their tenacious vitality. They can thrive in arid, rocky soil. Furthermore, this flower symbolizes the passionate love of the people of the Central Highlands. No matter how difficult or challenging life may be, they can endure and rise above adversity. Because of this, the people here have woven a beautiful and passionate love story of youth.
Wild sunflowers are known for their strong and resilient nature.
The story begins with a couple named K'lang and H'limh. Despite enduring a life full of hardship and misfortune, their unwavering love helped them overcome everything. However, one day, the cruel Laisieng tribesmen captured K'lang during a hunting trip. H'limh shielded him from the sharp spears of the vicious Laisieng soldiers. As a result, H'limh did not survive and fell. It was in that very spot that the vibrant wild sunflowers bloomed.
The story evokes admiration for its touching yet tragic love. From then on, this flower symbolized the girl's love for the boy. Though fragile, it possessed an unwavering vitality amidst life's storms and hardships.
This flower also symbolizes the passionate love of the people of the Central Highlands.
Despite its fragility, it possesses an unwavering vitality amidst a life full of storms and tribulations.
"Falling in love" with the yellow color of wild sunflowers.
Having fallen in love with the city of a thousand flowers, photographer Sam Sam (from Saigon) decided to move to Da Lat to live and work. In his four years there, he has captured the vibrant yellow wild sunflowers in the autumn sunlight every year. “I’m a flower lover, so I’m attracted to flowers. Wild sunflowers, in particular, are wildflowers but they’re strong. Their yellow color is very distinctive – yellow, but not tacky,” Sam shared.
Many tourists flock to Da Lat to immerse themselves in its dreamy scenery and, more importantly, to be captivated by the wild yellow of the wild sunflowers. Because they grow in clusters, when they bloom, they create a dazzling golden carpet. This yellow hue seems to warm the cold highlands along with the sunlight and enchant anyone who happens to pass by.
Many tourists flock to Da Lat to immerse themselves in its dreamy scenery and, more importantly, to bask in the wild yellow hues of the wild sunflowers.
That golden hue seems to warm the cold plateau along with the sunlight and enchant anyone who happens to pass by.
The "golden" time to see wild sunflowers is from the end of October to the beginning of December.
According to Sam, the "golden" time to photograph wild sunflowers is from the end of October to the beginning of December. This is the period when Da Lat transitions into autumn and gradually moves towards winter. The photographer is captivated by the moments of being immersed in the radiant natural beauty of wild sunflowers.
“Standing amidst a road overflowing with wild sunflowers, I feel like I’ve wandered into a world of distinctive yellow. Our wild sunflowers are in no way inferior to those in Thailand, and are even more beautiful. Da Lat has pine forests interspersed with wild sunflowers stretching across the mountaintops. Especially in the afternoon, the sunlight creates a cascading waterfall of flowers, making for stunning photographs,” Sam shared.
Da Lat has pine forests interspersed with wild sunflowers stretching across the mountaintops.
Along the hillsides, wild sunflowers grow in long rows, resembling soft, shimmering golden silk ribbons draped across the mountaintops.
Having four years of experience photographing wild sunflowers, the photographer also suggested a few ideal routes for "hunting" for the flowers. The best area to see the wild sunflowers in full bloom is Cam Ly Airport, located about 4-5 km from Da Lat Market. Here, you'll feel like you've stepped into a vibrant golden landscape, perfect for taking photos and enjoying the scenery.
According to Sam, to reach the Lien Khuong highway, tourists have to climb the mountain, traversing a rather difficult stretch of road to admire the wild sunflowers. Along the hillsides, wild sunflowers grow in long rows like soft, shimmering golden silk ribbons draped across the mountaintops. The combination of winding hills, lush green pine forests, and the vibrant yellow of the wild sunflower slopes creates a perfect, breathtaking picture.
The vibrant yellow of the wild sunflower slopes
The painting is perfect, stirring the heart.
Offering advice to enthusiasts who love capturing the golden hues of wild sunflowers, Sam shared: "My advice is that you should take photos early in the morning or in the afternoon, avoiding harsh sunlight. Too much harsh light will make the colors of the flowers and leaves appear darker, which is unpleasant. The ideal time to take photos is during the gentle morning and afternoon sun, or when it's cool."
