April - Trumpet flowers arrive in the city.

Text & photos:Hanoi

The season passes quickly, so it seems everyone wants to hold onto the beauty of the flowers, to hold onto April, to hold onto time. Many people buy lilies as a habit of the flower season, as a promise of April.

During this time of year, lilies can be seen everywhere, whether in offices, restaurants, cafes, or private homes. This flower has a truly magical allure; without any frills, its pure white color exudes elegance, purity, and nobility, yet remains incredibly simple and unpretentious.

Suddenly, I remembered the painting "Girl with Lilies" by the renowned artist To Ngoc Van. The painting is beautiful, possessing a sacred yet simple and refined beauty. The girl in the painting embodies the quintessential beauty of a Hanoi girl, with her shy and enchanting demeanor. It's unclear why the artist named the painting after the lily (a Western flower). Perhaps the name lily is more beautiful than trumpet lily? Or perhaps this flower originated in the West, and the name came first? Actually, that's not important. The beauty of the painting, the beauty of the girl, the beauty of the flower itself, has transcended time.

Cultivating lilies is a refined pastime of the people of Hanoi, and it's unknown exactly when it originated, but it's likely dating back at least to the time when the renowned painter To Ngoc Van created his masterpiece.

Lilies are not unique to Hanoi, but the lily season is still a Hanoi flower season, with the image of flower vendors strolling through the streets creating a distinctive feature of the capital during the month of April.

The Thanh