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If someone asks me about a place I could visit all four seasons of the year, I would answer that it's Ha Giang. For me, Ha Giang is not just a place to visit, but also a place to return to; not just something to look forward to, but also a source of nostalgia and longing.
In my memory, Ha Giang evokes a sense of awe at the sight of its majestic mountain ranges the first time I've seen them; the lush green cornfields of the clear summer days; the vibrant pink buckwheat fields of Ma Le in the early autumn sun; the misty surface of the lake on chilly 5°C mornings; the foggy slopes of Meo Vac on early winter mornings; or a delicate flower shivering in the freezing cold. At any time of year, Ha Giang is a unique and unforgettable place in my mind. It's a land both familiar and strange, and each visit brings a mix of excitement and surprise.
I returned to Ha Giang one spring day in 2023.
Ha Giang in spring is like a mountain girl just awakening from a long winter's sleep. She gently embroiders her otherwise rough, gray dress with the vibrant pink of peach blossoms, the pure white of pear blossoms, the red of rice flowers, and scattered yellow mustard flowers swaying in the breeze. These touches are just bright enough to create an air of elegance, yet retain the inherent simplicity of her character. Perhaps only genuine beauty can subtly touch the deepest emotions.
Ha Giang is a place for those who want to find unspoiled nature.
I was swept up in spring. I traversed the roads of Pho Cao, Sung La, Pho Bang, and Lao Xa, brimming with new life. The crisp air of the highlands filled my lungs. On such stretches of road, I didn't need to rush, but tried to walk slowly and leisurely so that the picture unfolding before my eyes would leave a deep and lasting impression on my mind.
For me, sunrise and sunset remain two very emotional moments. Sunrise is a beginning filled with excitement, while sunset is an end marked by contemplation.
Lao Xa was 5 degrees Celsius, and we woke up at dawn. The damp, biting air clung to our scarves. Even with three layers of clothing, we couldn't prevent the cold wind from seeping through the gaps and cutting into our skin. From above, the Sung La valley was shrouded in a hazy morning mist, the mountains appearing and disappearing, interwoven like soft streaks of water. I stood there, speechless, until the first rays of sunlight peeked through the distant forest. When the sunlight began to filter through the leaves, we turned onto a small path in Lan Xi. On both sides, plum blossoms bloomed white like snow. The shadows of the flowers were cast on the walls of the houses with their golden earthen walls. Petals fluttered down onto the rustic yin-yang tiled roofs. I immersed myself in the peaceful atmosphere, as if I could hear the breath of the plants and trees. There are moments when nothing more is needed than the things that are present around us to bring happiness and tranquility.
In spring, under the plum and peach trees, birds flit from branch to branch, trees sprout new leaves, and people hurry to the fields to prepare the land for the new corn crop. On the rocky fields, a mother carries her rosy-cheeked baby while harvesting radishes. Red, green, and yellow skirts bob up and down amidst the flowering radish fields. Oxen pull the plows with heavy steps in the spring.
Despite all the hardships and difficulties, spring fills people's hearts with an extraordinary sense of joy and exhilaration.
A multitude of colorful flowers adorn the spring landscape of Ha Giang. The most abundant flowers bloom in Sung La, Pho Cao, Pho Bang, and Lao Xa.
The small road in Lan Xi, Pho Cao.
Earthen-walled houses - a distinctive architectural style of the Hmong people in Ha Giang.
The delicate blossoms nestled among the branches, their petals falling softly onto the tiled roofs, are a familiar sight in the villages of Ha Giang during springtime.
The peach blossoms of Ha Giang have large, thick petals and usually bloom profusely after Tet (Lunar New Year). However, this year, the blossoms did not bloom simultaneously in different areas, so the peach blossom season extended until the beginning of March. Ha Giang peach blossoms have five large, thick petals and a bright pink color. The trees have strong, sturdy trunks.
People in Lao Xa village are harvesting cabbage.
Besides peach and plum blossoms, the spring landscape of Ha Giang is also adorned with the pristine white of pear blossoms. Typically, pear blossoms in Ha Giang bloom in abundance in mid-March.
Pear blossoms are pure white, with five petals, blooming in clusters that sprout from the tree trunk. From a distance, it's difficult to distinguish pear blossoms from plum blossoms because they have similar colors.
The kapok flowers bloom in vibrant red in Khau Vai. Photo: Vuong Cuc.
The simple life on the doorstep of the people in Lao Xa, Sung La.
After the Lunar New Year, when the weather warms up, people begin clearing weeds, harvesting vegetables, and plowing the fields with oxen for the new corn crop.
