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| The streets of Hue are ablaze with the fiery red of flamboyant flowers in summer.
Photo: Ngoc Hoa
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Visiting Hue in spring, you’ll be uplifted by the brilliant yellow of Hoang mai (golden apricot) blossoms, a flower the locals fondly call “mai Hue”. These flowers are grown everywhere - gardens, gates, offices, and companies. Especially, the golden apricot trees bloom vibrantly along streets like Le Duan and 23 Thang 8, creating a springtime painting in bright tones.
As summer arrives, Hue’s streets are adorned with the yellow of copperpod flowers, the fiery red of flamboyant, and the elegance of lotus blooms. Walking under the cool shade of green trees, one might momentarily forget the intense summer heat. Hearts are soothed by the lotus flowers of Tinh Lake, and the gentle scent of plumeria trees by the ancient moss-covered citadel. Along the An Cuu River, soft pink apple blossom trees add a refreshing hue.
Crape myrtle trees bloom in pink, red, and white clusters as if signaling the approach of autumn. This regal flower also has a unique name - Duong Duong Hoa - because when you lightly touch any part of the plant, it shakes as if giggling. Once a rare flower beloved by the Nguyen Dynasty and engraved on the royal Cao Dinh urn for its beauty, fragrance, and medicinal use, it was once grown only by noble families. Today, it has been widely propagated and can be found on many streets in Hue, such as Le Loi, Ha Noi, or the riverside path from the Ho Chi Minh Museum to behind the Song Huong Theater. Crape myrtles bloom best from early June to about September, hence another name: Bach Nhat Hoa, the hundred-day flower.
Winter seems like a time when cold and rain envelop all, making it hard for flowers to bloom. Yet, it’s during this season that plants rest and gather strength for rebirth. And it is also the time when ancient Hue roses bloom, continuing through spring. Locals call this regal variety Huong co Hue (Hue ancient rose) to distinguish it from other roses. The name Huong replaces Hong (rose) due to a naming taboo with Emperor Tu Duc’s given name, Nguyen Phuc Hong Nham. Huong co Hue has a crimson color, and when in bud, the petal tips are tinged with pink. The scent is gentle yet elegant, which is why Hue residents love to plant this rose in their yards and at their gates.
Alongside the charm of their homes, people now take more pride in nurturing their living spaces. Gardening is no longer just a man’s task. Women, out of love for flowers, willingly pick up hoes and shovels to tend and cultivate them. Where there is demand, there is supply. Many fresh flower shops have sprung up and are thriving. Alongside them are home-delivery, planting, design, and care services. Thanks to this, many flower species from all regions have converged here and gradually adapted to Hue’s weather and soil. When one house sees another with beautiful blooms, they’re inspired to add color and fragrance to their own. And so, everyone joins in the flower-growing trend.
We must also acknowledge the role of workers from the Parks and Greenery Centers who beautify the city each day. They plant, water, and care for flowers, helping Hue’s streets become greener, cleaner, and more beautiful. These workers are like quiet flowers in life. I often think so whenever I see them in their green protective suits, diligently planting and tending to the city’s floral beauty.
It’s no coincidence that Hue is affectionately called the Green City. It’s the result of collective awareness and effort from each citizen to transform Hue into a city radiant with flowers across all four seasons. The ever-blooming, fragrant flowers have changed past notions that Hue’s weather was too harsh for growing beautiful blossoms.
Flowers make Hue’s landscape greener, people kinder, and the city more endearing in the eyes of friends near and far. In all seasons, Hue blooms with fruits and flowers, radiant in scent and color. Walking through its floral seasons, one senses deeply the heartfelt love this ancient Imperial city holds, for its land and its people.