Visiting Dam Chuon (Chuon lagoon) in Phu An Commune, Phu Vang District, Hue City at dawn, you will be astonished by the beauty of pink lotuses blossoming in the morning sunlight.

The lotus flower is a cultural symbol deeply rooted in the hearts of Vietnamese people in general and people of Hue in particular. From 2000 until now, in many Hue Festivals, lotus has been honored through special art programs.

I happened to come across a Facebook post of a friend currently living in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It read, “seeing seven blooming pink lotus flowers celebrating Vesak on Nhan Co Lake reminds me so much of my hometown - Hue, where Ngu Mountain and the Perfume River reside.”

From the Hue lotus with a close and familiar appearance, researchers at the University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University have "transformed" each part of the traditional lotus plant into attractive products on Vietnamese people's dining tables and living rooms; and, it is going to be exported to America in the near future.