“Ve ngang mot mua hoa gao/ Thang Ba e ap ma hong/ Bang hoang tieng keu chim sao/ Mot troi hoa do menh mong…” (“Passing by a season of silk-cotton flowers / March shyly blushing pink / Startled by the call of a starling / A vast sky with red blossoms…” (from Ve ngang mua hoa gao by Thien An).

Ask the people of Hue what flower they love most, and most will likely answer: the apricot blossom. To put it more formally, “hoang mai” - yellow apricot, without a doubt. Don’t believe it? Come to Hue and see for yourself! There’s a whole movement called “Yellow apricot blossom in front of the entrance”; a completed research project on “Conservation and development of Hue’s yellow apricot variety (Hue’s Hoang mai)”; a scientific conference on developing Hue’s Hoang mai into a key local product, aimed at successfully realizing the project to build Thua Thien Hue province (now Hue City) into Vietnam’s yellow apricot homeland. My friend, journalist Minh Tu, even published a book called “In front of the house stands a yellow apricot tree”, which sold out instantly, was reprinted, and translated into foreign languages to great acclaim.

Not as common as apricot blossoms or chrysanthemums, daffodils can still be found in a few homes in Hue whenever spring returns. Enthusiasts carefully trim the bulbs, change the water, and watch the buds day by day, hoping the flowers will bloom exactly at the turn of the Lunar New Year – an elaborate pastime to welcome the new year.

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse, when streets are awash in the golden hues of apricot blossoms, young people once again eagerly enter the season of photo hunting. From the Imperial Citadel, ancient pagodas, and Dong Ba Market to cafes decorated in spring colors, every street corner and every space become a backdrop for capturing beautiful moments. Tet photos not only mark the transition between the old year and the new, but also reflect the vibrant, youthful rhythm of life in the heart of the Ancient Capital.

After three days of activities, the International Tea Festival - Hue 2025 officially concluded on the evening of December 12th with a closing ceremony and the artistic performance titled “Moon Dance of Tea Blossoms”.

Thanh Tien Paper Flower Village - the cradle of traditional paper flower craftsmanship - is not only a place that creates vibrant blossoms, but also a space where the essence of spiritual culture, skilled hands, and a deep love for national heritage are preserved and nurtured.

With a keen sense for crop transformation, Mr. Truong Minh Toan (Ka Tu village, Huong Phu commune, Phu Loc district) boldly chose to cultivate Bo Chinh ginseng, a “demanding” plant but one full of promise.

If you come to Hue in these late spring days, let’s wander along the banks of the Huong River, parks, and streets in the city to admire the gentle purple Xoan petals, as beautiful as Hue maidens!

In the years from 1930 to 1937, painter Mai Trung Thu was appointed to teach drawing at Quoc Hoc High School. Here, his talent blossomed. Series of his paintings were born, depicting gentle Hue girls, the charming scenery of the Huong river and the temples and royal mausoleums. His paintings in Hue rendered him a solid position in modern Vietnamese painting.

When February drifts through the vast forests of the Truong Son range, A Luoi adorns itself with a vibrant purple cloak of myrtle blossoms. Hillsides, mountain slopes, and valleys are blanketed in a dreamy purple hue, painting a poetic and enchanting landscape that captivates visitors from near and far.

In the early days of spring, Ngo Thanh Minh, a photography artist, was engrossed in wandering the streets of the city, taking photos of yellow apricot blossoms. The beauty of the land and people of Hue has long been an endless source of creative inspiration for him - an artist who has a “predestined affinity” with major awards.