The fresh and vibrant lotus flowers were offered by the delegates to President Ho Chi Minh at the special national relic site, Uncle Ho’s Childhood Memorial House in Duong No Village (Duong No Ward, Thuan Hoa District) on the morning of May 18.

These days, lotus flowers are blooming profusely in the Imperial City, along the streets, and in the suburbs of Hue, bringing it a peaceful and gentle beauty. Lotus flowers have always been closely connected to the people of Hue. Wherever visitors travel in Hue, they will encounter lotus ponds and lakes.

Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Phan Ngoc Tho, along with representatives of a number of departments and agencies, local people, as well as tourists, participated in the procession offering lotus flowers to President Ho Chi Minh at the Special National Monument - President Ho Chi Minh’s childhood Memorial House in Duong No Village (Phu Duong Commune, Hue City) on the morning of May 19th.

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.”

The procession of Uncle’s Ho portrait photo and lotus flowers was held solemnly on the morning of May 17 at Duong No Village (Phu Duong Commune, Hue City) – the place associated with his childhood.

In the lakes around Hue Imperial Citadel and all over the periphery of Hue City, white lotus flowers have begun to bloom, bringing the pure and brilliant beauty.

Inside the Forbidden City, Thai Binh Pavilion was once used by the king for reading books and reciting poems above the quiet surface of Ngoc Dich Lake. Visitors can leisurely sit on a boat gently surfing on the lake and enjoy the pure taste of lotus tea while admiring the palaces, fortresses, and the beauty of the royal Parasol flowers.