The lotus is one of the beautiful symbols of serenity, peace, and tranquility. In Hue, the lotus blooming season usually begins in May and June, when the weather changes into hot and sultry days. This time also coincides with April of the Lunar year, the time marked with the significant event of the Grand Buddhism Celebration (Vesak).

In the days following the First Full Moon Festival, many yellow apricot gardens (the signature apricot variety of Hue) in the rural areas of Hue have unexpectedly burst into bloom. Their radiant beauty has attracted large crowds of visitors eager to admire and check in.

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.

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.”

Inherently being called a regal flower associated with the image of the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue, the annual blooming season of Firmiana simplex (also known as Chinese parasol) flowers is in late March and April, creating picturesque images in the space of Hue Imperial Citadel.

On a chilly winter morning, we went to Bon Tri village (Huong An ward, Huong Tra town) to admire tens of thousands of nearly one-year-old yellow apricot trees blooming.