Plum blossoms usually bloom later than peach flowers, so when peach flowers are in full bloom, plums just begin to bud.
When the peach blossoms are about to fade, plum flowers start to bloom. Although plum trees are thin, they have many branches.
In winter, the branches shrink to thicken the resin, and the leaves gradually dry and then fall off, leaving only bare branches like sticks.
The plum trees calmly wait until spring to enjoy spring dew. One day, unexpectedly, such bare dry branches are then covered with white flowers.
Growing in mountainous areas but unlike red/pink peach blossoms or ban (Bauhinia variegata) flowers with colours, plum flowers are just in white, making it an iconic flower for the northwestern region.
Plum flowers are likened to rural girls with a timid, gentle, pure beauty like morning dew.
Plum trees are seen everywhere in the mountainous district of Tram Tau – in villages, on hillsides, in valleys, or along roads.
Looking from afar, the trees look like white clouds falling asleep on the majestic green mountains instead of flying to the sky.
The white colour of the plum blossoms and the mist that blankets the villages every morning make the flowers more pure and fanciful.
White plum blossoms are so eye-catching among green pine forests and brown soil.
On the days when the plum flowers are in full bloom, people and tourists flock to villages that are home to beautiful plum gardens for sightseeing and capturing moments with the pristine wildflowers.
Tram Tau is aiming to develop tourism that goes in line with the environmental protection and the preservation of the natural mountainous landscape.
In 2023, the district targets to attract 95,000 visitors and expects to get tourism revenue of 85 billion VND (3.6 million USD).
To achieve such goals, besides activities to preserve traditional cultural values, Tram Tau district focuses on tourism activities based on its advantages in natural landscapes. Thus, the plum blossom season will be turned into a “tourism product”, a new highlight in Tram Tau’s spring tourism.
Bui Huyen
Yen Bai Newspaper – en.baoyenbai.com.vn
