Cherry blossoms warm up Đà Lạt’s winter

The Central Highlands city of Đà Lạt is now decorated with the soft pink colour of cherry blossoms.

Pink flowers decorate mountainside streets. — VNA/VNS Photos Đặng Tuấn

The Mai Anh Đào (Prunus Cesacoides) cherry blossoms are in full bloom along streets across the city.

The blossoms are a magnet for both locals and tourists.

The wild Himalayan cherry trees have flowers with a single layer of five petals.

The flowers look like both peach and ochna blossoms. 

Researcher Nguyễn Hữu Tranh, an expert from the Lâm Đồng Province’s Science and Technology Department, said Mai Anh Đào are popular in Southeast Asia and found at an altitude of more than 1,000m. The trees can be seen on Himalayan ranges in northern India, southern China, Myanmar and northern Thailand.

Flowers around villas in the city.

According to some researchers, the trees are native to Đà Lạt, but others say they were imported from elsewhere. But it is obvious that Đà Lạt is the only place in the country you’ll find them.

Another story holds that Nguyễn Thái Hiền, who was in charge of caring for plants and trees at villas around Đà Lạt during the American War, first discovered the special tree in Tân Lạc Village. The tree had beautiful flowers that looked like a mix of peach and ochna blossoms. He asked the then American-backed Vietnamese authorities to plant the trees in central streets around Đà Lạt.

In October, the tree’s leaves turn yellow and fall, leaving bare branches during the winter. When spring arrives, the trees awaken and flower from root to top. The flowers last for half a month.

Wild flowers cover hills on the outskirts of the city.

Mai Anh Đào are the pride of locals, and leave a lasting impression on visitors.

Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Xuân Hương Lake, Tuyền Lâm Lake and Đa Quý boast the most trees.

On hills in Lạc Dương Town, there are many old trees that still offer the wild beauty of Mai Anh Đào. — VNS