Bach Ma National Park is about 40km from Hue City. Visitors can drive south on National Road 1A, starting from Phu Loc townlet, and continue following the signposts at km3 to reach the park entrance. The entrance fee is VND 60,000 per person. Visitors are advised to wear shoes with good traction for walking on slippery paths and to clean up any trash from the forest if they bring food or supplies during their journey.

Below are photos of beauty of maple trees in Bach Ma National Park.

leftcenterrightdel

Bach Ma National Park covers an area of about 37,500 hectares with diverse landscapes including mountains, forests, waterfalls, streams, and more than 2,300 plant and 1,700 animal species. Some rare flora and fauna that need protection in the forest include the gray-shanked douc langur, saola, white pheasant, fokienia, and agarwood.

In early February, the weather in Hue is chilly, and the maple trees in Bach Ma Forest turn red. The trees appear faintly through the mist, creating a colorful natural scene.
leftcenterrightdel

Photographer Nguyen Phong, who lives in Hue City, went trekking in Bach Ma on February 12 and captured a series of photos of the maple forest during its leaf-changing season. He shared that early in the year is the best time to see the maple leaves changing colors and enjoy the spring atmosphere at the top of Bach Ma.

The red maple, also known as “phong huong” or "sau sau," have the scientific name Fagraea ceilanica. They are known for their pleasant fragrance and are typically found in tropical regions, especially in Southeast Asia.
leftcenterrightdel
The maples in Bach Ma are a type with three-lobed leaves, which is different from the red maples found in temperate countries. There are thousands of varieties of red maples around the world, varying in leaf lobes and colors. These woody perennial species grow between 2 to 10 meters tall and is commonly planted in urban areas for shade.
leftcenterrightdel
According to Phong, the red maples in Bach Ma do not grow in clusters but are scattered along the hiking paths leading to the summit, extending to the Do Quyen and Ngu Ho (Five lakes) waterfalls.
leftcenterrightdel

The higher you ascend, the lower the temperature drops. The mountains and forests emerge through the mist, creating a surreal atmosphere. Bach Ma is the only pristine forest belt in Vietnam that stretches from the sea to the Vietnam-Laos borderline.

The natural maple trees, around a century old, are located within the grounds of abandoned old villas, standing out with their red leaves in the winter landscape.
leftcenterrightdel

Anh Le, a 29-year-old from Hue, visited Bach Ma for the first time on February 12. He said he had heard much about the beauty of the maple leaves but was deeply impressed when he saw them in person.

"Walking under the forest canopy and gazing at the fiery red maple leaves is an unforgettable experience," said Anh Le.
leftcenterrightdel

In addition to the red maples, visitors to Bach Ma in February and March can also enjoy the beautiful pink of bell-shaped peach blossoms and rhododendrons which are in full bloom.

The photo is of bell-shaped peach flowers blooming near the Do Quyen waterfall in Bach Ma National Park.
leftcenterrightdel

A group of visitors take a break and check in under a giant maple tree near the summit of Bach Ma on February 12.

The summit of Bach Ma stands at 1,450 meters, and the red maples become more abundant as you approach the top.
leftcenterrightdel
Ngu Ho Waterfall is a familiar stop for visitors on their journey to explore Bach Ma, with its clear and cool water year-round.

Source: vnexpress.net

Translated by Tran Hoai