PANO – If taking notice, one may easily find out that there is a similarity in the legend of the maid named Biang in Da Lat and that of the maid named Ban in the Northwestern mountainous region of Vietnam. Both of them were beautiful and absolutely faithful in love. And few had thought that one day visitors could admire the two legends at the same time on the streets of Da Lat.

In Da Lat, the bauhinia flower signals the transition of seasons. When the breezes of spring have come rushing along the streets, but winter still lingers on, white bauhinia flowers have already blossomed on Tran Phu Street. The pure white of the northwestern mountainous region brightens up the city! Not every viewer of the bauhinia flower is an artist. However, the white bauhinia flower covering Da Lat evokes much emotion.

Bauhinia flower flourishing along a street in Da Lat. Photo: nld.com.vn

The truth is that when the bauhinia flower is mentioned, people think of the mountainous Northwestern region with the melodies of the Khen (pan-pipes) played by boys and girls of the Tay, Thai, and H’mong ethnic people. As for Da Lat, the bauhinia is just an acclimatized plant, standing alone, not in groups, but never showing any loneliness. The mild beauty of the flower even makes the streets more romantic.

In the early days of 2016, I saw a photographer passionately taking photos of the flower. Just as he finished each photo, he often exclaimed “Great!” True! Through the lens of the artist, petals of the flower look like they are fluttering in the winds, capturing the hearts and minds of visitors. I asked him who brought the flower to Da Lat. The answer was “Never ask! Just feel and admire the beauty.” The only question is whether bauhinia flower makes Da Lat more beautiful. Sure it does. That’s right! The flower has become a “citizen” of Da Lat, loved by the land of all flowers.

No one knows the future for sure. And the bauhinia flower may be a source for love songs to be written, for poems to be recited, for paintings to be drawn and for photos to be taken on this highland. I now dream of more bauhinia trees planted in parks and along passes to bring more colors to the hills of this land.

The bauhinia flower has taken many visitors by surprise and pleasure. More couples, including brides and bridegrooms, are coming to Da Lat to have their photos and wedding photos taken as the bauhinia flower blooms simply because it symbolizes faithfulness. The bauhinia flower is still humble in Da Lat - the land of flowers, however. How to help the plant live and its flower blossom in harmony with pine trees, wild sunflowers and other flowers of the land is what not only I am hoping for.

Written by Nguyen Thanh Nga

Translated by Huu Duong