Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Hanoi Autumn

The Huc bridge

There are hundreds of songs and poems written about Hanoi in autumn, which talk about the beauty of Hanoi and I agree with these poets. Between September and November is the best time to discover Vietnam, especially Hanoi.

Milk Flower - Hanoi

Walking along the streets and lakes and you can enjoy breathing in the beautiful sweet flavor of Hoa Sua flower(Hoa Sua means Milk Flower in English) and the willow trees hanging low. Autumn turns Hanoi into a really romantic place. It affects the people, too. Lots of young couples walk together or sit down alongside the lakes to exchange their kisses.

Hanoi

The weather in Hanoi during autumn is cool, a little bit sunny with a nice breeze that makes everyone much more active after the long hot summer. I love hanging around Hoan Kiem Lake and Truc Bach Lake on these days, looking at people and taking some photos or sitting down with a beer waiting for the sunset.

Milk Flower - Hanoi

A warning - don't breath the milk flowers in too deeply as this might give you a headache.

21 comments:

Thuy said...

The red flowers is not close-up enough for me to tell but it looks like a Mimosa tree. "Hoa Sua" does literally translate to "milk flower", but here in the US, we call call it Plumeria or Frangipani. However, I have never seen the small white cluster kind before. It's beautiful. I have a yellow "hoa sua". When I get my computer back, I will post a picture of it! Wish I could take a cutting of that white 'hoa sua' home. I love flowers!

Anonymous said...

I believe the red flowers are "hoa phuong"...I don't think they're mimosas and "hoa sua" aren't plumerias...those are "hoa su" and one of my fav flowers. Just wanted to clear things up :)

Anonymous said...

Tu - Are the red flowers called "phuong vi" - the ones shown best in summer?
I don't recall seeing Hoa Sua anywhere in southern California, although its leaves look like the leaves of plumeria ("hoa su" or "hoa dai" in Vietnamese). We have plenty of plumeria here and I've never experienced any headache from its fragrance.
Yes, Romantic Ha Noi Autumn has been in Vietnamese literature and songs for decades; but nobody introduced Hoa Sua to us like you did. Thank you for sharing something so real.

Anonymous said...

Hoa sua is the flower of the Alstonia angustiloba or Pulai tree. Tu, will they still be in bloom in two weeks? I hope so, since I haven't smelled hoa sua in 7 years. Miss it so much!

Anonymous said...

wow so beautiful ! I love this season too, just the fact that Chiang Mai is much cooler and the trees are starting to bloom !

Van Cong Tu said...

Hi all, the first picture is Hoa Phuong - Flamboyant. Milk Flower doesn't have in yellow color.
Preya, I think they are still around near the Sheraton hotel in West lake.
Thuy, C.Van,lillian, Thanks

Thuy said...

Ooops. thanks for clearing that up.

Thuy said...

Oh, I looked up 'Flamboyant' flower and it's beautiful! Never seen one.

Thuy said...

what is the English name for 'hoa hoc tro' (literal translation - student flower)? My mom told me about this flower and it's called that because the student pressed them in between the pages of their books. Please post with pictures if you have it.

Anonymous said...

For Thuy - I am sure "hoa phuong" is also called Student Flower (hoa hoc tro) because it only blossoms in the summer. I used to press hoa phuong's petals in my notebooks in butterfly shapes when I was a little girl in VN. Do you know the song Noi Buon Hoa Phuong (The Hoa Phuong Sadness)?
Sorry Tu for taking over your answer. I just missed VN so much.

mindy said...

Lovely photos. I never had a chance to see 'hoa sua' in Vietnam. It's beautiful. I think I've seen it in Australia.

Cobblestone said...

Hi the strange man. I do know you, and certainly you don't know me too. But have to say I am really interested in what you wrote on the blog about Hanoi, especially the Hoa sua which was the Milk Flower in English. You must be a Vietnamese, mustn't you? Or you must have been living here for a so long time if you are not a Vietnamese, right? ...However that I found this blog and this entry is the thing truly important :) Thank you for the entry.

Cobblestone said...

Oh Im sorry, there is a mistake. "I dont know you....". I'm sorry!!

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Invertir en Oro said...

I believe the red flowers are "hoa phuong"...I don't think they're mimosas and "hoa sua" aren't plumerias

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Travel to Vietnam said...

I like in Hanoi Autumn.

Anonymous said...

Hi, great post and beautiful pictures! I am a travel blogger myself, currently doing some writing on Vietnam. I loved the Hoa Sua when I was in Hanoi and became fascinated with the flower's connection to Hanoi's identity and especially its connection with political victories... do you know where I can find English translations of some songs or poetry written about the Sua flower?? Thank you!