Every winter, La Pan Tan, a mountainous commune in northern Vietnam, brightens as wild Himalayan cherry blossoms festoon the area.

Himalayan cherry blossoms (Prunus cerasoides), also known as sour cherry blossoms or locally called 'hoa tớ dày,' normally begin flowering in late December before wilting about a month later.  

This year, however, the blooming came a few weeks early and the ethnic Mong villages that dot the commune, located in Yen Bai Province's Mu Cang Chai tourist district, started being enveloped in the flowers in mid-December. 

For the villagers, the blossoms signal the coming of spring and serve as a reminder that that it will soon be time to plant a new crop.  

Wild Himalayan cherry blossom trees only grow and bloom at altitudes higher than 1,000m above sea level. 

Many believe that the colder the weather gets, the prettier the bloom becomes.  

In Mu Cang Chai, with recent temperatures dipping below three degrees Celsius, the flowers have exhibited even more vibrant shades of pink than in previous years.

Best known for its breathtaking scenes of flooded and ripened rice terraces, the cherry blossoms add an extra touch of uniqueness to the already stunning landscapes in Mu Cang Chai.

Ngoc Linh, a tourist who took a six-hour ride on a bus from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai, shared that seeing the beautiful flowers across the mountains put her into a state of stress-free relaxation.  

Ha Thu Thuy from the northern province of Phu Tho was also stunned after visting Mu Cang Chai and admiring the blossoms. 

“I feel fully at peace in this place,” Thuy said. “The blossoms are very beautiful, and everything is still pristine.”

Trong Tong Village in La Pan Tan Commune boasts, perhaps, the most stunning imagery in the region. 

From Hanoi, tourists can take a six-hour ride from My Dinh Bus Station to reach Mu Cang Chai District, which is about 10km away from La Pan Tan Commune. 

Dao Trung Hai was another recent visitor to the area. Hai has visited Mu Cang Chai four times and hopes to continue returning in the future.

“I feel recharged [in Mu Cang Chai]. The air seems filled with life,” said Hai. 

“Mu Cang Chai is quite cold in this season. Though the roads are not too difficult to commute, you should hire a local guide for your first visit."

In recent years, aside from enhancing the village's esthetics, 'hoa tớ dày' have also become a new source of income for the local Mong people.

Fully equipped with a drone and camera, Trang A Tong, a tour guide, normally spends his days guiding tourists who hope to photograph beautiful moments amongst the blossoms.

Tong’s day-long tours in Mu Cang Chai typically cost about VND700,000 (US$29) each.

In addition to La Pan Tan Commune, tourists can also enjoy the beauty of 'hoa tớ dày' at Hang Gang Village in Lao Chai Commune as well as My Hang Village in Mo De Commune, Tong said.

They can admire the local bamboo forests as well.

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