Early in the morning, the slight mist covers the mountain slopes, the ground seems still shy in the thin scarf of early winter. In that vague scenery, wild sunflowers - the flower that tells the cold season - gently bend, then suddenly bloom all over the hills in Dien Bien.
Flower season awakens Northwest roads
From the beginning of November, that yellow color spreads down the hillsides, roadsides, valleys... like a miracle of heaven and earth. Dien Bien wild sunflowers are not brilliant in an ostentatious style, but shine with a beauty that is both rustic and pure, making anyone passing by stop and look for a long time. The tiny, fragile petals, but when combined into large patches, create a warm yellow color enough to soothe the cold early morning.
Among the wild sunflower season destinations in Dien Bien, Nam Khau Hu Lake (Thanh Nua commune), which is 17km from the center of Dien Bien Phu ward, stands out as a "mirror" embracing the beauty of the mountains and waters. From afar, the lake surface is as green as jade, reflecting each wild sunflower bush leaning against the sun. The road leading to the lake this season is as beautiful as a long yellow silk strip, with hundreds of bushes blooming on both sides, shaking with each gust of wind passing through from the water.
On that colorful street, Ms. Ngo Thi Vinh, a tourist from Hoa Binh ward (Phu Tho province) passionately recorded every moment. While admiring the flowers, she excitedly shared: "I have met wild sunflowers in many places, but the feeling in Dien Bien is very different. The yellow color of the flowers reflects on the blue lake surface, creating a scenery that really surprises me.
That feeling is not only Vinh's. For many people, coming to Nam Khau Hu this season is like stepping into a painting mixed with 3 colors: Yellow of flowers, blue of the lake surface, and pale white of early morning dew. Each layer of color blends together, both soft and pure, making the scenery here have a very unmistakable beauty.
The experience of many photographers shows that wild sunflowers are most beautiful around 8 - 10 am and around 3 - 5 pm. When the sun has just "cooled down", soft light covers each flower petal, making wild sunflower bushes seem to light up from inside.
Wild sunflowers in Dien Bien are sunflowers. When the sun bends, you will see the entire hillside planted with wild sunflowers shining, swaying in the wind. Just that and it becomes an extremely beautiful moment," shared Mr. Quach The Tan, Dien Bien Phu ward - who has been attached to the scenery here for many years.
A "golden land" for tourism
Not only in Nam Khau Hu, wild sunflowers also dye many roads of Dien Bien yellow. Along National Highway 279, the section from Dien Bien Phu ward to Muong Ang commune, on both sides of the road are patches of flowers as if burning fire. Every time the wind blows, each flower petal vibrates, both proudly and softly as if wanting to invite tourists to stop and enjoy a very slow winter.
Muong Phang - a land that once marked many historical milestones is also wearing a brilliant yellow coat. In Sam Mun or Keo Lom Pass (belonging to Na Son commune), the mountain slopes are covered with wild sunflowers, running along winding slopes. Amidst the sea of clouds and thick fog, that yellow color becomes even more prominent as a bright spot in the blue sky.
Keo Lom Pass this season is particularly beautiful. The familiar pass suddenly becomes soft and graceful, like being sketched by a sky painter with golden curves. Each meter of road passing through makes visitors disappointed because... they are afraid of missing a more beautiful view behind.
However, to make wild sunflower yellow truly become a unique tourism product, many tourists and photographers expect Dien Bien to be able to plan concentrated flower areas, build professional landscape viewing points, and create its own flower season brand as many localities have done.
Large-scale wild sunflower hills, flower roads, or well-designed check-in spaces will certainly contribute to making wild sunflowers a "cold season specialty" of the border land. Like the way Gia Lai created a brand for wild sunflowers at Chu Dang Ya volcano, or Da Lat turned suburban roads into "yellow silk strips" attracting visitors. Because if cared for in the right direction, Dien Bien can completely create large-scale "flower regions", becoming a place for tourists to come every winter.
When the weather turns cold, wild sunflowers once again light up the Dien Bien mountainsides. A flower that is not luxurious, does not require too much, just quietly blooms, embellishing the earth and sky with a clear yellow color. Perhaps in a few years, when the flower roads are shaped, this place will become a familiar stopover for tourists from all directions. For those who want to find a truly beautiful, truly gentle winter in the mountainous border region.
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