Spratly flowers blossom in HCM City

Barringtonia asiatica, a tree taken from Truong Sa, or Spratly Islands, are blossoming along HCM City’s Hoang Sa Street.

 

This specimen of arringtonia asiatica grows under Thi Nghe Bridge

According to HCM City’s Farmers Association, the tree is indigenous tropical coastal wetlands and island ecosystems, and is also endangered.

In addition, this species of tree is of great significance to Vietnamese people, as they represent a symbol of the disputed islands and of the soldiers encamped there.

The tree was a gift from Spratly to HCM City, and was planted ten years ago by former President Nguyen Minh Triet and HCM City’s Party Committee.

There are plans to grow more of these trees in HCM City along the newly-built Hoang Sa and Truong Sa streets.

Some pictures of the flowers produced from the tree

Spratly flowers blossom in HCM City

Flower buds

Blossom

Stamens

From flowers to fruits

The tree on Hoang Sa Street is plentiful in fruit

Ripe fruits

New little tree

Hoang Su Phi terraced fields - new national heritage

 

The terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi District in the northern province of Ha Giang, have been recognized as a national heritage site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The province will hold a certification ceremony on September 16 which will feature traditional art and culture of ethnic people.

The terraces bear witness to centuries of wet rice cultivation by ethnic minorities in Hoang Su Phi, including the Dao, Nung and La Chi, and they have great cultural and historical value in addition to being aesthetically beautiful. The terraced fields cover six communes including Ban Luoc, San Sa Ho, Ban Phung, Ho Thau, Nam Ty and Thong Nguyen.

Local authorities will create projects to preserve the fields and promote their tourism potential.

Source: SGT

 

Hoang Su Phi's terraced fields turned yellow now

Hoang Su Phi’s terraced fields will be recognized as a national relic. On these days, terraced fields have turned yellow.

Terraced fields are a popular cultivated form in Southeast Asian countries like  Vietnam ,  Laos ,  Thailand ,  Philippines ,  Indonesia  and some southern provinces of  China .

In  Vietnam , a terraced field is the production form of many ethnic groups in northern mountainous region like La Chi, Ha Nhi, Mong, Dao or Nung.

In Ha Giang province, terraced fields are mainly located in western districts. Researchers said that terraced fields appeared in Hoang Su Phi several centuries ago.

Terraced fields in the communes of Phung, Luoc, San Sa Ho, Ho Thau, Nam Ty and Thong Nguyen have become the pride of Hoang Su Phi.

Hoang Su Phi terraced fields will be recognized as national relic on September 16, 2012.

Hoang Su Phi district is around 110km from Ha Giang city.

The district is on the upstream of  Chay   River , the largest and oldest river in the region. Let’s admire the beauty of rice harvest season in Hoang Su Phi.

Royal bananas light up rural village

Chuoi ngu season has now come upon Dai Hoang Village, in the northern province of Ha Nam, giving visitors of the area a chance to enjoy the rare taste of the fruits.

 

Chuoi ngu is a variety of banana that has grown in the area for hundreds of years. It is small and has bright yellow skin and a sweet smell when ripe. Its beauty and taste has made the area famous since the 13th century.

It is said that this kind of banana used to be a favourite fruit of the Tran Kings, so local people call it Chuoi ngu, meaning royal banana.

 

 

Although the fruit can be seen all year round, it is mainly in season between June and August, when the bananas taste the best.

Any visitors to Dai Hoang Village at this time have the opportunity to enjoy this delicious specialty, along with the beautiful sights of local markets filled with the bight yellow ripening fruits.

 

 

According to local people, their fruit has just been granted a certificate of origin by the Ministry of Science and Technology. This will encourage them to preserve and develop this species of banana and help widen its market.