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With its spectacular flowers and watercolor scenery, it’s
easy to see why tourists are flocking to this delightful
little town.
Strolling around West Lake in
Hanoi this
morning, I spotted some tiny white peach blossoms. The
little buds, quietly catching the sunlight, reminded me of
the charming mountainous town of Moc Chau in
Son La provinceduring the early spring season.
 Located 200
km from Hanoi, Moc Chau town is 1,000 meters above sea
level, and has a wonderfully temperate climate with four
distinct seasons. Famous for its beautiful landscapes, tea
plantation and dairy farming, Moc Chau has quickly become an
attractive tourist destination. The town is also well-known
for its hospitality and savory inexpensive specialties like
milk cake, yogurt, taro and tea, just to name a few.
The local mountains slope gently creating rolling hills and
valleys. Flowers bloom brilliantly while plants and trees
burst in all shades of green. Herbs grow wild alongside
golden flowers which compete for every ray of sunlight. The
winter season brings the first glimpse of the beautiful
peach blossoms.
Arriving in
Moc Chau in the spring, peach and plum blossoms are out
in full, creating magnificent photo opportunities. Behind
the blossoms, the villages of Mong, Dao, Kho Mu, and Xinh
Mun peoples can be seen. At this time of year, the rice has
already been harvested leaving behind yellow fields of dry
vegetation. Smoke from the communal houses’ chimneys drifts
out slowly making a soft haze on the horizon.
In the sunny morning, clothes are hung outside to dry in the
sun while the local women set to work making colorful
brocade – a type of woven fabric. Nearby, young children
dressed in vibrant clothes teach each other to ride bikes,
their cheeks turning rosy. A group of lively young girls
push each other on a set of swings, gossiping and laughing.
Elsewhere, cows can be seen grazing leisurely on grass.
Moc Chau is indeed a charming place full of character and
natural beauty. It’s also a great opportunity to see how
local villagers live while taking in the exquisite splendor
of the surrounding vegetation.
Reported by Phuong Lan
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