Check-in with the lonely mac cot tree in the middle of Bao Lac, Cao Bang

Mac cot (or mac cop) is a fruit tree that often grows in the mountainous provinces of Northern Vietnam, especially in Nguyen Binh and Bao Lac districts ( Cao Bang ).

Mac cot flowers usually bloom in spring, white like pear flowers. Flowers bloom in clusters of 3-5 flowers, covering the hills in white, looking extremely beautiful.

In Bao Lac ( Cao Bang ), the mac cot flowers bloom in late February and early March, attracting many locals and tourists to come here to visit and take pictures.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Chiem (41 years old, Hanoi) and his wife and 2 university friends traveled to Bao Lac to "hunt" for blooming magnolia flowers on February 25-26. The group traveled by private car from Hanoi - Bac Kan - Nguyen Binh - Bao Lac (Cao Bang) from 4:00 p.m. on February 25 to 10:30 p.m.

Mr. Chiem shared: “The road from Hanoi to Bao Lac is quite far, it takes about 7 hours to drive. The section from Nguyen Binh to Bao Lac, the road is very bad, with many curves, there is a section of road under construction that can only fit one car, making it very difficult for low-chassis vehicles. This is also the first time I have traveled such a difficult road.” The car stopped at a homestay in Xuan Truong commune, Bao Lac district. The group checked in, rested to prepare to wake up early the next morning to sightsee and take photos with the mac cot flowers.

Mr. Chiem said that the Mac Cot tree is located right next to the National Highway passing through Xuan Truong Commune (Bao Lac), only about 150m away. From afar, visitors can see the towering tree with its canopy covered with beautiful white flowers.

Because we had breakfast and arrived early, the group decided to ride around the nearby village, waiting for the sun to rise to take pictures. At around 8:00, when the sun rose, the group returned to the lonely mac cot tree, taking beautiful photos there.

“Although I have known this place for 3 years and have seen many pictures of the lonely tree, it was only when I saw it with my own eyes that I saw the true beauty of this lonely tree. Seeing the pure white lonely tree, with only flowers and no leaves, made me feel indescribably elated,” said Mr. Chiem.

Mr. Chiem said that because it was the weekend, there were quite a lot of visitors coming here to check in. Groups of 5-7 people lined up to take photos with the lonely white mac cot tree. At 9:00 a.m., after taking photos, the group set off to the pass 3km away to check in, then returned to the homestay for lunch, rested before checking out and returning to Hanoi.

The short trip lasted only 2 days but left Mr. Chiem and his group with many emotions: “The scenery here is really peaceful, wild and especially untouched by human hands. I asked the villagers and they said it has been the same for many years. In particular, the people here are very friendly, when asking for directions, an old man insisted on taking our group to the place, which made me so touched.”

After the trip, Mr. Chiem was delighted and satisfied when he realized his plan to go to Cao Bang to see the lonely Mac Cot tree that he had cherished for 3 years. At the end of the trip, he advised tourists not to drive there at night because the roads are very dangerous. When returning, tourists can also choose another easier route to ensure their safety and avoid mistakes.

Laodong.vn