Getting lost in the romantic Amaratoide Flower field in Hanoi

Each December, Hanoi enters the brief but breathtaking season of Amaratoide, when clusters of small purple blossoms begin to blanket parts of the city. Known locally as Cuc Bach Nhat, the Globe Amaranth has long been cultivated in Vietnam, although its popularity has surged only in recent years.

The magnificent small purple flowers, creates a beautifully poetic and romantic scene in the heart of Hanoi. Photo: Huy Pham/The Hanoi Times

The country's largest Amaratoide field sits along Thach Cau Road in Long Bien District, spanning one hectare and featuring roughly 130,000 flowering bushes. The field has quickly become a seasonal hotspot, drawing crowds of visitors, especially young people who flock there on weekends for photo sessions against its vivid backdrop.

Field owner Truong The Hung says Amaratoide traditionally came in just two colors, red and white. “With hybrid breeding, we now have a much richer spectrum,” he notes. “Visitors can see magenta, purple, pink and several other vibrant shades.” The flowers require about four months from planting to bloom and remain at their best for nearly three months, with peak viewing from mid-December through late February. Entry to the field costs VND70,000 (about US$3), with no time limit imposed on visitors.

Hanoi's Amaratoide flowers have a striking purple color that reminds many people of the lavender fields of France or Italy. Photo: Huy Pham/The Hanoi Times

On winter mornings, the vast expanse of Amaratoide resembles a soft, colorful carpet stretching toward the horizon, creating a scene that many visitors describe as almost surreal.

For local resident Minh Phuong, who often seeks out flower fields across Hanoi, this was her first encounter with Amaratoide. “I chose a simple white ao dai today because the flowers are already striking enough on their own,” she said while preparing for a photoshoot.

Photographer Hoang Nam, 27, echoed the sentiment. "I usually focus on street photography, but walking into this field made me want to capture something more serene and poetic. The colors are extraordinary, especially when the late-afternoon light hits the blossoms," he said.

Amaratoide also comes in pure white- a variety that offers a more understated beauty, lacking the vibrancy of the purple blossoms but standing out for its elegant simplicity. Photo: Long Bien Flower Meadow

Amaratoide is recognized for its spherical, pinkish-purple flower heads made up of compact, sharp-edged petals. The flowers are unscented but prized not only for their beauty, many believe they also carry health benefits. Rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and manganese, Amaratoide is often used in traditional herbal remedies. In several Asian cultures, tea brewed from dried Amaratoide is thought to help boost immunity, lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar levels.

As Hanoi moves deeper into winter, the Amaratoide fields continue to draw visitors seeking both the perfect photo and a moment of tranquility. For many, the experience of wandering through a sea of ​​color offers a brief but memorable escape from the city's everyday bustle.

By Jenna Duong

Source: http://sodulich.hanoi.gov.vn/getting-lost-in-the-romantic-amaratoide-flower-field-in-hanoi.html