Yellow apricot blossoms bloom in the imperial city of Hue.

TPO - With only 10 days left until the Lunar New Year of the Horse, the apricot blossom – a native flower of Hue – is beginning to bloom, displaying its vibrant yellow color in many gardens, temples, parks, and public spaces from rural to urban areas, especially in the ancient citadel of Hue, creating a unique spring atmosphere for the former imperial capital.

Five years ago, in the spring of 2021, the then Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province (now Hue City), Mr. Phan Ngoc Tho, launched the " Yellow Apricot Blossom Trees in Front of Houses" movement. The movement aimed to encourage households, agencies, and businesses to plant yellow apricot blossom trees in front of their houses and in their gardens to beautify the landscape and contribute to realizing the project of building "Hue - Land of Yellow Apricot Blossoms" and the model of "Hue - City of Four Seasons of Flowers".

According to research documents and historical records, the tradition of appreciating apricot blossoms – including the yellow apricot blossom – has existed in Hue for centuries, closely linked to the spiritual life of the inhabitants of the Thuan Hoa - Phu Xuan region. The book Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi once mentioned the yellow apricot blossom as a rare native tree of the Hue capital. Many cultural researchers also believe that the enjoyment of yellow apricot blossoms in Hue has a history of more than 700 years, linked to the formation and development of the Thuan Hoa region.

Thus, the Hue apricot blossom is not a new flower that has appeared recently, but has been cultivated for centuries in the gardens of the Nguyen dynasty's imperial palaces, mansions, temples, pagodas, and private gardens, passed down through many generations. Gradually, the apricot blossom has become an indispensable part of Hue's spring flower-viewing culture.

Over time, the people of Hue have planted apricot blossom trees not only to beautify their living spaces during Tet (Lunar New Year), but also to enrich their spiritual lives and satisfy their appreciation for the pure beauty of nature, plants, and flowers.

These days, with only about half a month left until the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the apricot blossom garden in front of the Imperial Citadel, inside Hue, begins to bloom. The vibrant yellow petals compete to show off their beauty, signaling the arrival of spring in the ancient capital.

The garden currently has over 130 apricot blossom trees, all of which are valuable. The oldest tree is about 60 years old, many others are 30 years old or older, with each tree valued at tens of millions of dong, and some even more.

The apricot blossoms here are meticulously cared for by workers from the Hue City Parks and Greenery Center, so they are always lush and vibrant. Every Tet holiday, the apricot blossom garden in the Hue Imperial City blooms profusely, creating a unique mark of spring in the ancient capital.

For the people of Hue, the apricot blossom is not only a flower of Tet (Lunar New Year) , but also a cultural symbol deeply rooted in the ancient capital. Every spring, the vibrant yellow of the apricot blossoms, along with its pure fragrance, makes Hue a special and distinctive tourist destination during the early days of the new year.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/hoang-mai-hoa-khoe-sac-o-kinh-do-hue-post1818230.tpo