As soon as the car passed the Bao Loc pass, the atmosphere changed dramatically; the stifling heat of Da Huoai, Da Teh, and Cat Tien was gone. This was due to a very peculiar characteristic: the mountain town... was suddenly sunny, suddenly rainy.
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| The joy of farmers in the city of tea and silk. |
The rain and sunshine in Bao Loc are so unique and interesting that many people, especially artists and writers, often use a word to describe them, to name their works: "suddenly." "Suddenly" means abruptly, unexpectedly, something that cannot be predicted at precisely the right time. Spending a long day in Bao Loc allows us to reflect on the boundary between rain and sunshine. Perhaps Bao Loc is too fond of its visitors from afar, so its sudden sunshine and sudden rain captivate us.
Lam Dong is the only province in the Central Highlands with two cities: Da Lat, a city of thousands of flowers and mist; and Bao Loc, a city of unpredictable sunshine and rain, known for its tea and silk. Currently, Bao Loc City has approximately 160 businesses and establishments involved in the production, processing, and trading of tea; including 70 enterprises and about 90 production facilities. The annual production of various types of tea reaches approximately 23,000 tons.
Currently, there are 29 businesses operating in the silk industry. These include 10 silk reeling businesses, 9 weaving businesses, 1 printing, combing, and dyeing business; 5 silk trading businesses, 3 silkworm egg production businesses, 1 silkworm egg trading business, and approximately 10 family-run businesses using mechanical silk reeling. Production output is approximately 1,050 tons of silk per year, producing about 5 million meters of various types of silk fabric. These figures demonstrate why Bảo Lộc is immediately associated with tea and silk.
Arriving in Bao Loc, the most striking thing is its peculiar nature: early mornings are filled with sunshine mingled with mist, but by midday, clouds suddenly gather, unleashing a torrential downpour. The clouds gather rapidly, and the rain quickly gives way to glimpses of sunlight peeking through the mountains. A rainbow appears, a streak of seven colors stretching across the upper and lower Dong Nai lakes. The rain falls everywhere, making the tea hills greener, the silkworms even more vibrant, and carrying the faint scent of flowers in the breeze.
On the tea hills, rows stretch out neatly, couples affectionately taking photos in the hazy mist, sunlight reflecting off the tender young tea buds. Suddenly, the mountain town experiences alternating sunshine and rain; then couples stroll hand in hand through the desolate, dreamy landscape. The sun in Bao Loc is not as harsh as in the southern districts, nor as cold as Da Lat, but rather a balance between different climates, giving one a feeling of comfort and relaxation.
Through days of rain and sunshine, flowers in Bao Loc bloom again. There are two rather special types of flowers here: pink trumpet flowers (also known as flamboyant flowers) and yellow flame trees. Pink trumpet flowers grow abundantly around Nam Phuong Lake, about 2 km from the city center. However, the beauty of this flower is quickly obscured by the sudden rains of the mountain town, fading its delicate pink hue. These rains also shorten the flower's bloom time, urging travelers to hurry to capture the moment. Yellow flame trees usually bloom in spring, a unique characteristic of this flower. Generally, we only remember flame trees blooming in summer, associated with school days, young men and women: "The bicycle baskets are full of flame trees, where are you taking my summer?"... The sudden rain and sunshine also make the wild sunflowers in Bao Loc even more golden, adding to the city's enchanting beauty.
Many people are impressed by Bao Loc's modern architecture, subtly influenced by European styles. Many also feel a longing for Bao Loc, remembering the old days of B'Lao. A rainy afternoon in Bao Loc evokes mixed feelings of nostalgia, as if someone has silently passed through. For example, the time when Trinh Cong Son lived in B'Lao, with rain still falling on the ancient towers. A city that is both modern and subtly infused with unique ancient features, like the church bell towers.
In this S-shaped land, people are usually familiar with the climate of the North with its four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter; and in the South, my hometown has two seasons: rainy and sunny. But in this young city, sudden sunshine and sudden rain are the first signs to recognize and distinguish it. A long day in Bao Loc is when you can clearly see the boundary between rain and sunshine; only then can you truly feel the flavor of this mountain town with its unpredictable weather.
Perhaps, for travelers visiting this mountain town for the first time, with its two signature features – tea and silk – the sudden sunshine and rain are also a poetic experience worth contemplating. It gives us a feeling of living slowly in the heart of the city, with a cup of coffee or fragrant tea, waiting for something… for example, when will the rain stop falling…
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