The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 1

In early December, the mountains around Mu Cang Chai ( Lao Cai ) seem to put on a new coat when the flowers bloom simultaneously. Every hillside, forest slope and even the Mong villages are covered in a characteristic pink color, creating a rare, brilliant scene in the middle of the cold winter days.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 2

The thick peach blossom, also known as wild peach blossom, has long been a familiar sign of the traditional Tet season of the Mong people. This flower blooms much earlier than other regions, usually about one to two months before Tet.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 3

This year, the cold air that came early made the flower color even darker, creating a striking shade against the misty sky of the 1,000 - 1,600 m highlands.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 4

Unlike peach blossoms grown in the plains, the Dat tree has five long, thin petals, creating a gentle yet striking appearance when blooming in clusters. Especially when the tree loses all its leaves, the entire pink color seems to be concentrated on the bare branches, making anyone passing by stop and admire.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 5

During his trip to Mu Cang Chai on December 1, Nguyen Minh Hai, 30, a tourist from Hanoi , said he did not expect the flowers to bloom so fully. “Along the way to the commune center, I saw a long stretch of pink flowers. The weather was cold and foggy, but the flowers were very bright. Looking at that scene, I felt like winter suddenly became warmer,” Hai said.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 6

Not only tourists, but also local people clearly feel the special beauty of this year's flower season. Ms. Giang Thi Dua, living in La Pan Tan commune, said that flowers in high areas like hers usually bloom earlier. "This year, it's been colder so the flowers are very beautiful, the petals are thicker and last longer. These past few days, I've seen quite a lot of visitors come to take pictures, especially in the morning when the fog clears," Ms. Dua said.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 7

According to a tour guide who leads tourists on many trekking routes in Mu Cang Chai, the flowers always bloom according to their own rules: the higher places bloom first, then the lower places bloom later. Therefore, La Pan Tan is often the first place to change color, followed by Pu Nhu, Lao Chai, and then gradually spreading towards the center of Mu Cang Chai.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 8

In villages like Thao Chua Chai, Mi Hang, Mo De or Che Cu Nha, the thick, bare rosewood trees are now in full bloom, turning the familiar space into a multi-layered picture of pink shades.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 9

The season of the flowers usually lasts for about a month, but is at its most brilliant in just three to four weeks. Currently, Mu Cang Chai is at its peak, when the temperature is low, the sky is clear and the cool breeze blows gently, making the petals flutter against the pale gray sky.

The thick pink color of the flowers covers the mountains and forests of Mu Cang Chai in the middle of winter - 10