I was captivated by the sight of the cherry blossoms in full bloom lining the streets, in the parks, and along the rivers that flowed through the city.
There are streets lined on both sides with rows of cherry trees whose branches intertwine, densely covered with delicate pink petals and red stamens, forming winding cherry blossom tunnels, bathed in vibrant pink.
That enchanting scenery made me feel like I had stepped out of a fairy tale. Standing before the beauty of the cherry blossoms, I secretly wished that my hometown would one day have such poetic rows of cherry trees.
And at that moment, I immediately thought of Vinh Son. During my years working in Vinh Thanh, I often visited this area. Located at an altitude of over 800 meters above sea level, Vinh Son has a cool climate year-round, with average temperatures ranging from 22.8 to 25.6 degrees Celsius; in winter, it can sometimes drop to around 10 degrees Celsius. It also has a 280-hectare hydroelectric reservoir with a capacity of 34.6 million cubic meters, always full of clear, blue water.
The cherry blossom season in Yongshan usually falls in February and March each year, and at that time, Yongshan becomes an attractive tourist destination.
Vinh Son still retains its pristine beauty. On some days, clouds descend low like a thin veil of mist, covering the lake and mountains, making it look just like Da Lat .
Although it's not as cold as Japan , given those natural conditions, I believe Vinh Son can grow cherry blossoms.
Based on that idea, Vinh Thanh district and Song Con Forestry Company Limited were assigned to implement a plan to plant cherry blossoms in Vinh Son.
Initially, the unit conducted research and transplanted cherry blossom saplings from Da Lat for experimental planting. In early 2017, the company brought in 150 cherry blossom saplings, each about 1 meter tall with a trunk diameter of only about 1 cm.
Because the trees were still young and would take many years to bloom, the company bought 20 more mature trees to plant. Surprisingly, just one year later, those cherry blossom trees bloomed their first clusters of flowers, proving that the climate in Vinh Son is quite suitable for this type of tree.
Following that initial success, the province continued to implement the idea of planting Japanese cherry blossoms in Vinh Son. At the end of 2017, the province invited Mr. Nishiyama, a Japanese expert on cherry blossoms, to survey the climate and soil to select suitable varieties.
After a month of research, he proposed five promising sakura (cherry blossom) varieties that showed good adaptability. Subsequently, the province sent two officials to Japan to study cherry blossom cultivation and care techniques.
In early 2018, the province ordered 200 sakura trees from Japan, including 5 selected varieties: (1) Purunus lannesiana var. Speciosa; (2) Purunus kanzakura; (3) Purunus lannesiana cv. Kawazu-zakura; (4) Purunus lannesiana cv. Tairyo-zakura; (5) Purunus kanzakura cv. Oh-kanzakura.
The import process took nearly a year due to the need to complete permits from the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and also because Japan strictly controlled the source of plant seeds. The first seedlings finally arrived in Binh Dinh in January 2019.
Cherry blossom saplings are quite different from what many people commonly imagine. They are only about the size of a finger, with stems trimmed to about 50-60 cm, and the roots are also neatly trimmed and completely washed clean, with not a single speck of soil remaining. After being planted in the ground, it takes 30-45 days for the tree to begin sprouting and growing leaves.
In 2019, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province approved the planning for an eco-tourism and resort area in Vinh Son with an area of 28.5 hectares. Accordingly, the project to plant cherry blossoms, apricot blossoms, and jacaranda trees around Lake A of the Vinh Son Hydropower Plant was also approved. Earlier that year, the province invested in building an 800-meter-long Cherry Blossom Road along Lake A.
On October 16, 2020, Dr. Kato Hitoshi, President of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association of Sakai City and a member of the Binh Dinh Provincial Development Advisory Council, donated 1,000 Japanese cherry blossom trees to be planted along the Cherry Blossom Road and in the Vinh Son commune tourist area. The province received these trees in two batches in 2021 and 2022.
During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Japan in November 2021, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Dr. Kato Hitoshi continued to donate 10,000 cherry blossom trees to Binh Dinh province. From February 2023 to February 2026, the province received more than 2,000 trees; the remaining trees will continue to be transferred in the coming years.
In June 2023, the leaders of Binh Dinh province signed a cooperation agreement with Yoshino town, Nara province (Japan) on the development of cherry blossoms in Vinh Thanh district.
At the end of 2023, Japanese experts visited Yongshan to share their experience in planting and caring for cherry blossoms; at the same time, Yoshino town also donated an additional 100 saplings to the local area.
To date, more than 3,000 cherry blossom trees have been planted in Vinh Son commune, concentrated along Cherry Blossom Road in the commune center and in villages K3, K2, K8, etc. In the villages, the trees are planted in front of people's houses, along both sides of the road, and in school grounds.
Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Vinh Son.
The cherry blossom season in Yongshan usually falls in February and March each year.
During this season, the entire village is ablaze with colorful flowers. Besides cherry blossoms, there are also plum blossoms, jacaranda trees, hydrangeas, and northern peach blossoms, making Vinh Son resemble a large garden overflowing with flowers in all four seasons.
Today, Vinh Son has become a popular tourist destination. Visitors from all over come to admire the flowers, enjoy the cool, fresh air, especially during the cherry blossom season, when it's as lively and bustling as a festival.
Tourism services are also gradually developing in a mountainous style, such as homestays, cafes, and services for renting traditional costumes for souvenir photos. The first ever Vinh Son Cherry Blossom Festival attracted more than 10,000 visitors for sightseeing and relaxation.
Cherry blossoms, even their name evokes feelings of gentleness, cuteness, and warmth, tinged with romance and dreams. If you haven't yet seen these beautiful flowers, please come to Vinh Son, the land of cherry blossoms.
“Whoever goes to the land of peach blossoms, don't forget to follow the path of flowers/Whoever goes to the land of peach blossoms, stop by the lake to listen to the evening fall/Feel the chill seep into your soul in the spring evening, clouds drifting gently/Feeling lightheaded in the mist and then bewildered by the mist/Oh, the color of peach blossoms like the rosy lips of the one I love” (Whoever goes to the land of peach blossoms, composer Hoang Nguyen).
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/tu-sakura-den-sac-tham-anh-dao-vinh-son-a488505.html
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