Going back to my hometown for Tet (Lunar New Year)

On the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, with our belongings packed into the back of the car, we set off for Hue to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) with our family. The trip was planned for two days and one night, and at first, I was quite apprehensive about the self-guided journey covering thousands of kilometers while my daughter was still young. But my worries were gradually replaced by excitement at exploring the diverse and picturesque routes, and the desire for my daughter to experience new things.

Stage one: Saigon - Dong Nai - Binh Thuan

The rubber plantations in Dong Nai are lush and green. Photo: Mong Kha.

Saigon bid us farewell as midday approached, the sun casting a golden glow across all the roads. The car entered the Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway, then the Dau Giay - Phan Thiet Expressway, connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Binh Thuan. Everyone had returned to their hometowns after the 23rd of the 12th lunar month, so the roads were clear that day. Our car glided smoothly along the road, a lullaby-like experience. Green rice paddies, tranquil rivers, and distant mountains stretched endlessly past the window. I felt lost in the boundless green of the rubber plantations in Dong Nai. Rows of perfectly straight trees, their lush branches and leaves intertwined, curving like archways of a mysterious garden. Here and there, rubber trees were in bloom, their tiny clusters of pale white flowers. The car passed through thriving avocado and durian orchards, waiting for their flowering and fruiting season. My daughter, after a brief nap, was now chirping like a little bird, excited and eager about everything around her. I happily explained and pointed out to my child the things we encountered along the way, from cornfields with tassels, rows of lush green peanuts, to scarecrows made of burlap and plastic bags standing guard in the fields…

Binh Thuan presents a completely different picture. Rising amidst barren, dry land, banana plantations blanket the hillsides, and lush dragon fruit orchards are bursting with blossoms. My heart sank as the car passed by abandoned gardens, overgrown with weeds, and the concrete posts that once served as dragon fruit stakes now blackened and somber, resembling the remnants of a fire. Low-lying houses are nestled among the orchards or stand isolated on rocky outcrops, detached from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Dragon fruit orchards in bloom in Binh Thuan.

At a rest stop on the highway, we had a quick and convenient lunch right in the car with sandwiches of Vietnamese sausage, cucumber, cilantro, and salt and pepper that we brought with us, plus a delicious, refreshing cup of bubble tea.

The capital of apples and wind power.

Traveling to Ninh Thuan via National Highway 1A, the Ca Na stretch of road captivated me with its breathtaking beauty. On one side, the sea stretched out in a deep, emerald green, while on the other, towering mountains rose one after another, their white and gray rock formations sculpted by nature's skillful hand into fascinating shapes. Waves crashed against the shore in powerful, white foam. The sea shimmered with a silvery light under the golden sun, resembling the magnificent gown of a mermaid from a fairy tale. The scenery was stunning, but it was the giant wind turbines scattered along the way that truly amazed me. They stood majestically against the sky, soaring above the swaying rice paddies and the distant, undulating mountain ranges, creating a magnificent landscape beyond description. Each wind turbine had three blades; from afar, they appeared slow and leisurely. But standing right at their base, one could see just how fast they spun. From these wind farms, electricity will spread everywhere, from households to schools, hospitals, factories, and more.

Wind farm in Ninh Thuan.

We didn't forget to stop at a roadside stall selling green apples. Ninh Thuan is famous for its grapes and green apples. My whole family prefers the "bomb" apple over the "wind" apple because this variety has large, round, plump fruits with thick flesh that sinks into your mouth, and is both crisp and delightfully sweet. Ninh Thuan apples have a funny nickname: "netted apples," because the apple orchards are completely covered with nets to prevent insects, especially fruit flies, from damaging them. Perhaps because they are so well protected, each apple is plump, smooth, and shiny. We continued our journey after choosing five kilograms of bomb apples as gifts for our family. The afternoon sun streamed through the window, forcing me to use a sunshade, so I missed many beautiful sights from Ninh Thuan to Khanh Hoa.

I see yellow flowers on green grass

After crossing the approximately 13-kilometer-long Deo Ca tunnel, we arrived in Phu Yen as darkness was falling. Along National Highway 1, we saw many people selling gladiolus flowers. Calling home, my mother said the flowers in Hue were a bit smaller this year, so we hadn't bought any yet. We stopped the car. A small, slender vendor was busy wrapping flowers for a group of customers. Once finished, he turned to us and enthusiastically introduced his wares. Red gladiolus, with just beginning to open their buds, the shorter, smaller varieties cost 30,000 dong per bunch of 10 stems, while the thicker, longer ones were 50,000 dong. This year the price had dropped and there were few buyers, so he had no choice but to bring the flowers out to the highway, hoping to sell them all before New Year's Day. We bought two large bunches to support him.

After winding our way along several kilometers of deserted roads, we stopped at a restaurant located near the O Loan brackish lagoon – a place famous from the film "I See Yellow Flowers on Green Grass" with its peaceful landscape. Unfortunately, darkness enveloped us, and all we could see was the rippling water and the flickering red and green lights from the bridge. However, the plate of fresh steamed mantis shrimp, the flavorful grouper hotpot with sour bamboo shoots, and the cool, refreshing breeze helped us regain our spirits after the long and tiring journey.

Marigolds in the Nẫu region

The city of Quy Nhon - Binh Dinh welcomed us at midnight. Yet, the eateries in the night market seemed unwilling to sleep, remaining unusually noisy and bustling. We rented rooms in a budget hotel right in the city center.

The next day, we woke up when the sun was already high in the sky. The morning in Quy Nhon was pleasantly cool. With only about 400km to go home, we leisurely went to eat the famous fish cake noodle soup of the Nẫu region. The fish cakes were made from fresh fish, the broth was light and refreshing, and it was served with finely chopped raw vegetables. The authentic taste was definitely better than any I'd eaten in Saigon. I didn't forget to prepare bread and beef sausage for the whole family for lunch. The vendor, with her characteristic, endearing Binh Dinh accent, surprised and warmed me when she honestly advised me not to take too much fish cake, lest I not be able to finish it all, while quickly and carefully packing the food into bags and containers.

Yellow apricot blossoms are being sold in An Nhon, Binh Dinh province.

Passing through the city center, I discovered the different flower and ornamental plant preferences of people in each region. Saigon residents favor apricot blossoms, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and bougainvillea, which I often see along the streets, but they become even more vibrant during Tet (Lunar New Year). In Ninh Thuan and Khanh Hoa provinces, chrysanthemums dominate, with some places displaying only marigolds along long stretches of road. In Quy Nhon city, besides the flowers found in the South, I also encountered the bright pink of peach blossoms from the North and the plump yellow of kumquat trees laden with fruit. Kumquats in Saigon are also called "tac" and are usually only green. Passing through An Nhon town, our journey was unexpectedly delayed by the bright yellow apricot blossoms displayed along the roadside. An Nhon is the apricot blossom capital of Central Vietnam, with apricot orchards interspersed with rice paddies stretching for kilometers. Not to mention the numerous pots of yellow apricot blossoms densely packed in people's yards, from gates to porches. The apricot blossoms bloomed early; before the thirtieth day of the lunar month, many trees already had their flowers falling profusely, with tiny buds sprouting on the branches. After searching for a while, we finally found an apricot tree with countless buds and a gracefully curved trunk. The seller quoted us three and a half million dong, but since the bus company was closed on the 29th of Tet, we couldn't send it to Hue. We reluctantly set off.

Tam Quan coconut land - Hoai Nhon - Binh Dinh. Photo: Tran Vy.

Binh Dinh resembles Hue with its lush green rice paddies stretching as far as the eye can see, and the low hills dotting the landscape. Scattered across the fields, farmers diligently work, spraying pesticides. The town of Hoai Nhon made us feel like we were in the Mekong Delta, with its endless stretches of cool, green coconut groves. Tasting a Tam Quan coconut revealed a distinct difference from the Siamese coconut. The coconut water was abundant, with a sweet, refreshing taste and a pleasant aroma. Especially when we nibbled on the tender, jelly-like coconut flesh, we all exclaimed, "It's amazing!"

Roads in the clouds

Arriving in Quang Ngai, the sight of the newly sown rice paddies, the vast fields, the soft waves of rice stretching to the horizon, and the glimpses of white egrets soaring in the bright golden sunlight, filled me with a sense of peace, as if I had returned to my childhood countryside. Red-roofed houses peeked out from beneath rows of tall betel nut trees, their trunks slender and straight—perhaps an ancient variety I hadn't seen in a long time. The banyan trees shed their red leaves to make way for tender new shoots. Occasionally, I saw trellises of gourds in vibrant yellow bloom, and clumps of butterfly flowers fluttering along the village roads. Houses along the roadside displayed pots of bright yellow chrysanthemums or scattered clusters of hibiscus, all vying to show off their beauty.

The La Son - Tuy Loan expressway winds through majestic mountains and forests.

As we approached Da Nang, my eyes began to droop, until I suddenly woke up to find the car heading towards the Mui Trau tunnel, located on the La Son - Tuy Loan expressway. The road had many winding and sharp turns, but it was breathtakingly beautiful, like a fairy tale, with vibrant acacia and eucalyptus forests in their new leaf season, rolling hills and mountains, and especially the majestic Bach Ma National Park, where "mountains embrace clouds, clouds embrace mountains," with crystal-clear lakes and babbling streams meandering along the hillsides. It felt like we were traveling through a pristine and majestic ink painting. Near Hue, the weather turned colder, with a light drizzle and a lingering evening mist. At times, we felt like we were walking through clouds. On the steep cliffs, white wildflowers swayed in the wind. Rarely did we see a rooftop or a village at the foot of the mountains.

Hue's flower market during Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: Nguyen Hang.

A slight detour extended the journey, but it allowed me to pass by the picturesque Ngu Binh Mountain, a symbol of Hue. The city center welcomed us with bustling streets, ablaze with the vibrant colors of spring. Seeing the red flag with a yellow star fluttering in the breeze along the streets and in front of every house, I felt an overwhelming emotion. Only by traveling do you truly appreciate the vastness of the mountains and seas, the transformation of the country, and the increasing love for the hardworking, diligent, gentle, and hospitable Vietnamese people.

A year has passed like a road left behind by wheels. We return to the loving embrace of our families, sitting together to share meals, setting aside the worries of a hard year, and looking forward to the good things in the new year. May beautiful and loving springs blossom in my homeland.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/ve-que-don-tet-10298928.html