Dreamy season

Wherever there are plum orchards glowing red with ripe fruit, there is also a spring shimmering with pure, floral colors. The nickname “white plateau” for the land of Bac Ha comes from this very image—when spring arrives, pear, apricot, and plum blossoms burst into bloom, painting the earth and sky white.

From Mang Den town in Kon Tum province to Da Lat—the dreamy cherry blossom capital of the Central Highlands—rows of trees bloom in vivid pink along streets, hillsides, and mountainslopes. These blossoms possess both a gentle charm and a striking allure, with their soft pink hues shimmering in the spring light. As cherry apricot flowers bloom, wild birds return to the forest, singing joyful songs of spring. A festive spring dance unfolds across the highlands.

Ta Van Chu, in the H'Mong language, means “wide valley.” This area has complex terrain, carved by high slopes and mountains, with valleys tucked beneath ridges. The road to Ta Van Chu is not easy—phone signals fade in many places—but that very remoteness stirs excitement in travelers who are eager to conquer the path to this untamed land. The H’Mong people here grow various crops such as tea, plums, and medicinal herbs.

In recent years, the plum-growing area has expanded, as the local plum variety has gained market popularity. More importantly, tourism activities tied to plum trees have helped improve local livelihoods. Under Lao Cai province’s plan to develop ecological village models, the H'Mong in Ta Van Chu have been introduced to community tourism practices, especially how to host guests through homestays. Thanks to this, visitors often feel quite comfortable with the accommodation and meals, sensing warmth and authenticity in the highland culture.

Don’t hesitate to raise a warm cup of corn wine with the locals, or to tip them kindly when you borrow a colorful traditional outfit for photos. La Di Thang village is considered one of the most beautiful plum orchard areas, with many old wooden houses nestled under the trees. Some plum trees here are decades old, their moss-covered trunks thick and gnarled, with roots sprawling wide. When they bloom, the white petals explode in clouds, and with just a gentle breeze, the flowers scatter like snow through the air.

That moment feels like it erases the line between dream and reality. The plum blossom season in Ta Van Chu lasts only about two weeks, after which green buds begin to sprout, signaling the coming of summer. Because the bloom is so brief, travelers must time their visit carefully. According to locals, this year’s peak plum blossom season will be from the end of the first lunar month to early February on the lunar calendar.

There’s no reason to wait—start planning your journey to the “white plateau” this spring.