HO CHI MINH CITY – The milk flower shop has about 20 trees with white flowers, making many people think of a small corner of Hanoi’s autumn.
From the beginning of October until now, people passing by Nguyen Luong Bang Street and Tran Van Tra, in District 7 have felt the sweet scent of milk flowers in the wind. There are about 20 milk flower trees, planted since 1997, every October in white color and fragrance on a street corner. The tree blooms in white clusters, making many people think of a small autumn corner of Hanoi in Saigon.
These nearly 25-year-old milk flower trees are located in front of the Saigon South High School. The tree has a large trunk that is more than ten meters tall, with a wide canopy and rough bark clinging to moss. This season, many trees have lost most of their leaves, leaving only small flower clusters on the branches. Compared to milk flowers in Hanoi, the tree shape here is not as big and the smell is also softer.
Mr. Hung, 58, guarding the construction site next to milk flower trees, said that he started working here 15 days ago when he saw milk flowers bloom. “During the day I sit here on duty, I can smell the fragrant, gentle flowers, at night it is stronger. Whichever direction the wind blows, the scent flies in that direction, but I don’t have a headache as many people say.”
Milk flowers are not common, but are also scattered in some places in the city: “For example, on the side of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa streets, there are a few trees, then there is one tree in Vinh Loc industrial park, and many more places but grows sporadically, only this place is planted the most”, Mr. Hung said.
Every morning, Mr. Hung likes to see flowers fall in thin layers like a beautiful carpet on the road. He grabbed a handful of flowers but was surprised that it didn’t smell like it did on the tree.
Blooming milk flowers also attract many Saigon people who love flowers to take pictures and admire flowers, especially in the cool afternoons and early mornings. Hanh Nguyen, 23 years old, said she was quite surprised that there was such a beautiful milk flower shop in Ho Chi Minh City, coming here she felt like she was in Hanoi.
“I went to Hanoi in the fall 2 years ago and was very impressed with the scent of milk flowers, although I can’t stand its strong smell the flowers bloom are very beautiful, stop to take pictures for a while and then leave.” Nguyen said.
