I’ve been in Sapa trekking tour for several times, and one of my most favorite destinations here is Pho Cao, a commune of Dong Van district, but I have never seen Pho Cao as beautiful as the last time I met it, when it’s wearing such a magnificent coat of the Spring, with peach, apricot and colza blossoms, lush green fields and tiny authentic stilt houses,…
You know what? I have really fallen in love with Pho Cao on misty days and I used to think that I could cut the thick layer of mist into pieces as the local ethnic people cut their cake.
Pho Cao’s natural beauty
Pho Cao has a total population of 5,000, and mostly the Black H’mong ethnic people. One of the most distinctive features of the area is the Trinh Tuong houses which are surrounded by stone fences.
When coming to this land, I got to know that the H’mong ethnic people still retain their traditional costumes and habits. They have one market every six days.
Over the years, Dong Van Plateau has been known as the land of rugged rocks, which are in many special, unique shapes, from far away, we can see it like an imposing field of stones covered by an overwhelming grey.
Peach tree blossoming in Spring in Sapa
Yet, peach trees still grow well in the land and blossom when spring comes which seem to wake up the sleeping land and bring a strong vitality to it.
During my previous trip to Pho Cao, I got acquainted with a local buddy, whose family has a very old peach tree.
“How long ago was this peach tree planted,” I asked. “I do not know exactly, but my grandpa took it from Lung Cu and planted it. It started blossoming when I was a little boy,” he answered.
On the moldy, grey and rough tree trunk and branches were thousands of pink flower buds.
Trinh Tuong house, a popular destination in Sapa
The peach tree looked like a huge flame among the grey rocks, giving the signal for spring and highlighting the charm of Pho Cao where one has visited they will be fascinated by its dreamlike scenery.
I attempted to create a romantic picture with the blend of the pink of peach blossoms, the white of apricot flowers, the grey of rocks, the green moss of the Trinh Tuong (earthen) houses and the yellow colza flowers surrounding the hamlet, but I failed.
Probably it is the reason why Pho Cao is always a luring destination with hidden charm for any travelers who want to make wonderful Sapa tours.
