For generations, Ban (Bauhinia) flowers have been associated culturally and spiritually with Thai and Tay ethnic minority groups living in Vietnam’s northwestern mountains. Although they originate from the northwestern mountain region, Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. Soon after Tet holiday in February and March, Hanoi’s street scenery changed their appearance with beautiful purple Ban flower. During this springtime, Hanoi’s streets become increasingly opulent thanks to the pristine beauty of lowers in full bloom. The season of Ban flowers starts in December and ends in late February. The flowers can be white, or pink, but the majority are purple. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
In the Thai language, 'ban' means 'sweet'. A Ban tree is 2 to 6 meters tall and has rough, grey bark and abundant long branches. Ban flowers have soft, sweet fragrance. In March, when Ban season peaks, mountainsides covered in flowering Ban trees create a romantic picture. The five-petaled flowers can be purple, white, or red, but the majority is white. White Ban flowers often appear in poems to symbolize the charm and beauty of Thai and Tay women. There are three myths explaining the origin of Ban flowers, all of which praise the flower as a symbol of pure, faithful love as well as filial piety and gratitude. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
Ban flower means 'sweet flower' according to Thai language. This kind of tree belongs to the woody plant. Each branch of the tree has the brownish shell and heart-shaped leaves. Unlike most plants, the leaves of Ban flower tree distribute sparsely in a branch. Especially, Ban flower does not have only one color but it is various with the white, red, purple color or even the mix of these colors. The fragrance of Ban flower is very pleasant. It can spread through a wide range of hills. In the winter, Ban flower tree sheds all leaves. When the warm spring is coming, the tree flushes and grows strong. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
Every year, Ban flower starts blooming in early spring, usually in March. Its florescence is mostly in early April and it draws to an end in May. When Ban flowers on every branch fully bloom and cover up all leaves, from the far distance, the tree looks like a candy floss in big size, which creates an attractive many flower lovers. Although they originate from the northwestern mountain region, Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. Hoang Dieu is one of favorite places to capture beautiful pictures of many people. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
There are many kinds of Ban flower, most of Ban flowers in Hanoi are white and purple. At the beginning of 1960, to respond to the tree planting festival launched by President Ho Chi Minh, urban planners have tried to plant Ban flowers in several streets, parks and around Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi. When the Ban flowers blossom, the streets in Hanoi seem to be more romantic. Photographing Ban Flowers in full bloom every spring is the joy of many young people in Hanoi. It can be easily seen the image of a girl wearing a charming ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) standing next to a Ban flower tree, trying to find ideas for posing. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
The Thai people have discovered that Ban trees have many benefits. The bark can be used as an indigo dye, the flowers and leaves can cure sore throats, and the seeds and buds can be boiled and eaten.Ban flowers can be eaten, too, and are often mixed into salads with galangal, bamboo shoots, and wild vegetables, or stir-fried with garlic, stewed with trotters, and then boiled and served with 'cham cheo' – a local spice made of wild herbs.Dishes made with Ban flowers are eaten as an everyday meal or served at banquets. The flower has become a signature ingredient of the Thai people. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Originating from the north-western mountainous region, the Ban flowers are often poetic inspiration in allusion to the charm and beauty of Thai and Tay ethnic minorities women. Although they originate from the northwestern mountain region, Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. Ban flowers are scentless. Each flower consists of four to five petals, pink pistil and purple veins. A Ban tree is two to six meters tall. It has rough, grey bark and abundant long branches. Hoang Dieu is one of favorite places to capture beautiful pictures of many people. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
The season of Ban flowers starts in December and ends in late February. The flowers can be white, or pink, but the majority are purple. It is a great chance to enjoy a peaceful and fresh atmosphere when strolling along the Hanoi streets where Ban Flowers are in full bloom. It is said that Ban flower symbolizes sincerity, faithfulness and constancy in love. The Ban flowers can also be eaten as salad or boiled dishes accompanying with some specialties of ethnic minority groups. Photographing Ban Flowers in full bloom every spring is the joy of many young people in Hanoi. It can be easily seen the image of a girl wearing a charming ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) stands next to a Ban flower tree, posing for beautiful pictures. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
With an innocent white colour and gentle fragrance, orchids start to bloom in mid February and are in full bloom in March. Each orchid flower has five petals. Its fragrance is strongest at sunrise, when the wind helps disperse the fragrance.In the lore of Thai ethnic minority people, the flower is named after a beautiful woman named Ban, who is in love with a strong man named Khum. As the tale goes, once upon a time, in the northwest region lived beautiful and gentle Ban. Many men in the village wanted to marry her. But she fell in love with a poor hard-working man named Khum. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
However, parents of Ban prohibited the lovers to meet and forced the girl to marry a rich man instead. Ban snuck into Khum’s village to meet him but she could not find him at his house. She left her scarf at his staircase as a sign that she had been there and rushed to search for him. She wandered from mountain to mountain and called to him, before collapsing exhausted under some trees. When Khum returned from working in the fields, he found Ban’s scarf at this house and sensed something bad had happened to her. He searched for her from forest to forest, before he perished of exhaustion and turned into a lonely bird, flying about looking for his lover. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Where Ban died a tree grew, which bloomed with white flowers in spring. People heard birds twittering like Khum calling for his girlfriend and named the tree after the woman to remember their beautiful but tragic love. It is said that Ban flower symbolizes sincerity, faithfulness and constancy in love. The Ban flowers can also be eaten as salad or boiled dishes accompanying with some specialties of ethnic minority groups. Although they originate from the northwestern mountain region, Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
There are many kinds of Ban flower, most of Ban flowers in Hanoi are white and purple. At the beginning of 1960, to respond to the tree planting festival launched by President Ho Chi Minh, urban planners have tried to plant Ban flowers in several streets, parks and around Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi. When the Ban flowers blossom, the streets in Hanoi seem to be more romantic. Photographing Ban Flowers in full bloom every spring is the joy of many young people in Hanoi. It can be easily seen the image of a girl wearing a charming ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) standing next to a Ban flower tree, trying to find ideas for posing. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Every year, Ban flower starts blooming in early spring, usually in March. Its florescence is mostly in early April and it draws to an end in May. When Ban flowers on every branch fully bloom and cover up all leaves, from the far distance, the tree looks like a candy floss in big size, which creates an attractive many flower lovers. Although they originate from the northwestern mountain region, Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. Hoang Dieu is one of the favorite places to capture beautiful pictures of many people. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
For generations, Ban (Bauhinia) flowers have been associated culturally and spiritually with Thai and Tay ethnic minority groups living in Vietnam’s northwestern mountains. Although they originate from the northwestern mountain region, Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. Soon after Tet holiday in February and March, Hanoi’s street scenery changed their appearance with beautiful purple Ban (Bauhinia flower) Flower. During this springtime, Hanoi’s streets become increasingly opulent thanks to the pristine beauty of lowers in full bloom. The season of Ban flowers starts in December and ends in late February. The flowers can be white, or pink, but the majority are purple. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
The season of Ban flowers starts in December and ends in late February. The flowers can be white, or pink, but the majority are purple Ban flowers are scentless. Each flower consists of four to five petals, pink pistil and purple veins. A Ban tree is two to six meters tall. It has rough, grey bark and abundant long branches. It is a great chance to enjoy a peaceful and fresh atmosphere when strolling along the Hanoi streets where Ban Flowers are in full bloom. It is said that Ban flower symbolizes sincerity, faithfulness and constancy in love. The Ban flowers can also be eaten as salad or boiled dishes accompanying with some specialties of ethnic minority groups. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
Hoang Dieu is one of the favorite places to capture beautiful pictures of many people as the flowers brighten the whole area in the spring. At the beginning of 1960, to respond to the tree planting festival launched by President Ho Chi Minh, urban planners have tried to plant Ban flowers in several streets, parks and around Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi. When the Ban flowers blossom, the streets in Hanoi seem to be more romantic. Photographing Ban Flowers in full bloom every spring is the joy of many young people in Hanoi. It can be easily seen the image of a girl wearing a charming ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) stands next to a Ban flower tree, trying to find ideas for posing. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. Hoang Dieu is one of the favorite places to capture beautiful pictures of many people as the flowers brighten the whole area in the spring. Soon after Tet holiday in February and March, Hanoi’s street scenery changed their appearance with beautiful purple Ban (Bauhinia flower) Flower. During this springtime, Hanoi’s streets become increasingly opulent thanks to the pristine beauty of lowers in full bloom. The season of Ban flowers starts in December and ends in late February. The flowers can be white, or pink, but the majority are purple. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
Each flower consists of four to five petals, pink pistil and purple veins. A Ban tree is about two to six meters tall or even 12 meters. It has rough, grey bark and abundant long branches. It is a great chance to enjoy a peaceful and fresh atmosphere when strolling along the Hanoi streets where Ban Flowers are in full bloom. It is said that Ban flower symbolizes sincerity, faithfulness and constancy in love. The Ban flowers can also be eaten as salad or boiled dishes accompanying with some specialties of ethnic minority groups. Although they originate from the northwestern mountain region, Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
Although they originate from the northwestern mountain region, Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. Hoang Dieu is one of favorite places to capture beautiful pictures of many people. Every year, Ban flower starts blooming in early spring, usually in March. Its florescence is mostly in early April and it draws to an end in May. When Ban flowers on every branch fully bloom and cover up all leaves, from the far distance, the tree looks like a candy floss in big size, which creates an attractive many flower lovers. (Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
When the Ban flowers blossom, the streets in Hanoi seem to be more romantic. Photographing Ban Flowers in full bloom every spring is the joy of many young people in Hanoi. It can be easily seen the image of a girl wearing a charming ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) stands next to a Ban flower tree, trying to find ideas for posing. There are many kinds of Ban flower, most of Ban flowers in Hanoi are white and purple. At the beginning of 1960, to respond to the tree planting festival launched by President Ho Chi Minh, urban planners have tried to plant Ban flowers in several streets, parks and around Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Each branch of the tree has the brownish shell and heart-shaped leaves. Unlike most plants, the leaves of Ban flower tree distributes sparsely in a branch. Especially, Ban flower does not have only one color but it is various with the white, red, purple color or even the mix of these colors. The fragrance of Ban flower is very pleasant, it can spread through a wide range of hills in Sapa. In the winter, Ban flower tree sheds all leaves. When the warm spring is coming, the tree flushes and grows strong. Ban flower means ‘sweet flower’ according to Thai language.(Photo: Minh Son/ Vietnamplus) 
It is a great chance to enjoy a peaceful and fresh atmosphere when strolling along the Hanoi streets where Ban Flowers are in full bloom. With an innocent white colour and gentle fragrance, orchids start to bloom in mid February and are in full bloom in March. Each Ban flower has five petals. Its fragrance is strongest at sunrise, when the wind helps disperse the fragrance. In the lore of Thai ethnic minority people, the flower is named after a beautiful woman named Ban, who is in love with a strong man named Khum. Many men in the village wanted to marry her. But she fell in love with Khum. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
However, parents of Ban prohibited the lovers to meet and forced the girl to marry a rich man instead. Ban snuck into Khum’s village to meet him but she could not find him at his house. She left her scarf at his staircase as a sign that she had been there and rushed to search for him. She wandered from mountain to mountain and called to him, before collapsing exhausted under some trees. When Khum returned from working in the fields, he found Ban’s scarf at this house and sensed something bad had happened to her. He searched for her from forest to forest, before he perished of exhaustion and turned into a lonely bird, flying about looking for his lover. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Where Ban died a tree grew, which bloomed with white flowers in spring. People heard birds twittering like Khum calling for his girlfriend and named the tree after the woman to remember their beautiful but tragic love. It is said that Ban flower symbolizes sincerity, faithfulness and constancy in love. The Ban flowers can also be eaten as salad or boiled dishes accompanying with some specialties of ethnic minority groups. Although they originate from the northwestern mountain region, Ban flowers have been grown in Hanoi along Hoang Dieu, Bac Son, Giang Vo, and Nguyen Chi Thanh streets for a long time. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) VNA
