The pond is located about 13km from Hanoi downtown. It impresses visitors by the unique beauty of lotus flowers of different kinds blooming under the sun. The pond is becoming a rising "check-in" place in Hanoi and a popular photo taking destination for lotus lovers. Thanks to the massive area of 7.5-hectare with a spectacular scene of thousands of blossoming flowers, it is well-known as a “lotus paradise”. Typically, the lotus season starts late May and lasts until early September, depending on the region. They are said to be at their beautiful best in June and in September, as autumn knocks on the door. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The pond is owned by the Centre for Experimental, Research and Development of Lotus Genetic Resources, which is located at No. 234 Ngo Xuan Quan street, Trau Quy, Gia Lam district, Hanoi. Thousands of lotus flowers come into full bloom every morning, spreading a fragrant aroma in the atmosphere. Lotus flowers play an important role and special position in both Vietnamese spirit and culture. By contemplating lotus blossoming, we can see and recognise images of Vietnamese people. The lotus stands for beauty in Vietnam. It reaches through the mud and grime to show off its colour and shape to the world. These blossoms have long been linked to Buddhism, nobility, and pure thoughts. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Covering an area of 7.5 hectares, the pond is home to the most lotus varieties in Vietnam. The lotus pond was cultivated two years ago, housing many precious types of lotuses from various localities in Vietnam, including those from Dong Thap, Cu Chi, and Hue. There are also imported lotus species from China and other Asian counties as well as new lotus varieties created from breeding methods. Prominent among the lotus varieties are Drop Blood Tender Girl and Pink Diamonds Lotus, which is also known as the pink diamond lotus. It also has Tender Girl Lotus variety which is popular in China. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
La Tien Hiep, manager of the lotus pond, has nearly 10 years of research on lotus species. As a unit under the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, the Centre for Experimental, Research and Development of Lotus Genetic Resources is assigned with the task of studying and creating new lotus varieties, which have various advantages, including the ability to face the harsh weather conditions in northern Vietnam and keep fragrancy longer. Along with cultivating many precious types of lotuses from various localities in Vietnam, including those from Dong Thap, Cu Chi, and Hue, the pond also develops varieties found in China and Australia. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
According to Hiep, the Centre for Experimental, Research and Development of Lotus Genetic Resources was founded in June 2019. After two years, the centre is owning 167 lotus varieties. Regardless of differences in blooming timing, growth rate and nutrition demand, all lotus varieties need nearly the same care. Tender Girl Lotus variety is popular in China, but it is difficult for it to survive in the hot and humid climate in northern Vietnam. Thanks to years of effort, Hiep has produced a new variety with better weather resistance. Meanwhile, the pink diamond lotus is a very rare lotus variety in Vietnam and in the world. Its scent is very strong and long lasting. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
At present, the pond is home to the largest number of lotus varieties in Vietnam. It has also developed four new varieties with prominent features such as longer-lasting smell and colour, and stronger resilience to the tough weather conditions in the northern region. Various valuable lotus varieties are planted here, creating a colourful and unique scenery. Thousands of lotus flowers of different colours (pink, yellow, white, red) showcase their beauty under the sun. The model of polyculture is applied here to help different lotus species naturally crossbreed with each other to create new varieties. Each day, 800 to 1,000 lotus flowers are harvested from the pond and distributed to every corner of Hanoi. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
According to Hiep, the Centre for Experimental, Research and Development of Lotus Genetic Resources, run by the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, has been researching for new lotus varieties. Along with multiplying varieties of lotus, the pond also provides a large number of flowers to the market. Lotus plants bring high economic benefits because all parts of the plant, such as the flower, leaves, seeds and roots are utilised. For example, the flowers are used for decoration, stamens for scenting tea, roots for preparing salads, soups and steaming with meat, seeds for making sugar coated products and sweeten porridge, seed’s cores being used as a tranquiliser and antipyretic and even leaves being used to wrap Com (green rice flakes). (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Hiep said that the major differences among the lotus varieties include blooming timing, growth rate and nutrition demand. In Oriental medicine, lotus is a rare remedy and is beneficial for healthcare. Lotus seeds are sweet and neutral, benefiting the spleen and for treating nerve damage. The seed’s core is bitter and used to lower high blood pressure and serves as an antipyretic. Lotus seed-pods are bitter and used to treat symptoms of discharge of blood. In Vietnam, lotus plants grow in all parts of the country. Its flower has a pleasant fragrance and elegant beauty and has been cherished as a rare variety of flower that represents the noble mind and pure spirit of the Vietnamese. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The pond has become a destination for researchers as well as those who interested in exploring the unique flower and its development. In Vietnam, Lotus is the national flower. It is known as the flower of the dawn and is the symbol of purity, commitment and optimism for the future. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater and rises and opens again at dawn. Vietnamese people have considered lotus as a symbol of beauty overcoming darkness. Lotus is known as an exquisite flower, symbolises the purity, serenity, commitment and optimism of the future as it is the flower which grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The lotus stands for beauty in Vietnam. It reaches through the mud and grime to show off its colour and shape to the world. These blossoms have long been linked to Buddhism, nobility, and pure thoughts. Every traditional village in Vietnam boasts a bamboo hedge, a banyan tree, and a lotus pond. In Vietnam, pink lotus blooms are symbolise romantic love. Such is the Vietnamese love for lotus that it was voted as the country’s national flower — for which one of the criteria was that it “must be ubiquitous around Vietnam”, and it would be hard to travel through Vietnam during lotus season without coming across a pond or lake filled with them. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Lotus flowers can be many different colours, and each carries its own meaning. White represents purity, while pink shows a devotion to Buddha. Blue, with its wisdom and logic, represents enlightenment. Purple shows spirituality, and green is the colour of rebirth. As well as being beautiful to look at, and having a wonderful fragrance, lotus flowers have other uses: the young stems are used in salad, the stamens can be dried and made into a herbal tea and the lotus seeds are eaten raw, dried or boiled. Lotus is an important ingredient in Vietnamese culture and every part is utilised in both cuisine and medicine. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Many lotus lovers have come to the area to take photos in every summer. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors to the site must follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message and book beforehand to avoid big gathering in public. The lotus season usually starts from the end of May until the beginning of September. In June every year, pink and white lotuses are blossoming everywhere in Vietnam, from lakes, ponds to temples. The most popular places with lotus flowers are West Lake in Hanoi, Tinh Tam Lake inside the Imperial Palace in Hue and the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The research results of the centre are expected to help farmers find a new way to improve their economic situation, as along with its beauty, it also boasts high economic value. Each lotus bunch is sold from 150,000 VND to 200,000 VND (6.5 USD to 8.6 USD) depending on the type of lotus. A kilo of fresh seeds can be sold at 30,000-50,000 VND (1.29 -2.15 USD) while the dried seeds are 160,000 VND (7 USD) per kilo. The beauty of lotus flowers and their scent during summer days also attracts many visitors who come for sign-seeing and photo taking, which also brings additional income to lotus growers. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Lotus flowers can be many different colours, and each carries its own meaning. Lotus has been a symbol for the Buddhist art since Ly dynasty. It was decorated on the pagoda's column base of the Ly dynasty. For example, it was embossed on the base of the Buddha statue in Phat Tich Pagoda, the oldest stone Buddha statue in Vietnam. It was also featured on the ceramic pot, bowl and situlae... celadon, white and brown glazed. For Buddhists, the way that water slides off lotus petals represents the detachment aspect of their faith, which tells them to let go of lusts, cravings and desires. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
In Vietnamese fine arts, the lotus can be seen in many types of materials and types of antiquities. On Thanh Mai bronze bell that was casted in 789 and is now being preserved in Hanoi Museum, bands of lotus were carved on the shoulder and around the bell’s knob. In the collection of Hue Royal art in the Vietnam National Museum of History, there are many objects with the subject of the lotus flower or lotus leaf, in bronze and silver. For example, the betel trays, betel box, face washing basin, candle holder, wine pot... were all used in the Nguyen Royal Family. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Hiep said that lotus varieties are planted near each other with a random mixing, thus allowing natural propagation and creating new varieties. It takes the centre three to four years to make a new variety. Currently, it provides to the market about eight types of lotus to meet the demand of consumers in the capital city. According to Hiep, due to a shortage in supply, in the future, the centre plans to cooperate with localities to form lotus farming cooperatives. Meanwhile, in each season, the centre also chooses 5,000-10,000 flowers to make lotus tea – a kind of tea that is favoured by a large number of tea lovers. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Hiep said that although he has made research on lotus for 7-10 years, he started plant lotus directly in 2018. Each day, he wakes up from 3am to harvest lotus. At about 6am, all the lotus flowers started to be delivered to all localities in Hanoi. It is necessary to transport the flowers before the sunlight is hard to maintain the scent of the flowers. Each day, 800 to 1,000 lotus flowers are harvested from the pond and distributed to every corner of Hanoi. Each lotus bunch is sold from 150,000 VND to 200,000 VND (6.5 USD to 8.6 USD) depending on the type of lotus. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Tender Girl lotus (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Drop Blood Lotus (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Tra sen (lotus-scented tea) is a special and sophisticated drink, especially in Hanoi and Hue. A kilo of tea needs 1000-1200 lotus flowers. A special marinating process is required before being dried, with flowers and then marinated five to seven times in order to let the lotus taste soak into the tea. Lotus heart tea is also a popular choice of tea for its medical properties. Lotus tea is jade green in colour, with tightly twisted leaves and with a pale, amber-coloured infusion. For many generations in capital city of Hanoi, the art of enjoying lotus-scented tea has always been a beautiful experience. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
In each season, the centre chooses 5,000-10,000 flowers to make lotus tea. The procedure of making lotus tea is very complicated and requires a lot of meticulous work. At 4-5am, before sunrise, people have to row out to pick lotus blossoms. They then choose the best lotus blossoms, disassemble them, and gently and quickly peel “lotus rice”, the small fragrant organs on the blossoms known as stamens. Along with lotus petal, they use stamens in the initial scenting process. Tea will be embalmed with these petals for two days then dried up for the next step with lotus stamens, which is the most important part in scenting lotus tea. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Lotus is considered the soul of the Vietnamese culture. Lotus flowers play an important role and special position in Vietnamese spirit. Vietnamese people have considered the lotus as a symbol of beauty overcoming darkness. Lotus is known as an exquisite flower, symbolises the purity, serenity, commitment and optimism of the future as it is the flower which grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. An old chant states: “No other species in the lake can rival lotuses/ Green leaves, white blossoms and yellow pistils/ Yellow pistils, white blossoms and green leaves/ Never tarnished by the dirty mud nearby.” (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
