Pure white lotus enchants flower lovers in Hanoi

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. 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. (Photo: Thoa Chu/ 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 salads, the stamens can be dried and made into a herbal tea and the lotus seeds are eaten raw, dried or boiled. In the photo: Many families come to lotus ponds in Tam Hung commune, Thanh Oai district to enjoy good time and capture beautiful moments (Photo: Thoa Chu/ Vietnamplus)

Vietnamese people have considered the lotus as a symbol of beauty overcoming darkness. Lotus is known as an exquisite flower, symbolizes 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.” Every traditional village in Vietnam boasts a bamboo hedge, a banyan tree, and a lotus pond. In Vietnam, pink lotus blooms are symbolised romantic love. (Photo: Thoa Chu/ Vietnamplus)

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. Lotus is known as an exquisite flower, symbolizes 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. In the photo: This white lotus pond is an attractive destination for many flower lovers during summer. (Photo: Thoa Chu/ Vietnamplus)

As well as being beautiful to look at, and having a wonderful fragrance, lotus flowers have other uses: the young stems are used in salads, the stamens can be dried and made into a herbal tea and the lotus seeds are eaten raw, dried or boiled. In particular, the 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. In the photo: A lady shows her love with white lotus flowers. (Photo: Thoa Chu/Vietnamplus)

Rarely is any plant used to make as many delicious dishes as the lotus. All parts of a lotus plant, including the flower, seeds, stem, root and heart, can be utilised to cook and decorate special food. The dishes made with lotus have distinctive flavours, adding to the diversification in Vietnamese cuisine. In addition to nutritional value, dishes made from lotus also have pharmacological, aesthetic, and cultural values. All parts of the lotus contain many vitamins and minerals, which are good for health, and are capable of supporting treatment for diseases. Being processed into dishes or used for decoration, lotus can create extremely delicate aesthetic effects.(Photo: Thoa Chu/ Vietnamplus)