In March, the red silk-cotton flowers at Thay Pagoda in Hanoi’s outskirts district of Quoc Oai are in full bloom, beautifying the ancient pagoda. Thay Pagoda, also known as Ca or Thien Phuc Tu Pagoda, is located at the foot of Sai mountain (Thay mountain) in Sai Son commune, Quoc Oai district, around 25km southwest from Hanoi city centre. The pagoda has long been a spiritual tourist attraction by its charming landscape, unique ancient architecture in harmony with nature. Every year, Thay Pagoda Festival is held on the third lunar month to pay homage to Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh – who has made great contributions to the people and the ancestor of water puppetry. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) 
Thay Pagoda is one of the most attractive spiritual sites in Hanoi. The pagoda was built in the Ly Dynasty, associated with the anecdote of Tu Dao Hanh. His reputation was told by the stories about his great magic and kindness in helping people without asking for return. He was also a choreographer of traditional water puppetry. Other thing made him mysteriously sainted was that at the end of his life, the Buddhist monk sat in meditation for several months without food and drink and died in that posture. Coincidentally in the year of his death (1116), King Ly Than Tong was born, leading to the myth that King Ly Than Tong was the afterlife of Tu Dao Hanh. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) 
Located in charming scenery, Thay Pagoda is home to restore the historical - cultural values of Vietnam country. Unique architecture and magnificent natural scenery has turned Thay Pagoda into one of the most attractive tourist sites in Hanoi. Located at the foot of arc-shaped limestone among the delta in Sai Son commune, Thay Pagoda, also known as Master Pagoda, is situated in two villages, namely Da Phuc and Thuy Khue, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi. It is the charming natural scenery with the landscapes looking like the Penglai world. The pagoda is associated with the name of Monk Tu Dao Hanh, who had great success in teaching and healing the locals as well as organized and established wrestling and water puppetry. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) 
The main festival of Thay Pagoda takes place from 5-7 March of the lunar calendar. Thay Pagoda Festival surely brings the feelings of delight for tourists. The Buddhists who worship Buddhist for the peace and luck together with tourists going sightseeing create the crowded and lively festive season. In March, it is also time for the red silk-cotton flowers to bloom in this ancient pagoda of nearly 1,000 years old, creating a unique beauty that is hard to find. According to Oriental medicine, the whole rice plant is used as medicine with the effect of heat, detoxification. Particularly flowers are used to treat many diseases such as stomach ulcers, duodenum. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) 
Bombax ceiba, like other trees of the genus Bombax, is commonly known as cotton tree. More specifically, it is sometimes known as Malabar silk-cotton tree; red silk-cotton; red cotton tree; or ambiguously as silk-cotton or kapok, both of which may also refer to Ceiba pentandra. This Asian tropical tree has a straight tall trunk and its leaves are deciduous in winter. Red flowers with 5 petals appear in the spring before the new foliage. It produces a capsule which, when ripe, contains white fibres like cotton. Its trunk bears spikes to deter attacks by animals. Although its stout trunk suggests that it is useful for timber, its wood is too soft to be very useful. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) 
A corner of Thay pagoda looks like a water colour picture which mixes the green colour of the lake and the red colour of silk-cotton flower. When the fields turn greenish with young rice, the beginning of the silk-cotton flower season comes. The warm red hue of the flowers erases the dark red flower buds, springing up poetic, bringing the typical beauty of the northern countryside. The five-petaled rice flowers are bright red. When falling down from the tree, the petals rotate quickly like a pinwheel. The flowers are often described as a burning fire. Silk-cotton flowers, as well as the river, the roof, the village gate, have long been familiar images of Vietnam countryside. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) 
Springtime is the season for red silk-cotton flowers to bloom. Once the leaves fall to the ground, only the flower blossoms remain on the branches. Red silk-cotton tree is widespread from India to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, southern China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, and the Philippines. However, its exact origin is unclear because it has been so widely cultivated for centuries in many warm, seasonally dry and humid areas in southern Asia. Its natural habitat, though, is likely hot, humid, seasonally dry, mostly lowland, tropical moist, deciduous monsoon forests in river valleys and hillsides to about 3,700 feet elevation. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) 
Thay pagoda has become an attractive destination for young people, especially when the red silk-cotton flowers bloom. Boasting a perfect Feng Shui setting, with the small picturesque lake in the foreground and the mountain at its rear, the structures and gardens of Thay pagoda are both serene and artfully crafted. Built during the reign of Emperor Nhan Tong of the Ly Dynasty in the 11th century, this is one of the oldest Buddhist Temples in Vietnam. Pass by buildings of attractive architecture along the lake's edge and cross over one of the arched, covered bridges to access the clearing facing the lake. Here you will see the theater used for water puppet shows, the art of which is believed originated here in the 11th Century. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam +) 
In every March, when the red silk-cotton flowers bloom, many people, especially women, come to visit the pagoda and pose with the flowers. The warm red hue of the flowers erases the dark red flower buds, springing up poetic, bringing the typical beauty of the northern countryside. The five-petaled rice flowers are bright red. When falling down from the tree, the petals rotate quickly like a pinwheel. The flowers are often described as a burning fire. When red silk cotton trees bloom, it’s a signal for local farmers. It is time to plant sesame trees or time to put away warm blankets. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam +) 
Red silk-cotton tree is widespread from India to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, southern China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, and the Philippines. However, its exact origin is unclear because it has been so widely cultivated for centuries in many warm, seasonally dry and humid areas in southern Asia. Its natural habitat, though, is likely hot, humid, seasonally dry, mostly lowland, tropical moist, deciduous monsoon forests in river valleys and hillsides to about 3,700 feet elevation. Silk-cotton flowers are in full bloom in March. The tree is also called “Gao”, “Moc Mien” or “Po Lang” tree in Vietnamese. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) 
Easily one of the world’s most spectacular flowering trees, the silk-cotton flower trees are famous for its large, showy, six-inch flowers with thick, waxy, red petals that densely clothe leafless branch tips in late winter and early spring. Thay pagoda is usually blessed with picturesque scenery throughout March due to the sight of a red vibrant colour coming from the blossoming silk cotton trees. When red silk cotton trees bloom, it’s a signal for local farmers. It’s time to plant sesame trees or time to put away warm blankets. Silk-cotton flower is also called “Gao”, “Moc Mien” or “Po Lang” in Vietnamese. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) VNA
