White, yellow and other colors

Fields of white mustard flowers in Moc Chau, the northern province of Son La / FILE PHOTO

Moc Chau Plateau is not just blessed with beautiful landscapes, it is blessed with beautifully changing landscapes.

In the spring, for instance, apricot and plum blossoms are almost everywhere, painting the whole plateau white.

In the summer and autumn, Moc Chau looks as if it were painted in green – the color of tea plantations on hills. Here and there, red plums ripen on trees.

For this time of the year, between November and January, there are white mustard flowers, yellow tree marigold flowers, and occasionally red poinsettias.

This period is perhaps the most popular among Vietnamese travelers, especially young backpackers, who look forward to it like the Japanese do their cherry blossom season.

The white plateau

Thai and Mong ethnic minority peoples, who account for a majority of Moc Chau’s population plant white mustard trees to harvest oil from their seeds.

In the past, they planted the tree almost everywhere, creating vast white fields during the blossom season. The fields looked endless, as if running till the horizon, and almost hiding houses that were located in the middle of the fields.

Many people, therefore, dubbed Moc Chau “the white plateau.”

That nickname has never changed, even though in recent years locals have decreased mustard plantation size to add other trees like corns to improve their incomes.

One of the most famous venues is areas around Ban Ang (Ang Village), which is about two-five kilometers from Moc Chau Town. Another is Thong Cuong Village, about six kilometers from the town.

However, since locals plant the tree at different times, mustard flowers do not blossom at the same time. So, to find a good plantation, you should ask local people, who are willing to show you the way.

According to Moc Chau’s tourism management board, this year local people collect some fees (about VND10,000-20,000 per person at Ban Ang) from tourists who enter their plantations for taking photographs

Yellow marigold flowers are present almost everywher in Moc Chau / PHOTO COURTESY OF TUOI TRE

On the other hand, unlike mustard, a majority of tree marigold is left to grow in wild in Moc Chau; only a small part is grown as hedges.

Therefore, while it takes time and efforts for visitors to locate white mustard fields, the yellow flower that looks like sunflowers is practically present almost everywhere, even right at Moc Chau Town.

But, here are some venues that you can use as a striking background for your pictures: routes to Pa Phach 1 and 2 villages of Thai people, about 15 kilometers from the town; Na Kien Village, some five kilometers from the town; and Loong Luong Village, some 20 kilometers from the town.

Wanderer’s treats

Even though white mustard and tree marigold flowers are very attractive, while you are in Moc Chau, do not pursuit them only.

During my last trip, besides flower hunts, I kept wandering far from the town’s center.

On many occasions, I came across pleasures brought to me by both the nature and the human: a brightly yellow tree marigold hedge; a path with red poinsettias; a green hill of fragrant tea; a glass of ruou ngo (corn wine) treated by a young Mong man, warming me up in the cold weather; or bright smiles of local children.

At distant villages like Suoi Lin, Ban On, Ta Phin, Pa Khen, Tan Lap, and Loong Sap, I found the land’s peacefulness and simplicity.

I could sit for hours, watching local women doing their sewing, or local children playing, jumping, cycling, climbing on plum trees, and chit-chatting.

I have been to Moc Chau for too numerous times to remember, and I have a clear picture of the plateau in different seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

But, whenever white mustard flowers start blooming, I still want to come back to capture “the white plateau” on my camera, and wander around in the winter’s chilliness and fogginess.