Red petals

Dao Canh

In the late spring, when light rain drizzles and the grass turns a lush green, many spring flowers bloom and the trees start to bear young fruit. Sometimes, there is a deep cold snap that locals call “Miss Bân Winter”. This refers to a cold spell in late spring. In this somewhat gloomy weather, the cotton tree flowers burst into bloom, lighting up the land and sky.

Along with rivers, wharfs, and temple yards, red silk cotton trees (Bombax ceiba) are iconic sights in rural parts of Northern Vietnam. As simple as their name, cotton tree flowers have a rustic beauty, with thick, curved petals in a warm red hue. Red silk cotton trees in full bloom brighten a corner of the sky, whether they line the dyke roads or stand alone in the fields,  inspiring many photographers to capture them in rustic images of the Northern Vietnamese countryside.