The fragrant grapefruit scent on the streets of Hanoi confuses pedestrians.

Of course, pedestrians passing by the street cannot ignore the beauty and fragrance of this special flower, because in the city, the grapefruit flower season does not appear much, nor last long, but is enough to make anyone who sees it feel many emotions from that fragrance....

When I stopped for a while with a lady selling grapefruit flowers on Xa Dan Street, I discovered something quite interesting and simple. That is why bicycles carrying grapefruit flowers for sale in Hanoi often stop at large streets, two-way roads on each side are very wide and airy.

Even in the old town, there are not many people selling grapefruit flowers like on streets like Le Duan, Giai Phong, Xa Dan, Lang Ha...

Although there are many reasons, but first of all in terms of traffic, it seems that everyone wants to stop longer next to this car full of familiar scent, so there needs to be a large space, otherwise it will more or less cause traffic congestion.

huong buoi thom cho bo hanh boi roi hinh anh 1 — Bicycles carrying grapefruit flowers for sale in Hanoi often stop at large streets, two-way roads on each side are very wide and airy (Photo: Vu Loan/VOVGT)

The grapefruit flowers are so fragrant that even from a distance of 20-30m, in a crowded street space, thick with the smell of exhaust fumes and dusty rain, this fragrance can still reach our senses. At that time, our eyes will search, and our hearts will want to find a way to return, as a flower buyer shared:

"The scent of grapefruit flowers is really lingering. I passed by but still felt like I wanted to look back. It was really impressive, because in the city I rarely smell the scent of flowers and grass. It's both rustic and sweet, in general, it's unforgettable. Suddenly on the street I caught a scent like that, I just wanted to look back, even after passing by I wanted to go back to bring a bit of that fragrance home."

The listener’s confusion and hesitation between going on or turning back was so adorable. And when they liked something, they stopped to buy and choose, whether it was the fragrant fallen grapefruit flowers or the pure white and green buds on the branches, neatly and carefully wrapped, both the seller and the buyer cherished it.

Around 25,000-40,000 VND/tael of grapefruit flowers is at the end of the season, more or less bringing the seller a comfortable income. Especially when grapefruit flowers sell very quickly, the seller does not need to bring them to the old town or move to another street to sell.

"Of course I like it. I buy it every day. The grapefruit flowers are fragrant and beautiful."

"Because it has a strong scent and is very familiar, it reminds me of the countryside and gardens, I like it."

huong buoi thom cho bo hanh boi roi hinh anh 2 — Photo: Vu Loan/VOVGT

The flower seller saw customers coming in to buy, each person paid one or two ounces, but in just a moment, more than half of the flower tray was gone. Especially those customers who chose grapefruit flowers to offer on the full moon and the first day of the lunar month, she both sold and sent a little of her heart to the buyer, using these small, fragrant flowers as a bridge:

"In general, people like this flower so they buy it quickly. I don't have anything, but I send a bouquet of grapefruit flowers to worship and burn incense for them. I just have the heart..."

Remembering the verses in the poem "Silent Fragrance" by poet Phan Thi Thanh Nhan that perhaps many listeners listening to the program Walking Through the Street right now also want to sing:

Fragrant grapefruit flowers make the heart confused

I dare not ask

The girl did not dare to give

Only warm and elegant scent

Can't hide, just fly gently

The girl is like a silent flower cluster

Let the fragrance speak for love…

The scent of grapefruit on the street certainly makes pedestrians somewhat linger and confused. It doesn’t have to be love between couples, just like pedestrians who are stopping a little longer to enjoy this scent in the flow of people going back and forth, then we are giving our beloved streets a gentle love…

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