March in Ha Giang

It was a chilly March morning. I was wearing a thin company uniform shirt, so it wasn’t warm enough, but when the cold seeped into my skin, it felt pleasant. The morning sun was slanting in the gentle breeze. The morning dew still lingered on the spider webs woven on the green grass on both sides of the asphalt road leading to the factory. From afar, it looked like small white snow piles sparkling in the early morning sun, a very pleasing sight.

Ha Giang stone fence.

On March mornings, people flock to the factory from all directions. Some leisurely, some in a hurry to make it to the morning meeting. The factory with its towers and chimneys emitting high steam. In the midst of such a beautiful March scene, if an industrial factory is added, the freshness seems to fade. But if you prepare yourself with a beautiful soul, the early morning sunlight at the factory also has its own poetry. Poetry when you feel the contrast between nature and the advanced technology of mankind. Like two opposing pieces but located together in the same space, it is like a painting with two contrasting colors creating an impressive impression.

For me, when March comes, the most beautiful scene in my country is when I can wander on the winding roads of the Ha Giang rocky plateau in the middle of the cotton flower season. The cotton tree in March is bright red with flower buds. The bare trunk stretches out strong, sharp branches. The tree often chooses to grow below the steep hillside, or on the other side is a high rocky mountain. The small road in the thin mist winds between the deep hillsides and the towering mountains, then suddenly is dotted with the strong bright red color of the cotton flowers. Add the turquoise color winding like a strip of cloth of the river along the road, all creating a beautiful natural picture.

What could be more interesting than finding a motorbike, cruising through that scene in the March weather, to feel small and see the vastness of the land and sky. All worries seem to disappear. Travelers immerse themselves in nature to feel the beauty of the land and sky with all their open senses. Then they will find every breath is strangely sweet and rich. That March in the Dong Van stone plateau also has yellow mustard flowers, white pear flowers with black pistils, blooming peach flowers, white and pink bauhinia flowers, and buckwheat flowers on the hillsides. A plateau with so many colors of flowers that captivate people's hearts.

Coming to Ha Giang for the first time in March, people are easily captivated and deeply fall in love with this land at the head of the country. Then they will fall in love with the green Nho Que River, then they will fall in love with the majestic Tu San Gorge between the towering mountain passes, then they will fall in love with the Happiness Road carrying hope as its name suggests, proudly crossing one of the four great mountain passes, Ma Pi Leng Pass, then they will fall in love with the coldness of the cat ear rocks to see that human strength is limitless, then they will fall in love with the slopes and the passes.

Then you will love your travel companion even more. Because March in Ha Giang is still very cold, so people need a tight hug in the smoky breath. And my friend, if you have the chance to go in March, remember to stop by the roadside to buy some grilled sticky corn to nibble on. The corn is very fragrant and will temporarily fill your stomach during the long journey.

When you come to Dong Van town at night, remember to eat a bowl of bitter but fatty au tau porridge. Remember to go to the market early the next morning and eat pork pho with pickled cat cabbage. I must confess that it was the best bowl of pho I have ever had in my life.

And I also feel sorry for the people here who still have many hardships. The little children do not have enough warm clothes and carry baskets that are too big for them. The nature is beautiful but everywhere are jagged rocks. Getting the rocks to bloom is not an easy task. The people here have to dig up every bit of soil in the small holes in the rocks to plant a few corn plants.

March is no longer the bitter cold of winter while the heat of summer has not yet arrived. March is filled with the fresh green of spring plants and young buds. March is so beautiful that not going on a trip would be like committing a sin against nature. What are you waiting for? Plan a long trip to a place where nature is calling you.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/thang-ba-ha-giang-10300385.html