Lau Ong Hoang's Purple Crape Myrtle Hill in Full Bloom

Purple Blossoms Captivate Visitors

Throughout the day, from dawn to dusk, people flock to Lau Ong Hoang Hill to experience the beautiful sunrise or sunset and admire the vibrant purple crape myrtles in full bloom. Spanning nearly 200 meters along Nguyen Thong Street in Phu Thuy Ward, a multitude of purple-flowering trees forms a picturesque landscape, making this spot a popular destination for both residents and tourists seeking photo opportunities.

As travelers journey from the center of Phan Thiet to Mui Ne, they encounter several famous sights, including Crape Myrtle Hill, the Po Sah Inu Towers National Historic Site, Lau Ong Hoang Hill, and Ong Dia Rocky Beach. During the blooming season, the purple flowers enhance the beauty of Han Mac Tu Hill, drawing many visitors keen to explore and capture memorable photographs.

Nguyen Thi Lieu, who lives in Phan Thiet Ward, expressed her delight at the vibrant purple hillside during a family trip to Mui Ne. She paused to soak in the view, snap some pictures, and upload them to her social media. "I frequently drive along this road, but this is the first time I've seen the crape myrtles in full bloom on Han Mac Tu Hill," she remarked.

Tran Thi Thanh Thuong, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said:"I have visited Phan Thiet countless times for vacations, but this is my first experience witnessing the crape myrtle hill at sunset. The whole hillside is adorned with purple flowers, and taking a moment to capture a few photos has made this visit even more special."

Beyond the roadside trees along Nguyen Thong Street, visitors can follow a small trail up the hillside to explore the crape myrtle grove within the grounds of the Po Sah Inu Towers National Historic Site. From there, it is also convenient to continue to nearby attractions such as Ong Dia Rocky Beach, Sunset Slope, and The Silk Road.

Preserving the Beauty of the Blooming Season

Tran Duc Dung, who is in charge of managing the Po Sah Inu Towers National Historic Site, stated that the trees represent a native type of crape myrtle, the same species found on Tau Mountain in Vinh Hao Commune. Over the previous two years, the site management board collaborated with the People's Committee of Phu Thuy Ward to plant more trees, resulting in a grove of over 500 crape myrtles. "This year, numerous trees have blossomed at the same time, creating a new attraction at the base of the hill and drawing in many visitors," he remarked.

Situated approximately five kilometers from the center of Phan Thiet, Han Mac Tu Hill—also referred to as Ba Nai Hill—hosts the Po Sah Inu Towers National Historic Site and the remnants of Lau Ong Hoang, which is closely tied to the poignant love story between the poet Han Mac Tu and the poetess Mong Cam. Each season of blooming enhances the beauty of the landscape, attracting visitors who wish to appreciate the scenery and take memorable photographs.

Nevertheless, as tourist numbers have increased, some visitors have behaved irresponsibly. Several have broken off flowering branches to pose for photographs or taken them home as keepsakes, damaging the trees.

Nguyen Thi Lieu expressed regret over visitors picking flowers for personal enjoyment. "These flowers are meant for everyone to savor and to create lasting memories. If every visitor takes responsibility, we can collectively safeguard the beauty of the crape myrtle hill for our community," she expressed.

Amid the soft purple shades of the blooming season, Han Mac Tu Hill and Lau Ong Hoang provide visitors with more than just a picturesque getaway. They embody the lasting values of nature, history, and one of Vietnam's most revered literary love stories. Preserving this seasonal beauty for future generations will require the collective awareness and responsibility of all who visit.