These days, lotus flowers are blooming profusely in the Imperial City, along the streets, and in the suburbs of Hue, bringing it a peaceful and gentle beauty. Lotus flowers have always been closely connected to the people of Hue. Wherever visitors travel in Hue, they will encounter lotus ponds and lakes.

Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Phan Ngoc Tho, along with representatives of a number of departments and agencies, local people, as well as tourists, participated in the procession offering lotus flowers to President Ho Chi Minh at the Special National Monument - President Ho Chi Minh’s childhood Memorial House in Duong No Village (Phu Duong Commune, Hue City) on the morning of May 19th.

I happened to come across a Facebook post of a friend currently living in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It read, “seeing seven blooming pink lotus flowers celebrating Vesak on Nhan Co Lake reminds me so much of my hometown - Hue, where Ngu Mountain and the Perfume River reside.”

The procession of Uncle’s Ho portrait photo and lotus flowers was held solemnly on the morning of May 17 at Duong No Village (Phu Duong Commune, Hue City) – the place associated with his childhood.

In the lakes around Hue Imperial Citadel and all over the periphery of Hue City, white lotus flowers have begun to bloom, bringing the pure and brilliant beauty.

Inside the Forbidden City, Thai Binh Pavilion was once used by the king for reading books and reciting poems above the quiet surface of Ngoc Dich Lake. Visitors can leisurely sit on a boat gently surfing on the lake and enjoy the pure taste of lotus tea while admiring the palaces, fortresses, and the beauty of the royal Parasol flowers.

Though not as bright and passionate as lotus flowers in the summer, lotus flowers in the autumn seem to be showing a gentle and romantic look.

Blooming meekly and humbly on the grassy banks of the roads and the fields, the Bidens pilosa flowers with thin white petals carry an immense charm.

Early-season lotus flowers are in their full bloom in the Citadel as well as Hue city's suburbs, bringing in the peaceful and gentle beauty.