The garden is located in Chieng Di, Van Son ward, right at the gateway to Moc Chau, convenient for visitors traveling from Hanoi to Moc Chau.

The flower garden spans about 5,000 square meters, cultivated through private investment. Wide paths wind through the garden, allowing visitors to easily access the flower beds for photographs.

The garden owner stated that rhododendrons typically grow in deep forests, but they have been propagated and planted here to create an additional check-in location for tourists.

Quang Kien, a local tourism professional, mentioned that in addition to plum blossoms, wild sunflowers, and mustard flowers that define Moc Chau's tourism brand, the rhododendron season offers another option for visitors in march. "The flowers are currently in their fullest and most beautiful bloom, attracting hundreds of visitors daily", Kien said.

The flower garden opens to visitors from 7h daily. Admission costs 40,000 VND per person, with no time limit on the experience.

Rhododendron is a shrub with the scientific name *Rhododendron simsii Planch*. Mature plants grow to about 2 m tall, with many branches, upright small shoots, and dark gray bark. Rhododendron flowers form clusters of two to six blooms at the branch tips. The calyx is 4 mm long, with five lobes and numerous fine hairs.

Rhododendron flowers come in various colors, including red, pink, and white, with red being the most common. The blooming season typically extends from february to april. In Vietnam, this species is found in several mountainous provinces such as Lao Cai, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Hue, and Quang Ngai.

In traditional Eastern medicine, rhododendron is utilized as a medicinal herb, with various parts such as flowers, leaves, roots, and seeds. Flowers are typically harvested in spring, leaves in summer and autumn, and roots can be collected year-round, used fresh or dried.

Within the flower garden, the owner has arranged mini landscapes, such as stairs and wooden houses, catering to the check-in preferences of younger visitors.

Quang Kien suggested that visitors should go to the rhododendron garden mid-week to avoid crowds. For beautiful background photos, guests should use a wide-angle lens and shoot from noon to afternoon when the weather is dry and clear of fog.

Moc Chau is situated at an altitude of about 1,000 m, with cool and pleasant weather in late spring, not overly hot. Visitors can choose to wear an ao dai or a white dress and pose against the vibrant red backdrop of the flowers.

Moc Chau is nearly 200 km from central Hanoi, taking four hours to travel by oto. Visitors can choose bus routes to Son La from My Dinh or Yen Nghia bus stations, disembarking at Moc Chau. From there, tourists can rent a motorbike or use local *xe om* (motorbike taxi) to reach attractions in the area.

Tuan Anh

Photos: *Quang Kien*