The plum blossom season that attracted a record number of visitors recently also marks the time when the highlands of Sơn La, Northwest region, enter the season of the ban flower and the mountain hawthorn bloom, covering the mountains and forests in white. Engaging festivals associated with the blooming seasons will take place this March, inviting tourists from near and far to experience and explore.
The Ban Flower Festival in 2025 will be organized by Sơn La City over two days (March 15 and 16) at the Northwest Square. The festival becomes a hallmark of the mountain town of Sơn La, held during the blooming of the ban flowers, meeting the sightseeing and experience needs of the locals and visitors; preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the city’s ethnic groups; while also promoting the cultural and tourism potential of Sơn La City.
For the first time as part of the Ban Flower Festival, the Mountain Climbing Competition will take place, allowing participants to conquer and experience the majestic and poetic scenery. Along with that will be an impressive cultural space, including the Thai Xoe art performance contest; a scarf embroidery contest; a beauty pageant showcasing ethnic costumes in the beautiful backdrop of the Ban flower hill; an ethnic cuisine exhibit; and folk games…
At the same time (on March 15 and 16), in the largest area of wild pear cultivation in the country, Ngọc Chiến commune, Mường La district, Sơn La will host the Wild Pear Flower Festival. This is the “golden” time for visitors to admire the magnificent beauty of the wild pear flowers, which are expected to bloom at their best from mid-March to the end of April.
Ngoc Chien Commune, Muong La District, is situated at an altitude of over 1,600 meters above sea level, approximately 80 km from Son La City via Provincial Road 106. The wild pear blossom area in Nam Nghiep village spans over 1,600 hectares; during the blooming season, the entire space is filled with pure white blossoms, creating a magnificent and poetic landscape.
At this year’s wild pear blossom festival, visitors will not only be able to admire and take photos with the white flowering wild pear forests in the high mountainous region but also learn about the culture and customs of the local people.
Mr. Lo Van Thoa, Chairman of Ngoc Chien Commune People’s Committee, shared that this year’s festival features some new points, including activities that will be held at Nam Nghiep village – the area with the largest and most beautiful wild pear trees. We also aim to promote the distinctive products and traditional cultural aspects of the Hmong people in the wild pear region of Ngoc Chien, showcasing the beauty and traditional costumes of the Hmong ethnic group, with participation from the elderly, youth, and young women…
Alongside the wild pear blossom season, rhododendron flowers will also bloom in the forests of Ta Tao area, Nam Nghiep village, Ngoc Chien Commune. The rhododendron flower festival will be held for the first time at the commune level, scheduled to take place on April 5 and 6 at the Nam Nghiep village stadium, Ngoc Chien, Muong La, about three weeks after the wild pear blossom festival.
