Come May, hollong trees pave Saigon sidewalks in golden-brown hue

By Vu Hoc, Huynh Nhi May 17, 2021 | 02:30 am PT

Saigon's sidewalks are dyed golden brown in May as hollong petals descend to the ground, heralding the approaching rainy season.

Dipterocarpus retusus trees, known as cho nau, can be found along many streets across the city, but Pham Ngoc Thach, Le Quy Don, and Le Duan streets in District 1 and District 3 are home to the densest population of these beautiful trees. Every March, Dipterocarpus retusus flowers bloom with a mild fragance. Come April, Dipterocarpus retusus trees begin to grow seeds. As the weather heats up at the beginning of May, the petals turn brown and spin to the ground.

Hollong trees (Dipterocarpus retusus), known as cho nau in Vietnamese, can be found across the city, though Pham Ngoc Thach, Le Quy Don, and Le Duan streets in District 1 and District 3 are home to the densest population.
Every March, Dipterocarpus retusus flowers bloom with a mild fragrance. Come April, these trees begin to grow seeds. As the weather heats up at the beginning of May, their petals turn brown and spin to the ground.

These flowers have two petals which turn brownish yellow when they dry. They often spin like a pinwheel when the wind blows before landing and carpeting the sidewalks.

The flowers have two petals that turn brownish yellow when they dry. They often spin like a pinwheel when the wind blows before carpeting the sidewalks.

Dipterocarpus retusus is a large tree and perhaps the best known species in the genus Dipterocarpus. It is native to China, Vietnam and many other Southeast Asian countries.

The Dipterocarpus retusus is a large tree and perhaps the best known species in the genus Dipterocarpus. It is native to China, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries.

For many Saigonese, when fallen yellow brown petals blanket sidewalks, it heralds the monsoon season is coming near. The rainy season in Saigon always lasts from mid-May till the end of October each year.

For many Saigonese, the spinning seed heralds the nearing monsoon season.
The rainy season in Saigon normally lasts from mid-May till the end of October.

Fallen cho nau seeds on a street in HCMC.

Fallen cho nau seeds on a street in Saigon.

A woman takes a photo of fallen petals on a sidewalk of Le Duan Street near the Notre Dame Cathedral, an iconic tourist destination in HCMC.

A woman takes photos of a hollong petal carpet on Le Duan Street near the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Many people in Saigon wait for the fallen Dipterocarpus retusus season to take pictures with friends, but this year, popular tourist destinations where Dipterocarpus retusus trees are mainly grown like Turtle Lake, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and April 30 Park wear a deserted look due to the fresh Covid-19 outbreak that hit the country since late last month.

This year, popular tourist destinations with Dipterocarpus retusus trees like the the Turtle Lake, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office (pictured) and the nearby April 30 Park are all deserted due to the fresh Covid-19 outbreak that hit the country late last month.