At the end of September, Ru Cha Mangrove Forest near Tam Giang Lagoon and Thuan An Beach, about 7 kilometers east of Hue City's center, enters its leaf-shedding season.
The forest, spanning over 5 hectares, is home to cha, a mangrove tree found in coastal areas of Asia, Africa, and Australia. The trees are turning golden and blooming, attracting visitors every day.
For years, the Ru Cha Mangrove Forest has been a popular photoshooting spot for tourists visiting Hue.
Clusters of golden flowers brighten the center of the forest, reflected in the water below.
Tam Giang Lagoon is the largest brackish water lagoon in Southeast Asia. It hosts a diverse range of flora and fauna, serving as a habitat for brackish aquatic species.
At the heart of the Ru Cha Forest is a shrine dedicated to the Holy Mother, which has been restored by the locals after years of deterioration.
Visitors can explore the forest by walking along a 2-meter wide concrete path or by renting boats from local fishermen.
A five-story observation tower, standing over 20 meters tall in the center of the forest, offers a panoramic view of the mangroves and the Thuan An sea gate.
During the season when the cha trees change colors and bloom, local residents offer boat tours to visitors as an additional source of income.
The boat rental fees vary depending on the duration of the tour.
Additionally, there are services for renting ao dai (Vietnamese tunics) or traditional costumes for photoshoots on the boat.
In the section of the forest near Tam Giang Lagoon, the cha trees are just beginning to shed their leaves and bloom. For many photographers, autumn is the most beautiful season for Ru Cha.
Photographer Truong Vung from Hue shared that Ru Cha is a place he and his colleagues frequently visit for artistic inspiration, especially during the leaf-shedding season.
Around the cha trees, forest rangers have planted mangrove palms and mangrove apple trees. The green of the mangrove palms contrasts with the golden hues of the cha forest in its leaf-shedding and blooming season.
Huyen, a student at Hue University of Arts, remarked that the blooming cha trees are eye-catching.
"For the past few days, my friends and I have been coming here to find a quiet corner to create art," she said.
"Ru Cha is especially beautiful this year,", said Nguyen Van Sum, a Hue local who visits Ru Cha annually during the leaf-changing season.
From the Ru Cha Mangrove Forest, visitors can also observe the construction of a bridge spanning the Thuan An sea gate or watch the sunset over the Tam Giang Lagoon.
Ru Cha at sunset.
The forest is easy to reach, and with no entrance fee, it attracts many locals and tourists alike.
Ru Cha mangrove forest during its most beautiful season of the year.
Video by VnExpress/Vo Thanh
