The passionate fragrance of milk flower – a Hanoi beauty from the past to present

Referring to Hanoi, people will not forget the fragrance of milk flower which signals that autumn has come. This is an unmistakably characteristic fragrancy carrying a bold Vietnamese culture. Therefore, milk flower and its fragrance have always been a part of the memories of ancient and modern Hanoi. Also, with foreigners, it is certainly an unforgettable experience in their Vietnam tours.

1/ Why is it called “milk flower”?

Only Hanoi humans have the opportunity to see milk flower bloom while people in other regions almost just hear this name through songs or poems. The scientific name of milk flower is Alstonia Scholaris, it is a kind of plant which belongs to Hoa Sua genus, Lan Bo Ma family, and lives in the tropics, especially Vietnam. The body of milk flower is round and it can be up to 40 meters in height. Usually, its flower has the white color or light yellow color, it blooms during the time between June and November each year. The reason for being called “milk flower” is that its sap is white like milk and its fragrance is extremely passionate to most people.

Vietnam Tours: Milk Flower

2/The beauty and the utilities of milk flower

Not only in the old days but milk flower has also been mentioned today through its fragrance, which leaves in the hearts of many people the fluttering feeling. Milk flower is also an inexhaustible source of inspiration for writers, poets because it makes their hearts expand and have a great love of nature. Therefore, milk flower is often presented in many works of Vietnamese musicians and poets in order to show the pride and the generosity of Hanoi humans.

In addition, milk flower is also an invaluable medicine to treat many diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. To illustrate, its bark can be soaked to create medicinal wine or bathing water, mashed into powder or extracted to liquid in order that doctors can use it to cure many illnesses such as diarrhea, toothache, ulcers, poor appetite, skinny clogs and so on.

Vietnam Tours: Beauty of milk flower

3/ The meaning of milk flower

Milk flower is typical for Hanoi autumn. When this season comes, the fragrance spreads away to push people to prepare for a charming autumn. The cool weather plus its fragrance makes people more comfortable and eager than ever before. Especially, milk flower in autumn is similar to plum blossom and peach blossom which signal for spring.

With pristine color along with aroma and unforgettable fragrance, this kind of flower reminds each Vietnamese citizen of memories about an ancient picture of Hanoi streets in the earlier years, the street cries at night, the old folk games and a lot of traditional values. Besides, this flower is a poetic symbol to symbolize the most beautiful characteristics of Vietnamese people. It shows a passionate love with the capital, with each corner of streets where our ancestors found for independence and freedom. Simultaneous, it records the love among not only capital people but also people from other districts, even people in the remoted area. When smelling the fragrance of milk flower, people can miss a person or think of their beautiful memories they have had with each other.

Vietnam tours: The meaning of milk flower