Arriving in Da Lat at night, we stayed overnight at a family who grew vegetables in Quang Ngai. The family was very happy and welcomed us to stay at their house. The next morning, poet Ngo The Oanh and I started to visit Da Lat.

We had never seen a city so “Western” and so stunningly beautiful. The houses, from villas to schools, offices and Catholic churches were built in true Western architectural style. The streets in Da Lat were mostly small, going up and down, but on both sides of the road were forests of flowers.

We both felt like we were immersed in some western fairy tale, walking slowly and admiring the flowers. There were some flowers we didn’t know the names of, nor did we know which ones were cultivated, and which ones were wild. We just saw that every flower was beautiful. It was truly a city of flowers.

Dalat had just been liberated, the city was still intact, not destroyed by war. For those of us who were visiting Dalat for the first time, just seeing this city of flowers was enough to satisfy us.

In the evening, Dalat students welcomed us with a “Sleepless Night” following the tradition of student struggles. There was singing and poetry reading, very exciting. The students were so happy that they shouted: “Let’s do a Sleepless Night!”

For the first time, I learned what a sleepless night is like for students in southern cities. Dalat is a city with a very large university, called Dalat University, which gathers a large number of students studying in many faculties.

It's been less than two days since my first visit to the flower city of Da Lat, but I think I'll probably have the chance to visit this city again.

That's right. In 1987, my family and poet Nguyen Thuy Kha were able to go to Da Lat. After attending a conference on literature during the renovation period in Nha Trang, poet Van Cong, who was then the vice chairman of Phu Khanh province, sent us to Da Lat by car. Specifically, to visit poet Bui Minh Quoc, who had just moved from Da Nang to Lam Dong to establish a literary and artistic association in this highland province.

We went to Da Lat, staying at the house of a friend, the poet Ha Linh Chi, commonly known as “Black De”. A guy from Hue, who used to be a reporter for the Voice of Vietnam Radio, very enthusiastic with his friends. We stayed at De’s house for a whole week, going out every day to visit Da Lat, this time Da Lat really penetrated me.

Mr. Bui Minh Quoc, Chairman of Lam Dong Literature and Arts Association, was our host. But at that time, the newly established Literature and Arts Association was still facing many difficulties, only the villa that the province assigned to the Literature and Arts Association as its headquarters was big and beautiful. During the whole week, we visited all the famous places in Da Lat. Every place was beautiful and worthy of being a tourist destination.

But back then, there was no tourism movement like now, so tourists were rare. It was just spontaneous trips of small groups, there were hotels but very few, except for the PALACE hotel which was the largest, but we just stood outside looking in, we didn't have the money to demand to stay at the best hotel in Dalat.

That year, when I went to Da Lat, I noticed the pine forests. To say that Da Lat is the city of flowers is correct but not enough. It must be added that it is the city of pine hills, small streets with ancient pine trees growing neatly on both sides. The smell of pine wood is as fragrant as the smell of flowers.

Dalat is the city of flowers and pine trees.

But back then, the ancient pine trees were secretly or openly cut down. Looking at the fallen pine trees, I felt so heartbroken. So I wrote a poem titled The Pine Trees Crying , also borrowing poetry for the pine trees crying for help. It is impossible to imagine Da Lat without flowers or pine trees. Flowers and pine trees create the unique beauty of this city. Until now, the flowers have been doing very well, but the pine trees have not…

Even a pine hill near Xuan Huong Lake in the heart of Da Lat has a troubled fate, so what about the pine hills and pine forests in more remote places? Than Tho Lake will probably continue to 'sigh' for a long time, because the beautiful pine trees will be gone.

Not only does losing trees lead to environmental pollution, but if Da Lat loses its pine hills and pine forests, the loss will be too great.

As someone who rarely has the opportunity to go to Da Lat, but I love this city of flowers and pine trees, I would like to continue speaking out for the pine trees, after the poem The Pine Trees Calling was written in 1987, nearly 40 years ago.

Only when pine trees are protected as treasures, will Da Lat truly be a "livable city" of this wonderful tree species.