Cities in Vietnam: Never seen such a 'Western' Dalat

Arriving in Da Lat at night, we stayed at a house of a local who specializes in growing vegetables from 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 such a "Western" city and such an amazing beauty. The houses, from villas to schools, offices or Catholic churches were built in true Western architectural style. The streets in Da Lat are mostly small, going up and down, but on both sides of the road is a forest of flowers. The two of us felt like we were immersed in a Western fairy tale, walking slowly and admiring the flowers. There were some flowers we did not know the names of, nor did we know which flowers were planted, and which were wild flowers. We just saw that every flower was beautiful. It was truly a city of flowers.

INDEPENDENCE

Dalat had just been liberated, the city was still intact, not destroyed by the war. For those of us who were visiting Dalat for the first time, just seeing this flower city 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 knew what a Sleepless Night was like for students in southern cities. Dalat is a city with a very large university, called Dalat University, with a large number of students studying in many faculties. The first time I visited Dalat, the flower city, was less than two days, but I thought, I would have the opportunity to visit this city again. That was true. In 1987, my family and poet Nguyen Thuy Kha were able to go to Dalat. After attending a seminar 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.

BA DUY

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 to visit Da Lat every day, this time Da Lat really penetrated me. Mr. Bui Minh Quoc, Chairman of the Lam Dong Literature and Arts Association, was the host who welcomed us. But at that time, the newly established Literature and Arts Association was still facing many difficulties, only the villa the province gave 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, worthy of being a tourist destination. But at that time, there was no tourism movement like now, so tourists were rare. These were just spontaneous trips of small groups. There were few hotels, except for the PALACE Hotel, which was the largest. But we only looked in from the outside. We didn't have the money to stay at the best hotel in Dalat.

LAM VIEN

That year, when I went to Da Lat, I noticed the pine forests. It is correct to say that Da Lat is a city of flowers, but it is not enough. It must be added that it is a 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. Da Lat is a city of flowers and pine trees. But at that time, 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 Crying Pine Trees , 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, flowers have been doing very well, but the pine trees have not...

PHAM BA DUY

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 surely continue to 'sigh' for a long time, because the beautiful pine trees will be lost. 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 to speak up for the pine trees, after the poem The Calling Pines written in 1987, nearly 40 years ago. When the pine trees are protected as treasures, then Da Lat will truly be a "livable city" of this wonderful tree species.