Blooming throughout May, the trees, known locally as muồng hoa đào, have created a picturesque setting against the traditional cultural backdrop of the Jrai people. The flowering tree, located at the corner of the communal house yard, stands out amid the characteristic greenery of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.
With its wide canopy and evenly spreading branches, the tree is covered in dense clusters of pink flowers intertwined with lush green leaves, creating a striking and harmonious landscape. From early morning until late afternoon, both local residents and tourists gather at the site to take photographs and admire the scenery.
Lương Thị Mộng Trang, a resident of Pleiku Ward and a photography enthusiast, visited the site with friends to capture the seasonal bloom.
“I've passed by here many times, but this is the first year I've seen the flowers bloom so evenly and vibrantly”, Trang said. “The tree looks stunning in photos, and the communal house in the background adds a sense of tranquility. I hope the mountain town will have more poetic and majestic scenes like this”.
First-time visitor to Gia Lai, Lương Thị Phượng from Nông Tiến Ward in Tuyên Quang Province, said she was impressed by the distinctive appearance of the flowers and the atmosphere created by the setting.
“This is the first time I've seen this type of flower”, Phượng said. “Its color is beautiful and striking. The combination of the communal house and the tree creates a truly distinctive mountain town atmosphere”.
Beyond attracting visitors, the blooming muồng hoa đào tree has become a seasonal highlight for Pleiku each May. Cultural spaces combined with the natural beauty of the Central Highlands are increasingly contributing to Gia Lai’s appeal as a tourism destination, particularly ahead of the 2026 National Tourism Year in Gia Lai.
Muồng hoa đào, scientifically known as Cassia javanica, is a tree species native to Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, it is grown in several localities in the Southeast and Central Highlands regions.
Currently, besides the muồng hoa đào tree in Ơp Village, there is also one near the Hội Phú embankment stream (Hội Phú Ward) and another on Lê Chân Street (Ia Hrung Commune).