The grapefruit blooming season in Hanoi is a relatively brief window – a week or two – when they go from just buds to beautiful flowers to falling off and being replaced by green leaves.

Khu vườn ngập tràn hương bưởi ở Hà Nội  

The main complication is that the bloom date changes slightly from year to year, and no one is really sure when it’s going to happen until it’s almost upon us.

 
Khu vườn ngập tràn hương bưởi ở Hà Nội  

Around the first week of March, local growers issue their first peak bloom forecast.

 
Khu vườn ngập tràn hương bưởi ở Hà Nội  

All things considered, the forecasts are remarkably good, but they’re often off by a bit.

 
Khu vườn ngập tràn hương bưởi ở Hà Nội  

On average, the blooms come out around mid-March through the first week of April, and that’s typically a good time to aim for if you’re planning on visiting.

 
Khu vườn ngập tràn hương bưởi ở Hà Nội  

Dien is the local favourite grapefruit often referred to as a ‘pomelo’ by the locals in Hanoi. Their blooms produce a sweet pleasant fragrance

 
Khu vườn ngập tràn hương bưởi ở Hà Nội  

 
Khu vườn ngập tràn hương bưởi ở Hà Nội  

According to one local farmer, Hanoians often buy grapefruit flowers to place on the altar and offer to their ancestors.

 
Khu vườn ngập tràn hương bưởi ở Hà Nội  

They also use them to boil and make a homemade shampoo for their hair, the local farmer said.

 
Khu vườn ngập tràn hương bưởi ở Hà Nội  

VNE/VOV