Giant crape-myrtle flowers, known as “Bang Lang” in Vietnamese, can now be seen in full bloom throughout Hanoi, serving to bring a sense of poetic beauty to the capital during the start of summer.
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May typically sees the streets of Hanoi decorated with the bright purple tones emitting from giant crape-myrtle flowers.
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Bang Lang is a common flower found throughout South Asia, with giant crape-myrtle trees planted to make urban landscapes appear more beautiful and also to create shade.
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Crape-myrtle flowers often grow in clusters and can be between 20cm and 30cm long.
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The trees serve to bring shade to commuters around the capital during the current hot spell.
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Each flower features six thin and light petals.
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The flowers are renowned for being the symbol of the capital, signalling the arrival of summer.
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Blooming purple flowers tend to coincide with the end of the students’ school year.
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Seeing the purple flowers around Hanoi helps to make the city a more pleasant place amid the scorching sun and soaring temperatures.
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Trees containing the flowers grow on Dao Tan, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoang Quoc Viet, and Dinh Tien Hoang streets.
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The colours of the flowers symbolize faithfulness, becoming an indispensable part of life in the capital for local residents.
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