Sim fruit season at Ma Thau Son hill
Tucked away in the borderland of Hai Son, Ma Thau Son hill is home to an endless purple sea of sim trees, now emerging as a dream destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Here, visitors can lose themselves in the romantic violet bloom of sim flowers or stroll leisurely through rows of ripe fruit, picking and tasting them fresh from the branches, an experience as unforgettable as it is unique.
After visiting Hai Son’s historic landmarks, travelers can head to Ma Thau Son hill to enjoy the lush green landscapes of the mountains and the vast sim forest, which spans thousands of trees.
Ninh Van Sang, the man who created the sim garden, shared that it was established in 2021 with the vision of building an eco-tourism model tied to organic farming. He also hopes to inspire locals to shift away from planting acacia, a crop that quickly depletes soil nutrients and offers limited long-term economic benefits.
Originally, Ma Thau Son had a small natural sim grove, but it was too modest to support organized tourism. Recognizing the area’s natural beauty and growing visitor interest, Sáng expanded the cultivation area to 7-8 hectares, with around 5 hectares dedicated solely to sim trees. The result is a spectacular, sprawling garden of flowers and fruit set against the backdrop of untouched highland scenery.
Today, the garden enchants visitors with its sweeping vistas of purple blooms. This year marks the first harvest season, with heavy-laden branches yielding more than 100 kilograms of fruit daily. The sim fruit begins ripening in early August, peaking by mid-month, making it the best time to visit. Admission is VND 30,000 per person, which includes unlimited photography and on-site fruit tasting. Guests who wish to bring sim home can purchase them for VND 20,000 per kilogram.
Beyond its natural charm, Ma Thau Son Sim Garden is designed as a full experience. Visitors can relax in stilt houses, explore scenic check-in spots, or rent traditional Dao and San Chi costumes for distinctive cultural photos.
The culinary offerings here are another highlight. After exploring the garden, guests can savor authentic local specialties such as free-range chicken, black-feathered duck, stream fish cooked with fermented cassava leaves, purple wild vegetables, tri-colored sticky rice, and horse meat spring rolls which are traditionally reserved for honored guests.
From the sim garden, visitors can easily connect to nearby attractions, including the pristine waterfall in a hamlet with 26 households, the mural village in Po Hen hamlet, and the Po Hen national historic site, where they can pay tribute at milestone 1347, a place deeply tied to the nation’s sacred history.
For adventure enthusiasts, an overnight stay offers the chance to conquer Panai Peak, located just behind the Hai Son Commune People’s Committee headquarters. Altogether, Ma Thau Son offers a complete journey, blending natural beauty with the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam’s borderlands.
