Toward the end of the year, as cooler air settles over central Vietnam, a quiet transformation takes place in western Quảng Trị Province. The Formosa sweet gum forest in Hướng Phùng Commune shifts from green to gold, then bursts into deep shades of orange and red, creating a landscape that feels both majestic and unexpectedly poetic.
Nestled within the vast Trường Sơn mountain range, the forest enters its leaf-changing season from around November. Layer by layer, the canopy evolves, and at its peak, the hills glow in vivid red tones that many visitors liken to an autumn scene in Europe, reimagined under Vietnam’s tropical sky.
Where Forest Meets Water
What makes this destination especially striking is its setting beside the Rao Quán hydropower reservoir. On clear, rainless days, the lake turns a luminous jade green, reflecting the fiery foliage along its banks. The contrast between red and yellow leaves and the smooth green surface of the water creates a scene that invites stillness, contemplation, and slow travel.
Wild Formosa sweet gum trees grow right along the lakeshore, forming natural corridors of color. Each curve of the reservoir reveals a new composition, one that feels carefully arranged yet entirely untouched.
Ways to Experience the Season
Reaching the forest requires a journey of about 70 kilometers west from Đông Hà Ward along National Highway 9, followed by another 10 kilometers on the western branch of the Hồ Chí Minh Road. The route itself gradually pulls visitors away from urban rhythms into mountain silence.
Once there, exploration takes many forms. Some visitors stop along the forest edge and trek across gentle hills carpeted with fallen red leaves, breathing in crisp mountain air. Others choose a slower approach, drifting by boat across the Rao Quán reservoir, watching the trees ripple across the water’s surface in reflection.
For those who venture deeper, green meadows appear between the red canopies, crossed by small streams flowing into the lake. These hidden pockets have become favored spots for camping, where groups of friends spend the night surrounded by forest sounds and open skies.
Light, Time, and Stillness
Seasoned travelers say the forest is most captivating at sunrise or sunset. At these moments, soft light filters through the leaves, intensifying the colors and creating a dreamlike atmosphere that shifts minute by minute. Each angle feels fleeting, urging visitors to pause rather than rush.
Beyond the forest itself, wind turbine towers rise along nearby mountain peaks, adding a modern silhouette to the natural scene. The presence of renewable energy infrastructure alongside untouched woodland gives the landscape an added layer of meaning, where nature and development quietly coexist.
A Destination on the Rise
Local authorities report that thousands of visitors came to admire the Formosa sweet gum forest during the final months of 2025 alone. What was once known mainly to nearby communities is quickly becoming one of Quảng Trị’s most distinctive seasonal destinations.
With its raw beauty, shifting colors, and sense of calm, the forest offers more than a visual spectacle. It delivers a feeling of discovery, one that lingers long after the leaves return to green, and draws travelers back when the mountains begin to turn red once again.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 