O Quy Ho tea hills in northern Vietnam dazzle one last time with cherry blossoms as cloud seas and green slopes give way to a new urban vision.
The place, also known as the Sa Pa tea hills since they are just eight kilometers from that town, have long been a popular stop for visitors, especially during the cherry blossom season from late December to January.
From above, the green tea fields and pink blossoms blend into a sunlit scene.
Sa Pa photographer Hieu captured these images one last time: The area is set to be redeveloped into an ecological urban zone.
According to Hieu and locals, the cherry blossom trees on the hills were brought from Yunnan, China, and planted along the paths between the tea fields.
The tea plantations are privately owned and not meant for tourism. Access is generally restricted, but the site is opened for free during the flowering season for visitors to take photos.
"On peak days hundreds of visitors line up, waiting their turn to go in," Hieu says.
