cover-vaiok.jpg

From a rare lychee tree

Nearly 200 years ago, Mr. Hoang Van Com from Thuy Lam village, Thanh Son commune, went to Hai Phong to meet with Chinese merchants and ate lychee. Seeing the delicious, sweet fruit, he immediately picked up 3 seeds and brought them home to plant in his garden. All 3 lychee seeds germinated, but during the care process, only one tree survived. Not long after that, the tree blossomed and bore fruit, the ripe fruit was delicious, Mr. Com grafted branches to propagate and gave them to friends and relatives. Previously, lychee trees were not planted as much as they are now, so when they bore fruit, they were sold for a high price and few people could buy them. Lychee has a sweet taste, thick flesh, small seeds, and peeling does not leave any sticky juice on your hands. In 2016, the Vietnam Record Organization recognized this as the oldest lychee tree in Vietnam.

bhd_2406_quangotthanhha_2.jpg
The ancestral lychee tree is being carefully preserved and cared for, attracting many visitors.

In 2017, Thanh Ha District People's Committee implemented the project "Renovation and preservation of the ancestral lychee tree" with a budget of nearly 5 billion VND, including items: Hoang Van Com's church, guest house, pond area, surrounding wall and some other auxiliary works. Currently, this area is assigned to Mr. Hoang Van Luom (the 5th generation grandson of Hoang Van Com) to look after and take care of. Mr. Luom said: "The ancestral lychee tree has attracted thousands of people to visit and admire since the beginning of the season. Although the lychee tree is old, it still bears fruit every year with a very special and sweet flavor."

td-luon2-copy.jpg

Tourists from all over the world are delighted to see it. Mr. Cao Van Dai, a tourist from Hanoi, said: “I have heard about the ancestral lychee tree for a long time, and now I have the opportunity to bring my mother, siblings, and children to visit. We find the space here very airy, close to nature, and cool. This is a precious heritage tree, an attractive tourist destination.”

In 2019-2020, the Department of Science and Technology of Hai Duong ordered the People's Committee of Thanh Ha district to implement the project "Application of technical advances to preserve and develop the precious genetic resources of the ancestral lychee tree" with a total budget of 668 million VND to preserve, maintain and develop the genetic resources of the ancestral lychee tree.

To the vast, immense lychee region

Gradually, lychee trees were planted throughout the region, bringing high and stable economic value to Thanh Ha people. Previously, Thanh Ha lychee was grown naturally, with little fertilization, and without applying scientific advances, so the yield was unstable. Nowadays, in addition to the attention of the province, departments, branches and districts, farmers have accumulated experience and knowledge, proactively producing lychee to increase the value of this specialty. From there, lychee growing areas have gradually formed. Early lychee is concentrated in Ha Dong, main crop lychee is mainly in Ha Nam. With fertile soil and favorable weather, the quality of lychee fruit in these areas is often rated higher than other areas.

Thanh Ha district currently has 3,265 hectares of lychee (including early and main crop lychee), of which 500 hectares have been recognized as meeting VietGAP standards, 50 hectares meeting GlobalGAP standards. This lychee crop, the district has 45 lychee production areas with 168 export codes. This is the only agricultural product of Hai Duong among 39 Vietnamese products with exclusive geographical indication protection in the EU market.

td-phuong2-copy.jpg

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong, who has many years of experience growing lychee in Thanh Son commune, said: “For many years, lychee has been the main crop, bringing the main source of income for our farmers. With the advancement of science and technology today, we will continue to take care of lychee, committed to bringing to the market the best products, ensuring quality and safety.”

From concentrated production by region, Thanh Ha has formed many attractive eco-tourism spots in the lychee season. Dong Man eco-tourism sub-area (Thanh Khe commune) has many groups of tourists coming to visit, experience boating, and pick lychees on the river. During the annual lychee harvest season, this sub-area attracts thousands of visitors.

bhd_2406_quangotthanhha_12.jpg
From the lychee gardens laden with fruit, Thanh Ha has many garden tourist destinations during the lychee harvest season.

Consumed in many places at home and abroad

Previously, Thanh Ha litchi was mainly sold in neighboring provinces and cities and exported to China. With its outstanding quality and the participation of propaganda and promotion by relevant levels, sectors, news agencies and newspapers, for many years now, Thanh Ha litchi has been sold in many provinces and cities across the country, exported to many demanding markets such as the US, Australia, EU countries, the Middle East... Thanh Ha litchi has become a rare specialty for many countries. In addition, Thanh Ha litchi is a sweet fruit, a specialty of the East, chosen as a gift by many agencies, units and organizations. Ms. Quach Thi Phuong in Thanh Xa commune said: "There are days when we support Ameii Vietnam Joint Stock Company to produce and process litchi until late at night to have enough goods to be irradiated, exported and many units order as gifts".

td-quach-phuong2-copy.jpg

For many years, Red Dragon Production Trading Service Co., Ltd. and Ameii Vietnam Joint Stock Company have always accompanied Thanh Ha people to promote and export lychees to foreign countries. Local business owners and cooperatives have also actively brought lychees to domestic and foreign supermarket chains. Thereby contributing to affirming the brand and increasing the value of Thanh Ha lychees. Enterprises have also proactively signed principle contracts to promote the consumption of lychee products with lychee production groups that meet VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards.

bhd_2406_quangotthanhha_17.jpg
Every year, Hai Duong province, Thanh Ha district, businesses actively promote, advertise brands and consume lychee.


Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Ha, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of Thanh Ha District People's Committee, said that this year's lychee crop has a stable consumption market. Lychee growing areas that apply VietGAP and GlobalGAP processes in production still have higher value and are purchased by businesses.

Right from the beginning of the season, Thanh Ha district has proactively promoted, promoted, and coordinated with the Department of Industry and Trade of Hai Duong to organize a conference to promote trade in lychee consumption. The Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and Industry and Trade have connected with other provinces to promote lychee and connect businesses to consume lychee. As soon as the main lychee harvest season began, the above units coordinated with Big Green Vietnam Clean Food Company Limited to open sales points and introduce Thanh Ha lychee in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong. Every year, the promotion work has new features to promote the image and consumption of Thanh Ha lychee. "The lychee season is about to end, but Thanh Ha farmers are not really happy because the price of lychee this year is not high. I believe that in the 2024 lychee crop, Thanh Ha lychee growers will receive more attention from the province, related departments and branches, along with the district in promoting trade and increasing the value of lychee," said Ms. Ha.

td-ha2-copy.jpg

This year, Thanh Ha lychee reached nearly 40,000 tons, earning about 1,000 billion VND. Early lychee was harvested in mid-June, and main lychee is at the end of the season. Lychee exports reached about 60% to markets such as China, the US, Japan, the EU... and 40% was consumed domestically. This is also the first year that about 20 tons of Thanh Ha lychee were served on Vietnam Airlines' meals.

In order for the sweet fruit of the East to continue to bring high economic value to the people and affirm its position in the domestic and foreign markets, in the coming lychee seasons, Thanh Ha farmers need to proactively produce lychees that ensure standards and quality. Specialized agencies of the province and district continue to actively and effectively support farmers to feel more secure about the market and prices.

Content: PV - TUAN ANH

Latest News
Thanh Ha sweet fruit