On Tuesday morning, with four days left until the Lunar New Year, the majority of peach trees in Nhat Tan's peach cultivation area in Tay Ho District have bloomed, thanks to Hanoi's warming weather.
Peach cultivation is a longstanding tradition in Nhat Tan Ward. Between 1990 and 1995, the area dedicated to peach farming in the ward stayed at only 34 hectares.
After 1998, an increasing number of residents began to engage in peach cultivation, boosting the area used for growing peach trees to 78 hectares.
For trees that blossom earlier than planned, farmers must prune the flowers to redirect nutrients to the budding shoots.
Currently, the region boasts over 800 households dedicated to peach cultivation, and the Nhat Tan peach has achieved a 4-star rating as an OCOP (One Commune, One Product) item.
The OCOP rating was approved by the Vietnamese government in 2018 to develop forms of organizing production and business; improve people's income and living standards; and modernize agriculture and rural areas.
Peach trees of over three meters high are moved according to customer orders.
Hung, a garden owner, said his garden has 300 trees and more than 60% have been booked and delivered.
A trader visits a garden to collect small branches to sell at retail markets.
On the eve of Tet, small peaches are popular because they are suitable for small spaces. Such a branch could cost up to VND150,000 (US$6.20).
A peach tree that is approximately 60 years old.
The garden owner said it is an original tree without grafting. The tree is not for sale and only for rent, with the rental price at VND300 million for one Lunar New Year month.
Peach traders in Quoc Oai District visit Nhat Tan garden to collect large branches to sell at the market.
Each peach branch on his cart could be sold for about VND250,000.
