In the days leading up to the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026, on many high-quality rice fields in Can Tho City, the harvesting atmosphere is urgent. The sound of harvesters is bustling throughout the fields, farmers are taking advantage of harvesting to both avoid the risk of saltwater intrusion and have enough income to prepare for the approaching Tet.
Recorded in the area of Tran De district (former Soc Trang province), most of the Winter-Spring rice crop area this year is sown with high-quality rice varieties such as ST24, ST25, Dai Thom 8; some areas have switched to cultivating Japanese rice and black rice. This is a sensitive area to saltwater intrusion, so for many years, farmers have proactively adjusted the crop schedule and harvested before the peak of saltwater intrusion.
“Normally, Winter-Spring rice must be harvested a few days after Tet, but this year, thanks to early sowing and encountering a gentle year, the rice ripened before Tet. Having money early to worry about Tet is already a joy,” Mr. Tran Khay (Tai Van commune) shared after just harvesting 10 hectares of ST25 rice variety.
Although rice prices this year are not as high as in previous crops, Mr. Khay said that early harvesting still helps his family to be financially proactive at the end of the year. "ST25 sells for about 7-100 VND/kg, production costs per cong are more than 2 million VND, so the profit is not much. Having money for Tet, but frankly, it is not completely happy," he said.
Sharing the same feeling, Mr. Tuan (Tai Van commune), cultivating 5 hectares of black rice, said that the price of rice this crop only fluctuates from 6,100 - 6,300 VND/kg, down about 3,000 VND/kg compared to last year. However, harvesting before Tet still helps his family manage year-end spending. "It's a small profit but there is immediate money to worry about Tet, it's better than waiting until after Tet to sell," Mr. Tuan shared.
Similarly, Mr. Lieu On (Tai Van commune) has also just completed harvesting 1.4 hectares of Dai Thom Thai rice variety, with a yield of about 800 kg/cong, sold at a price of 6,500 VND/kg, with a profit of over 2.5 million VND/cong. "My family works early every year to harvest in time before Tet. Both have money to shop and avoid late-season drought and salinity," Mr. On said.
Mr. Duong Kha (Tai Van commune, Can Tho city) said that this Winter-Spring crop, his family cultivated 3 hectares of ST25 rice, with an average yield of about 1 ton/cong. With a selling price of 7,200 VND/kg, after deducting production costs of about 2.4 million VND/cong, his family still has profits.
For many years, I have always chosen ST25 variety because it takes less care, has fewer pests and diseases, and the selling price is higher than regular rice. Although this crop the price has decreased compared to the same period, there is still profit. If the price is higher, this year will be a happier Tet," Mr. Kha said.
According to Ms. Phan Bach Van - Head of the Economic Department of Tran De commune (Can Tho City), in the 2025 - 2026 Winter-Spring crop, the whole commune has planted more than 3,399 hectares, reaching over 100% of the plan. The average fresh rice yield reached 7.12 tons/ha. The price of OM18 and Dai Thom 8 rice ranges from 6,000 - 6,000 VND/kg; ST25 from 7,000 - 7,200 VND/kg; RVT from 7,000 - 7,500 VND/kg, with an average profit of 19 - 22 million VND/ha.
The weather this year is favorable, with few pests and diseases, and not affected by saltwater intrusion. Early harvesting helps people have timely income and feel secure in preparing for Tet," Ms. Van said.
