At 5am, when the thin fog was still gathering on the mountainside, Mr. Ly Van Hung (Chi Lang commune) and his wife carried it up to the garden. Above, the canopy are covered with fruit, a thin layer of white powder, lightly cracked, revealing a gentle, sweet white fluid.
Each step on the slope is like a container of excitement. "This fruit is even, that fruit is ripe, the fruit will probably be able to go to the market in the day", Mr. Hung said in a low voice, but it was difficult to hide the joy shining in the eyes of those growing the mountains and rocks.
"This year'sNa is very beautiful, white, low-seed, sweet and fragrant. During the season, each tree bears 50-70 fruits. The price at the beginning of the season was 45,000-50,000 VND/kg, traders called to place orders continuously, he said as he was taking a break and pruning the seeds, placing each fruit in a tray with banana leaf lining to keep them fresh.
That joy is also spreading throughout the gardens, Mr. Trieu Quang Vinh excitedly boasted: "Today, my family has earned about 90kg. The first fruits of the season are big, even, and have beautiful designs. Traders pay 45,000 VND/kg, much better than last year".
Mr. Nguyen Duc Cuong - Vice Chairman of Chi Lang Commune People's Committee - said that the whole commune currently has about 1,400 hectares, with an estimated yield of 8-9 tons/ha.
"About a week now, the harvest has started. The early season selling price is from 40,000-70,000 VND/kg depending on the type, higher than last year. In particular, the fruit of 3 fruits/kg costs 90,000-100,000 VND/kg. People are very excited, he said.
According to Mr. Cuong, it is the special natural conditions with the limestone mountain ranges that create a unique flavor for Chi Lang island, helping the brand of "petrified mountain island" to increasingly have a foothold in the market.
In Van Linh commune, Ms. Nguyen Mai Huyen - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee - said that the locality has over 800 hectares, mainly concentrated in the old Y Tich commune.
"This year, the price is only good at the beginning of the season, and it is predicted that prices will be stable. The new opening of the Chi Lang - Y Tich route also helps the price in the communes behind Ben Pass not to be much different from the National Highway 1 area, said Ms. Huyen.
According to her, thanks to Nai trees and tobacco trees, the average income per capita in the previous term reached 40 million VND/year. The commune aims to increase this figure to 70 million VND/year in the coming term, with Na trees being an economic spearhead.
Currently, the whole Lang Son province has about 4,900 hectares, concentrated in the communes of Huu Lung, Cai Kinh, Van Nham, Huu Lien, Chi Lang, Bang Mac...
When the golden rays of the sunlight at the beginning of the day spread down the valley, groups of motorbikes and trucks carrying goods together went down the mountain, the sound of laughter echoed throughout the village.
For Lang Son people, the harvest season is not only an occasion to sell a lot of goods, but also a season of reunion of joy after many months of tireless care. On the sunny faces of farmers, there is joy, because this year's "gold on the mountain top" is both sweet and filling.
