As the spring breezes begin to creep through every street, trucks loaded with peach and plum branches from the Northwest highlands begin to roll downstream.
Trucks, big and small, covered with tarpaulins to protect the fragile peach branches, run along the highway, bringing the breath of the mountains and forests and the scent of spring to the city.
Going upstream to Moc Chau, Son La or the highlands of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lang Son, it is not difficult to see the image of farmers busily pruning peach and plum branches. The gardens are filled with the pink color of faded peach blossoms, mixed with the pure white color of plum blossoms.
Along Highway 6, convoys of vehicles followed each other, carrying blooming peach blossoms. Occasionally, a local motorbike slowed down to look back at the blooming spring colors.
At the peach garden of Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tuan (Moc Chau town, Son La) is also much more bustling. Crowds of customers from all over come to see and order peach trees for the king.
Pointing to the royal peach trees that are in bud waiting to bloom, Mr. Tuan shared: "Every year, when Tet is near, traders from the lowlands come to place orders. This year the weather is favorable, the peach trees are blooming beautifully, and people are more excited.
Up to now, of the total of about 1,000 peach trees and seven-inch peach trees, more than half of the garden has been ordered by customers. My garden has also brought more than 100 trees to Hanoi."
According to Mr. Tuan, this year, due to the impact of storm No. 3, a large number of peach trees in the lowland provinces were damaged. Therefore, in the days before Tet, many customers from the regions flocked to Moc Chau to transport peach trees to the lowlands.
"This year, the most customers are from Hanoi and Nghe An. As Tet approaches, workers in the peach garden are working at full capacity. The price of peach blossoms in the garden still fluctuates from 5 to 100 million VND, with some trees costing up to 200 million VND," said Mr. Tuan.
Not only peach branches, wild plum branches, but also bundles of green mustard greens, all neatly arranged on the trucks, ready for the journey downstream.
Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, a driver who transports peach blossoms from Son La to Hanoi, smiled gently: "You have to be very careful when transporting peach blossoms and plums. If a peach branch breaks or the flowers are crushed, it will ruin the beauty and the Tet holiday. When driving long distances, you always have to be gentle. Just thinking that you are transporting spring makes me happy."
Ms. Hong, a vendor at Quang Ba flower market, quickly tied peach branches and shared: "In recent years, people prefer wild peach trees because of their natural shape and long-lasting flowers. Peach trees from Moc Chau, Son La, or Yen Bai are all very popular. This market is very crowded near Tet."
Talking to reporters, Mr. Thai Ba Sinh - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Van Ho district, Son La province - said: "Currently, Van Ho district has about 500 hectares of peach trees of all kinds, concentrated in the two communes of Long Luong and Van Ho along National Highway 6. Of which, this year, the peach blossom area accounts for more than 200 hectares and this area can be exploited this year to serve Tet."
According to Mr. Sinh, the area of peach trees planted for roots has also increased significantly, up to dozens of hectares to serve peach gardens in the lowlands for grafting branches to sell to Tet holiday guests.
"During this year's Lunar New Year, peach prices remain stable and bring significant income to the Mong people along National Highway 6," said Mr. Sinh.
