Hung Yen longans shine in peak harvest, heritage meets global markets

THE HANOI TIMES — Hung Yen’s longan harvest is in full swing, with production up by 20%-25% this year.

Many premium varieties have been snapped up early, fetching over VND100,000 (US$3.8) per kilogram.

Sold out before ripening

By late July, orchards in Tan Hung, Hong Quang and Khoai Chau communes entered peak harvest season, a crucial time for thousands of local farmers.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, Hung Yen now has more than 5,800 hectares of longans, with 15%-20% being specialty varieties concentrated in traditional communes such as Tan Hung, Duc Hop and Trieu Viet Vuong.

Favorable weather and improved farming techniques have boosted outputs and sales for both smallholders and cooperatives, with many orchards pre-ordered long before harvest.

Trinh Van Huu, a grower in Ne Chau Hamlet, Tan Hung Commune, expected a harvest of over six tons of longan this year. His square-shaped alum sugar variety is sold for VND70,000 ($2.7) - VND80,000 ($3) per kilogram, popular as a premium gift.

In Hiep Cuong Commune, Dang Van Ung, owner of eight hectares of VietGAP-certified longans, said that his alum sugar longans were fully booked even before harvest.

“We have no worry about selling, our focus is solely on quality,” he said.

Preserving heritage varieties, reaching global markets

For years, longan growers in Hung Yen Province have focused on production and consumption, and preserving and developing rare native varieties.

According to the Hung Yen Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province has about 50 longan gene sources, more than 40 of which are indigenous. 

These genetic resources are invaluable, helping to enhance product value while preserving regional identity.

In Ne Chau Hamlet, 84-year-old Trinh Van Cuong has been a pioneer in conserving the square-shaped alum sugar longan variety.

His family tree, planted decades ago by his father, has been propagated since 1995 to cover nearly half a hectare, yielding a stable harvest each year. In 2022, his orchard was recognized as a “first-generation orchard”, capable of supplying up to 60,000 grafted buds annually.

In the same commune, farmer Bui Xuan Tam is safeguarding the rare longan variety, with more than 250 trees. Known for its crunchy flesh, honey-like sweetness and unique fragrance, this variety is becoming scarce.

To ensure its survival, Tam has invested in propagation by his own hand and donated over 100 seedlings to fellow veteran farmers.

Beyond yields, many growers and cooperatives in Hung Yen are shifting to clean and organic farming to meet the demands of international markets.

Tran Thi Bac, Director of the Ne Chau Longan Cooperative, said that the cooperative manages 18 hectares of longans, including some five hectares farmed organically without chemical pesticides.

“We’ve secured planting area codes for exports to the US and Australia, where clean and safe products are a prerequisite,” she added.

Similarly, Tran Van My, Director of the Quyet Thang Specialty Fruit Cooperative managing a 30-hectare longan farm, expected output to rise 15%-20% on-year to 250-300 tons this season.

To boost promotion, the cooperative has run free “zero-cost” farm tours, inviting visitors to taste longans on-site and buy directly, he said.

“It’s an effective way to bring Hung Yen longans closer to consumers,” My added.

Hung Yen Province now has 20 growing areas qualified for export. Two of them, located in Tan Hung and Trieu Viet Vuong communes, are certified to export to the US, five are legible for exporting to Japan, and 13 to China. Many others, certified under VietGAP standards, are expanding specialty longan cultivation to replace degraded varieties.

The province has also issued policies to improve traceability, rehabilitate mixed orchards, strengthen trade promotion and link farmers with major retailers.

By combining heritage preservation, clean farming, and brand-building, Hung Yen longans are reaching far beyond Vietnam.

In 2016, the Vietnam Records Organization rated Hung Yen longan among Vietnam’s finest 50 fruits. The fruit is now protected under the geographical indication “Hung Yen Longan - King of fruits”, ensuring authenticity and prestige in both domestic and international markets.