Plums and peaches from the Northwest are bustling, waiting to be brought downstream to celebrate Tet.

Nearing Lunar New Year, these days, along National Highway 6, through Moc Chau and Van Ho districts ( Son La ), a series of stalls selling Tet peach blossoms have begun to appear. Most tourists passing by here stop, buy bunches of plums and peach blossoms, load them onto their vehicles and then take them back to the Northwest to enjoy the "spring" of the year.

Since the beginning of December, every day Giang A Kho and his wife (Pa Che village, Van Ho commune, Van Ho district) wake up early in the morning, through the fog, carry homegrown plants, more than 13km from home to Moc Chau farm town to sell to customers along the way.

Mong people in Van Ho, Moc Chau are busy with their stalls that are typical of the highlands. Photo: Khanh Linh

Mr. A Kho shared: "Every year around December, when the weather starts to get cold and vegetables grow well, my husband and I will bring them along Highway 6 to sell. Every house here is the same, they grow vegetables, potatoes or catch anything in the forest and bring them here to sell. The closer to Tet, the busier the buying and selling atmosphere becomes. Cat's whiskers and Chinese mustard greens cost 10,000 VND per bunch."

Besides bundles of vegetables and baskets of potatoes, typical of Tet are peach and plum branches that are also arranged by the highland people along the national highway.

"This year, Tet is late, so many peach branches have bloomed before Tet, so the price of peach trees is cheaper than in previous years, but the difference is not too much. The price of peach trees still fluctuates from 150,000 - 500,000 VND/branch for peach branches. In recent years, according to market demand, peach growers have also bundled small peach and plum branches to serve customers. The price of each bundle fluctuates from 20,000 - 30,000 VND" - said Mr. Giang A Kho.

The buses carry the "spring" of the Northwest downstream. Photo: Khanh Linh

The fruit and vegetable crops and peaches sold during Tet have helped his family earn a significant additional income. On good days, they earn 1-2 million VND, and on bad days, they earn a few hundred thousand VND. A Kho and his wife estimate that in 2023, his family will earn more than 40 million VND from selling peaches and vegetables during Tet.

In addition to plum and peach branches that bring the Tet atmosphere of the highlands, Moc Chau strawberries are also in season at this time and are sold at prices ranging from 100,000 - 300,000 VND/kg depending on the type.

Stalls on Highway 6

Ms. Phan Thi Hue (a tourist from Hanoi ) shared: "This is the first time I have been to Van Ho district, but the stalls along National Highway 6 really impressed me. The peach and plum branches clearly show the Tet atmosphere. This time when I came here, I also took the opportunity to buy some vegetables, strawberries and peach branches to bring home."

Cat mustard greens and Chinese mustard greens, priced at 10,000 VND/bunch, are popular with tourists. Photo: Khanh Linh

Talking to reporters, Mr. Thai Ba Sinh - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Van Ho district, Son La province - said: "The entire Van Ho district currently still 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, besides peaches and plums, cat's whiskers and mustard greens, typical of the Mong people in the highlands, are also products favored by tourists from the lowlands.

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