On the morning of 24/5, Na Ka valley in Thao Nguyen ward, Son La province, buzzed with locals and tourists attending the plum picking festival.

To assist visitors with the harvest experience, orchard owners provided ladders, baskets, and guidance on selecting ripe fruit.

Moc Chau's plum orchards typically reach their peak harvest in June. Orchard owners reported an increase in yield compared to last year, attributing it to earlier fruiting. Na Ka valley has welcomed visitors for picking since early May. Entry to the orchards costs 30,000-40,000 VND per person, which includes picking and tasting plums on site. Plums purchased to take home are priced between 20,000-60,000 VND per kg, depending on size.

The festival featured a competition for decorating miniature landscapes using man hau plums, with multiple teams participating. The creations showcased themes related to local agricultural products and culture.

During the festival, orchard owners livestreamed sales directly from the harvest area. Freshly picked plums were showcased to viewers on social media, promoting the product and boosting sales.

Ruby plums, a premium product from Na Ka valley, sell for 200,000-300,000 VND per kg. To earn this label, orchards must implement cultivation processes meeting VietGAP or GlobalGAP standards. Trees are planted 5-6 m apart to maximize sunlight, with pruning and fruit thinning to concentrate nutrients. Growers avoid chemical fertilizers and herbicides; pesticide residue levels are checked before harvest. After picking, plums are selected based on criteria: round, powdery bloom, ripeness, undamaged stems, and absence of scratches or pest marks. Only plums meeting these requirements receive the Ruby plum brand label for market distribution.

Nguyen Ha Phuong, a Moc Chau resident, arrived early with her family to join the festivities. She stated this was her third time attending the event. "The plums still have their white powdery bloom, and they are crisp and sweet," Phuong said. "I bought a few more kilograms to take home as gifts."

Quang Kien, a local tourism professional, noted that the festival helps promote Moc Chau as a distinctive agricultural region in the Northwest, in addition to its reputation as a resort destination. Many tour groups scheduled their visits months in advance to coincide with the ripe plum season. "Visitors prefer the experience of picking ripe plums directly from the trees rather than buying pre-packaged ones," Kien said, adding that this approach also allows local residents to increase the value of their agricultural products.

Moc Chau currently boasts thousands of hectares of man hau plums, primarily concentrated in communes and wards such as Tan Lap, Phieng Luong, and Muong Sang. The plum season typically spans from May to June, attracting many visitors for sightseeing, experiences, and purchasing agricultural products. Na Ka valley alone accounts for about 100 hectares, often referred to as a "man hau plum paradise." Annually, numerous tourists visit to take photos during the plum blossom season or when the ripe, red fruits weigh down the branches.

An Thien

Photo: Quang Kien