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Lost amidst a forest of ripe red lychees.
In late June, Swan Lake was located in Thanh Hai ward, Chu town – one of the two largest lychee-producing areas in Bac Ninh province (formerly Bac Giang), where rolling hills of ripe red lychees stretched as far as the eye could see. “Going up the hill, you can see the entire valley below is covered in lychees,” Nga recounted. The air was crisp after a morning rain, the rolling hills were neatly arranged, shaded by lush green trees, and the bright red fruit glistened in the sun, making each step into the orchard feel like entering a vibrant summer painting.
In the spacious garden, Nga is known for many different varieties of lychee: traditional lychee, egg-shaped lychee, pink lychee, hybrid Chinese lychee… Some trees are grafted with up to three varieties, with fruit growing densely together. The red dirt path winding through the garden, where harvesting vehicles pass to collect the fruit, has now become a favorite spot for tourists to stop and take photos with the clusters of vibrant red lychees.
"The amazing thing is that the lychees here taste better when eaten fresh from the orchard than at any other time. The feeling of picking, peeling, and tasting them amidst nature awakens all the senses," Nga said.
Picking ripe lychees in the orchard is like stepping into a vibrant, colorful harvest scene from a film.
Picking lychees in a garden spanning several tens of hectares, Thien Nga felt as if she were stepping into a harvest film, where the scent of flowers, the buzzing of cicadas, the cool breeze from the hills, and even drops of sweat blended together into a sweet symphony fragrant with the scent of lychees from Vietnamese agriculture.
One morning in Chu - when the harvest season begins.
Beyond just experiencing the orchards, Thien Nga also visited the center of Chu town – the largest lychee purchasing hub in Bac Giang. In the early morning, this place resembles "a moving stream of red."
"A stream of red" on the central road of Chu town.
From 5 to 7 a.m., motorbikes and tricycles loaded with fabric streamed towards the collection points. On the bustling streets, baskets of bright red fabric stood out in the early morning mist, with sellers and buyers crowding the area, their laughter and chatter echoing incessantly. "Everyone should wake up early to admire this scene, to enjoy an atmosphere that is both down-to-earth and artistic. Just standing by the roadside, you can see an entire harvest season unfolding," Nga shared.
This year's lychee harvest is abundant, but the price is quite low, ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 VND/kg depending on the variety. Nga chose to buy the pink lychees because of their beautiful appearance and pleasant aroma, although the seeds are a bit large. But what impressed her most wasn't the ripe bunches of lychees, but the warm, human-filled atmosphere of the harvest season. "Everywhere I went, I encountered smiles, was offered food, and was invited to chat. There was something very pleasant, very simple, yet it warmed my heart," she shared.
Swans enthusiastically immerse themselves in the bustling, busy, yet familiar atmosphere of the harvest season.
Agricultural tourism - a new face of Bac Ninh
In Luc Ngan district, Bac Ninh province, there are currently more than 200 cooperatives growing lychees combined with tourism. The "seasonal tourism" model is being promoted by the locality not only to consume agricultural products, but also to promote the image of Bac Ninh, a land rich in cultural identity and natural resources.
Besides lychee orchards, visitors can combine their trip with visits to destinations such as Cam Son Lake, Mo Stream, Am Vai Pagoda, or traditional craft villages. Taking advantage of its natural resources and local produce, Bac Ninh province is gradually transforming the lychee season into a peak tourist season, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
The "seasonal tourism" model is becoming a strength in promoting the image of Bac Ninh's nature and people.
Amidst the vast expanse of over 30,000 hectares of lychee orchards, clusters of red fruit not only symbolize abundance but also bear witness to an agro-tourism model that is gradually transforming the face of Bac Ninh. And for nature lovers and those who appreciate simplicity, like Thien Nga, the lychee season is a season of kindness, of simple, sweet joy.
Before leaving the orchard, Thien Nga chose to buy several dozen kilograms of lychees to take home as gifts. The price at the orchard was very reasonable, only about 20,000-30,000 VND/kg, and she could choose only the best bunches. Each bunch of bright red, sweet lychees was neatly wrapped and tied with string, as if bringing the whole summer of Bac Ninh back to the city.
This year's lychee harvest is abundant, and the price at the orchard is quite cheap, ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 VND/kg.
A lychee-picking trip in Bac Ninh may not be a luxurious vacation, but it offers a relaxing experience, a chance to explore, and a connection with nature. For those who love nature and enjoy discovering local culture through hands-on experiences, the lychee season in Bac Ninh is a sweet and alluring invitation to summer.
