"Leaves of the fifth day of the lunar month" go to the market.
These days, from all directions to traditional markets in the countryside of Da Nang , it's easy for many people to spot the distinctive "Fifth Day of the Lunar New Year" leaves on trays.
The vendors are not just small traders; the majority are farmers with bags of fresh or dried leaves displayed at roadside stalls.
Locals believe that common herbs such as patchouli, pineapple, fan palm, Dillenia, perilla, mugwort, plantain, and star anise leaves, when dried at precisely noon on the 5th day of the lunar month, will have a special fragrance that can be used as medicine.
Recognizing the market demand for aromatic herbs, in recent years, many households in Tra Doa 1 village (Thang An commune, Da Nang) have switched to cultivating traditional medicinal plants such as pineapple flowers, patchouli, fan palm, licorice, bamboo shoots, and sand tea... to sell on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.
Mr. Do Tho's family is one of the households closely associated with this crop. This season, he dedicated nearly 2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters) of rice paddy land to planting. From the beginning of the year, his family prepared the land and made raised beds to sow patchouli and honeysuckle seeds.
"Growing this crop is harder than growing rice because it requires constant care and watering. But in return, if the harvest is good, the income is much higher," Mr. Tho shared.
This year, Mr. Tho's family sold almost all of their crops to traders, keeping only a small amount for pre-orders from regular customers. After deducting expenses, their income reached approximately 25 million VND.
In addition, Mr. Nguyen Vi Tu is also busy harvesting the last rows of patchouli to deliver to traders. Although the hot weather has reduced yields compared to previous years, the stable selling price means that people still have an additional source of income.
“Fresh patchouli leaves are currently being bought by traders for about 7,000 VND/kg, while the flowers are about 15,000 VND/kg. My family cultivates more than one sao (approximately 1000 square meters), so we earn an additional 15 million VND,” Mr. Tu said.
From rural traditions to a new direction of development.
Not just a few households, this crop is gradually becoming a new production direction in Tra Doa 1. Currently, the entire village has about 50 households participating in cultivation, with a total area of more than 3.5 hectares - an increase compared to about 2.5 hectares in 2024.
Mr. Do Duc Thuan, head of Tra Doa 1 village, said that previously, people mainly grew rice, but the economic efficiency was not high. Recognizing the increasing market demand for the leaves of the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, many households have converted a portion of their land to growing this traditional medicinal plant.
"This type of crop is suitable for the local soil conditions and utilizes the labor of the people. More importantly, it provides the villagers with an additional source of income during the middle of the year," Mr. Thuan said.
The output of this crop is still mainly concentrated around the Dragon Boat Festival. People hope to establish links with cooperatives and businesses to further process it, creating products such as tea bags and herbal products... in order to extend the consumption period and increase its value.
"The local people are hoping that all levels and sectors will pay attention and provide support to build a brand, turn this crop into a distinctive local product, and even develop it into an OCOP product," Mr. Thuan shared.
Not only in the Tra Doa 1 tea-growing region, but also in many rural markets in Da Nang these days, many become more special thanks to stalls selling fragrant leaves.
These simple bundles of leaves, carefully prepared by the villagers, serve both traditional customs and provide additional income for many families.
Ms. Nguyen Thi To (Quan Go Market, Thang Dien Commune) said that in the days leading up to the Dragon Boat Festival, she often goes to Binh Dao Market to get leaves to resell to people who need them.
"Depending on the type, each bag of leaves costs from 10,000 to 30,000 VND. Many people still like to buy them for use because it's a long-standing tradition," Ms. To said.
More than just bundles of leaves for making herbal tea, the "Fifth Day of the Dragon Boat Festival" market preserves a traditional rural culture that has been passed down through generations. For many families, the Dragon Boat Festival feels incomplete without a bundle of fragrant leaves and a steaming pot of herbal tea.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/kiem-bon-tien-tu-la-mung-5-2526180.html
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