Fond memories of the "wild pineapple" of Dao Tru.

The Legend of the Lim Forest Pineapple

From Dai Dinh town, travel along provincial road 302 towards Chang bridge for about 4 to 5 km to reach Dao Tru commune. Following a narrow road with many houses hidden among orchards, along the way, locals have set up small stalls in front of these houses, selling various local products: forest honey, jackfruit, pickled bamboo shoots with chili... the scene is truly peaceful.

Dao Tru is considered a disadvantaged area in Tam Dao district, Vinh Phuc province. Its population is primarily composed of the San Diu ethnic group, with many unique customs and traditions rich in cultural value. Here, not only are there vast, evergreen forests of ancient ironwood trees, but it is also famous for its wild ironwood pineapple – a unique specialty, created quite by chance through the hard work and diligence of the local people.

Under the scorching summer sun, traveling along the tree-lined, cool roads of Dao Tru commune is truly refreshing. But even more delightful is stopping at roadside stalls during pineapple season to taste slices of bright yellow, sweet, and fragrant pineapple… that truly provides travelers with a feeling of comfort and enjoyment.

The specialty "lim forest pineapple" will always evoke fond memories for those who have tasted it. Photo: Sy Hao.

In a makeshift hut constructed from flimsy stilts, next to a forest of ironwood trees with trunks so large that an adult's arms couldn't encircle them, their lush branches and leaves providing shade over a wide area, Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Van May from Dong Lieu village, Dao Tru commune, run a tea stall and sell local produce, mainly fruits: bananas, jackfruit, custard apples, pomelos, and especially wild pineapples from the ironwood forest... whatever is in season.

In a steady voice, Mr. Nguyen Van May recounted the surprising "story" behind the formation of a local specialty. Decades ago, the area of ​​Lim trees planted in Dao Tru commune was under the management of a cooperative. However, around 1976 or 1977, the cooperative dissolved and transferred the management rights of the Lim forest to households – the people were not allowed to harvest the Lim trees, but only to look after and cultivate under the forest canopy, which at that time was full of wild and miscellaneous trees.

“We cleared the undergrowth beneath the teak forest canopy and planted crops like sweet potatoes, cassava, and vegetables, but the yield and efficiency were not high. At that time, some people experimented with growing pineapples, with the aim of supplying raw materials to confectionery factories in Tam Duong district.”

"When the pineapples ripen, most people are amazed, because the pineapples grown under the canopy of the ironwood forest have an exceptionally delicious flavor that pineapples grown elsewhere cannot match," said Mr. Nguyen Van May.

Surprisingly, growing under the canopy of ironwood trees, ordinary pineapple plants have completely changed their flavor, becoming sweet, devoid of sourness, and much more fragrant than those grown elsewhere.

Cherishing the natural delicacies bestowed by nature…

Good wine needs no bush, and for many tourists who have the opportunity to visit Dao Tru commune and parts of Dai Dinh town in the summer, the local specialty "lim forest pineapple" is always a memorable experience.

Pineapples begin to ripen from the end of May in the lunar calendar, especially from May 20th onwards. Before this time, pineapples from other places are often brought in and disguised as "forest pineapples from Dao Tru". Forest pineapples from Dao Tru are usually not sold by weight; customers can choose individual fruits, each costing between 7,000 and 10,000 dong, depending on size.

Many people in Dao Tru commune are attached to and want to preserve the "lim forest pineapple" as a gift from nature, which has brought stable and sustainable income to many families. Photo: Sy Hao.

Residents of Dao Tru commune also stated that Tam Dao district currently has nearly 25 hectares of pineapple, with Dai Dinh and Dao Tru being the two localities with the largest planting areas. Growing pineapples takes about three years before the plants can be harvested. The "tough" part is that during that long period, they must be extremely careful, because the young pineapple plants grown in the forest far from houses are heavily damaged by buffalo and cattle.

“Sometimes, the fruits of three years of hard work can be destroyed by cattle in a single morning if you're not careful. But once the pineapple crop is producing a stable harvest, the amount of care needed is greatly reduced, and it provides a sustainable income year after year without needing to replant,” said Mr. Ly Van Tu from Dao Tru commune.

The income from growing wild pineapples (specifically the Lim variety) is around 100 million VND per hectare per year, lower than that from growing eucalyptus trees. However, many local people are reluctant to switch to other crops, not only because they want to preserve the fertility of the land – planting eucalyptus or acacia trees causes the soil to quickly become depleted. Another reason is their attachment to and desire to preserve the "wild pineapple" as a gift from nature, which has provided a stable and sustainable income for many families.