The season of sweet honey in the mountainous region

The people of Huong Son are usually very busy during the honey harvesting season.

THE FRAGRANCE OF FLOWERS IN EVERY DROP OF SWEET HONEY

In June, the landscape of Huong Son seems to awaken after the summer rains. Green stretches across the hillsides, interspersed with clusters of flowers silently displaying their beauty. Amidst this vast expanse, swarms of bees flutter about, diligently visiting each flower petal, absorbing the scent of sunshine and wind. This is also the peak season for honey production, when the vitality of nature blends with the bustling rhythm of these tiny bees.

Mr. Ho Van Binh's small garden now smells wonderfully of honey.

In his shady garden, Mr. Ho Van Binh (Dong Phuc village, Quang Diem commune) quietly tends to his bee colonies. His sun-tanned skin and the smile in his eyes behind the protective netting make him seem to immerse himself in the fragrant aroma of honey ripening in the golden wax.

Based on his experience, Mr. Binh shared: "Bees have a very strong social instinct and are sensitive to external factors such as weather, light, and temperature. Therefore, beekeepers not only simply care for the bees but must truly 'understand' them, listening to every buzzing sound and every small movement in the hive. Only then will the bee colony be healthy and produce sweet, delicious honey."

Mr. Binh always spends a lot of time checking on his bee colonies every day.

Having been involved in beekeeping for over 20 years, Mr. Binh always dedicates a lot of time to meticulously caring for his bee colonies. It is this dedication that has led to a stable and prosperous family economy . He shared: “Last year, with only 70 bee colonies, my family harvested nearly 800 kg of honey. The high-quality honey, favored by customers and selling for 200,000 VND per liter, brought my family nearly 160 million VND in revenue.”

For Mr. Le Khanh Ngoc (Yen Long village, Quang Diem commune), a new day begins with tending to his 50 bee colonies – his "little friends" who have been with him through countless honey seasons.

Honey harvesting does not have a fixed schedule; it depends on the health of each colony and natural conditions.

Sharing his experience in honey harvesting, Mr. Ngoc said: "There is no fixed time for harvesting honey; it depends on the health of each colony and natural conditions. When the bees are healthy and diligently collecting nectar, I can extract honey in about 8 days, but some colonies need 15-17 days to produce enough honey for harvesting."

When harvesting honey, Mr. Ngoc performs every action with extreme gentleness and care. He uses a specialized knife to cut away the wax layer on top of the fully ripened honeycomb cells. After preparation, each honeycomb heavy with honey is carefully placed into a honey extractor, beginning the process of separating the golden, smooth honey from the wax.

The honey harvesting process, from collecting the honeycomb to extracting the honey.

Thanks to his meticulous care and unwavering love for his bees, last year his bee colonies yielded nearly 600 liters of honey. Selling it at around 200,000 VND per liter, his family earned nearly 120 million VND. In addition, he breeds more bees, sells beekeeping equipment, creating a stable and regular source of income. This year, despite somewhat unpredictable weather, thanks to his extensive experience and careful attention, his bee colonies are still thriving, with expected yields reaching last year's level.

But above all, what keeps Mr. Ngoc attached to the profession is not just its economic value. Each time he extracts honey, smelling the rich aroma of flowers mingled with the golden honey, he feels a sense of calm. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, the feeling of being close to nature, of being in harmony with the changing seasons, is the greatest gift that beekeeping brings.

WHEN DROPS OF HONEY ARE GIVEN WINGS TO FLY FAR AWAY

Not content with just small-scale production, many people in Huong Son have boldly developed beekeeping in a professional manner to bring their local honey further into the market. Currently, there are 3 honey products in the area that have achieved OCOP standards, including one product recognized with 4 stars and two products with 3 stars.

The entire Huong Son district has 4 honey products that meet OCOP standards.

In 2024, Cuong Nga Honey Cooperative in Quang Diem commune became the first establishment in Ha Tinh province to have its honey product achieve OCOP 4-star certification. This achievement is the result of continuous efforts to improve quality and develop the traditional beekeeping profession in the locality.

To achieve this high standard, Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong - Director of Cuong Nga Honey Cooperative - and its members have focused on comprehensive investment, from selecting good bee breeds to harvesting, processing, and packaging the product in a closed-loop process, ensuring food safety and hygiene while preserving the natural flavor.

Cuong Nga Honey Cooperative has 18 members with more than 1,500 bee colonies.

Currently, the cooperative has 18 members with over 1,500 bee colonies. Beyond honey production, the cooperative has expanded into trading bee colonies and beekeeping equipment. In addition, the cooperative regularly organizes technical training sessions, guiding members on proper beekeeping and care practices, contributing to the sustainable development of beekeeping.

“Regarding output, the cooperative always focuses on building a brand of clean, pure honey and establishing relationships with reputable distribution channels both within and outside the province. In addition, the honey is also distributed through reputable retail channels, chains of organic food stores, and e-commerce platforms, contributing to increasing its value and expanding the consumer market,” Mr. Cuong said.

Cuong Nga Honey Cooperative has harvested 12 tons of honey since the beginning of the season.

Since the beginning of the harvesting season, Cuong Nga Honey Cooperative has harvested 12 tons of honey. After processing, the product is carefully packaged and quickly brought to market, receiving many positive reviews from consumers thanks to its delicious, pure flavor and consistent quality.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong shared: “I hope that beekeeping in Huong Son will not only remain on a household scale but will become increasingly professional and systematic. When the profession develops sustainably, people will have more stable livelihoods, thus committing to the profession in the long term. This belief is the driving force for the cooperative to continuously improve processes, enhance quality, and expand production scale to bring Huong Son honey to even greater heights.”

Cuong Nga Honey Cooperative is applying modern techniques to produce the highest quality honey for its customers.

Along with Cuong Nga Honey Cooperative, other honey production facilities in Huong Son district are also striving to develop beekeeping for honey production.

With the desire to enhance the value of Huong Son honey, in 2020, Mr. Nguyen Tri Thuc (Che Bien village, Son Kim 2 commune) decided to invest in buying more bee colonies, expanding his family's bee colony to 100 hives. By 2023, with the bee colony thriving, the family continued to invest in building a factory and purchasing machinery such as a moisture reduction machine, a vacuum machine, and a heat press... to produce honey according to OCOP standards.

Mr. Nguyen Tri Thuc (in the middle) is determined to develop the Huong Son honey brand to reach nationwide recognition.

In July 2024, the "Thuc Dung Honey" product was officially awarded a 3-star OCOP rating. Beyond recognition of its quality, achieving OCOP certification opens up opportunities for the product to gradually establish its position in the market.

Since receiving its certification, Thuc Dung honey has been available in many provinces and cities nationwide, especially in the South. Mr. Thuc said: “We pay close attention to upgrading packaging, improving designs, and maintaining product quality. Our greatest desire is to bring Thuc Dung honey to even more consumers, so that our product from Huong Son can have a firm and lasting place in the hearts of customers nationwide.”

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the people and the support of cooperatives, beekeeping in Huong Son is gradually transforming towards a professional and sustainable direction. Each drop of honey is not only a crystallization of the fragrance of forest flowers but also imbued with the sweat, dedication, and aspirations of the people who are deeply connected to the mountains and forests of their homeland.

Video : The season of sweet honey in Huong Son.

Huong Son district has over 21,000 bee colonies, and in the first five months of the year, 69 tons of honey were harvested, with an estimated total for the year exceeding 117 tons. Despite unfavorable weather conditions, the bee colonies thrived, producing high-quality honey. Local people have focused more on techniques and invested in technology, enhancing the value of their products. Furthermore, building a brand and developing according to OCOP standards is the right direction, creating momentum for the sustainable development of local beekeeping. In the future, the locality will continue to support promising models, encourage people to expand production scale, and focus on improving quality and developing stable markets.
Mr. Do Thanh Tinh - Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Environment Department of Huong Son District