People in Nong Tien are tending to peach trees for Tet (Lunar New Year).

Technical initiative

In the peach orchards of Nong Tien ward, the end of October in the lunar calendar is always considered a pivotal time. When the first cold spells arrive, farmers begin pruning roots, stripping leaves, and reducing leaf growth so that the trees can concentrate nutrients on the buds. The Khai Thom family, who cultivate over 400 peach trees including ornamental, cascading, and regular varieties, say that timing the leaf stripping correctly and monitoring the weather is a key factor in the season. This is also the period when fertilizing and watering are completely stopped, focusing only on maintaining a healthy canopy and evenly distributed buds. Peach growers call this "the time that determines 70% of the success of the Tet season."
This year, the early winter weather has been relatively favorable: warm enough for strong branches, with intermittent cold spells to help the buds develop firmly. Ms. Le Thi Nga, owner of Nga Dung peach garden, one of the pioneering households in ornamental peach trees in Nong Tien, couldn't hide her joy as she shared: "This year's peach trees have beautiful branches and many buds, but we mustn't be complacent. Each peach tree has its own 'temperament.' Some trees need their leaves removed early, while others can be left to grow naturally. Understanding the rhythm of each tree is essential to nurturing long-lasting, beautiful flowers."

This year the weather is favorable, the peach leaves are crisp, making it easy to strip them.

Nong Tien ward currently has over 12 hectares of peach orchards, with more than 160 households participating, concentrated mainly in groups 8, 9, and 10. Nong Tien peaches are characterized by their strong root systems thanks to the laterite soil, sturdy trunks, balanced branches, and dense buds. Therefore, customers from Hanoi , Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, etc., often place orders very early. The rental price for bonsai peach trees ranges from 2 to 8 million VND per tree, with ancient, artistically shaped trees potentially costing 10 to 15 million VND. The "Huyen" peach variety, popular among young families, also costs from 800,000 VND to 3.5 million VND depending on the shape.

Expectations for a fulfilling spring.

For many families in Nong Tien, growing peach trees is not only a means of livelihood but also a memory of the early days of settling on the alluvial plains of the Lo River, and a source of pride for generations who have poured their efforts into preserving the pink blossoms of the peach trees throughout the four seasons.

In Group 9, known as the "peach blossom capital" of the ward, the beautiful peach blossom gardens along Le Dai Hanh Street are always bustling with customers choosing trees every year-end. For many years, Ms. Le Thi Minh's garden has become a familiar address for agencies and organizations both within and outside the province. Ms. Minh shared: "Peach blossoms need sunshine for the buds to be firm, but to bloom exactly for Tet, they need cold weather. This job is hard work but enjoyable, because as long as the tree is beautiful, it's like the whole family has a Tet celebration."

With just over two months left until the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, peach growers in Nong Tien, from Hamlet 8 to Hamlet 10, are still diligently monitoring the weather and tending to each bud and sprout. Everyone is looking forward to a prosperous Tet season, not only economically but also in terms of the joy of seeing their year-long cultivated trees bloom at the most sacred moment.

When the first peach blossoms begin to open, it is not only the result of a year of hard work but also a love for the profession, a love for the land, and a preservation of a cultural tradition of the people of Tuyen Quang.

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