Nhat Tan - The vibrant colors of 'peach blossom palace'

There was a time when people wondered if the peach orchards of Nhat Tan (Tay Ho district, Hanoi ) would still exist when the "peach blossom palace" gave way to urban development. But those who were born and raised amidst the vibrant colors of peach blossoms refused to abandon the traditional craft of their ancestors.

The vibrant pink blossoms of peach trees adorn the land of Nhật Tân as the Year of the Dragon (Giáp Thìn) approaches. (Photo: Chí Dũng)

Sweat and hard work have transformed the riverside area along the Red River into a new peach blossom growing region. The people of Nhật Tân have revived ancient peach varieties, creating unique and unparalleled shapes. Since Nhật Tân nearly lost its peach blossom tradition, a new generation of artisans has emerged, possessing dynamic and creative thinking, contributing to elevating the Nhật Tân peach blossom brand to a new level. Among the artisans competing in the 2024 Hanoi Traditional Peach Blossom Festival is a very young "contestant": Trần Duy Thuần, who just turned 25. Despite the many talented artisans participating in the competition, Duy Thuần was one of the honored recipients. The vibrant color of peach blossoms, deeply ingrained in the spirit of the upcoming Year of the Dragon, is palpable. The road to the Nhật Tân peach blossom village glows pink amidst the drizzling rain. Trần Duy Thuần (from Tuấn Việt peach garden, alley 264 Âu Cơ Street, Tây Hồ District) was busy loading peach blossoms onto a truck for transport, while simultaneously filming a TikTok video. Everyone was surprised when this young man won an honorable mention in the 2024 Traditional Peach Blossom Competition. Nearly 30 veteran peach growers from Nhat Tan and Phu Thuong participated, showcasing 54 works that embodied the essence of this centuries-old craft. Even more surprising, this young artisan in his twenties is also a top-tier TikToker. Duy Thuan has many videos about peach tree cultivation that have attracted millions of views. Duy Thuan shared: "Nhat Tan has a tradition of growing peach trees. But when I ask about the price, many people say, 'Why are these peach trees so expensive?' The reality is that many people still don't understand the true value of ancient, old-fashioned peach trees. That motivates me to use social media to spread the beauty and value of these trees. For example, I explain the care required for a peach tree, and how many years it takes for ancient, old-fashioned peach trees to develop their beautiful shape, not just a few years."

Delegates discuss the beauty of the artworks at the 2024 Hanoi Traditional Peach Blossom Festival held in Nhat Tan. (Photo: Thanh Do)

The story of artisan and TikToker Duy Thuần is a blend of modernity and tradition. Born and raised amidst the vibrant colors of peach blossoms, he began pruning, stripping leaves, and watering trees to help his parents at the age of six or seven. His love for peach trees is ingrained in his blood. The peach tree Duy Thuần entered in the competition is a "family heirloom," about the same age as Thuần himself. Six years ago, his father entrusted him with this ancient tree to reshape and create a new form. Thuần deeply pruned the old branches and nurtured it for three years until the tree's shape stabilized. Only in its fifth or sixth year did the tree fully display its beauty. "Perhaps because I was born and raised with peach trees, I don't find anything difficult. The challenge lies in perseverance. Another challenge is how to bring the peach tree to the market, so that customers understand the culture of peach blossom cultivation. That's what I'm doing," Duy Thuần said. When people move to the city or town, most residents leave the fields behind. But the people of Nhật Tân are different. The beauty of peach blossoms is ingrained in their blood and flesh, so they refuse to give up farming. They are determined to cling to their profession, undertaking a great migration of peach trees from their old residences to new land on the riverbank. In Nhật Tân, there are no shortage of "strange stories" about the special bond between people and peach trees. Perhaps that's why the people here remain "urban farmers." Young artisan Duy Thuần studied law, then dropped out to become… a farmer. Or consider the story of Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thanh Thủy (Thủy Thủy peach garden), whose life has been intertwined with the "pearl industry." Growing peach trees is hard work, enduring sun, rain, and freezing temperatures. And peach trees, especially those that thrive in harsh weather, become even more beautiful. Therefore, when talking about talented, artisan-level farmers, it's usually men and boys. But Ms. Thủy is captivated by the beauty of peach blossoms. When Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy was announced as the winner of the first prize at the 2024 Traditional Peach Blossom Contest, many were surprised. But not the peach blossom enthusiasts. No one was surprised by the days she spent toiling in the drizzle and biting winds tending her peach trees. No one was surprised by the nights she spent eating and sleeping beside her peach trees. In this land, there are many peach tree millionaires. But they all share the same rough hands and weathered skin. Because without eating and sleeping with the peach trees, success is impossible. And her peach tree is also a "treasure." That tree is an ancient Nhat Tan peach tree, 40 years old, and from afar it resembles a dragon rising upwards.

Delegates discuss the beauty of the artworks at the 2024 Hanoi Traditional Peach Blossom Festival held in Nhat Tan. (Photo: Thanh Do)

"Cultivating bonsai peach trees is very hard work. But since my grandfather and father have been growing peach trees for generations, I'm passionate about it. And since I'm passionate, I try my best to overcome the challenges," Ms. Thuy said with a smile, talking about her "unconventional" approach. Understanding her story, one can understand why many people in Nhat Tan rent out bonsai and ancient peach trees instead of buying them outright. Partly because caring for a "standard Nhat Tan" tree takes a lot of time, and partly because they've been attached to it for years. The Nhat Tan peach tree brand has now become a vast expanse of vibrant colors. But in the story of the people of Nhat Tan, there's always a journey of overcoming difficulties from over 20 years ago. The Nhat Tan peach tree brand once faced the threat of disappearing when the Ciputra urban area took over 28 hectares of peach trees – which locals called "field peach trees" (referring to peach trees in the fields within the dike to distinguish them from those outside the dike). Mr. Le Ham, the man who revived the famous Nhat Tan peach blossom variety, recalled: "At that time, many people worried that Hanoi would lose the Nhat Tan peach blossom brand because we were giving up our land for urban development. But we determined that as long as there were people, there would be a profession. The city then allocated land for us to reclaim along the Red River. Although we knew it would be difficult, we were determined to stay and preserve the peach blossom cultivation." Those who are attached to the Nhat Tan land still call this a remarkable feat of land reclamation. The alluvial land back then consisted of cornfields, vegetable fields, and wasteland. Peach trees are very finicky; they prefer high ground and need good drainage. People had to add soil to raise the garden level, then dig up the soil to form ridges. In many places, they had to add soil 5 to 7 meters high to ensure a suitable growing environment for the trees. Furthermore, in the new soil environment, the peach trees couldn't adapt immediately. They had to painstakingly research and adjust their cultivation methods. Long-time residents of Hanoi still remember a time when the Nhat Tan peach blossoms were less vibrant, with petals fading quickly. But then, about three or four years after "resettling" on the alluvial land, the peach blossoms bloomed as brightly as before. The area planted with peach trees in Nhat Tan has now reached 78 hectares, almost three times the size of the old peach orchard. At the time of land reclamation, Nhat Tan had about 770 households growing peach trees, but now the number is approximately 800. This is a surprise that no one could have imagined 20 years ago. There was a time when people worried about the ancient peach trees when wild peach trees were massively brought in. Now, the story has taken a different turn. Chairman of the Nhat Tan Peach Blossom Village Association, Tran Tuan Viet, explained: "Old peach trees are all considered ancient peach trees. But the old variety has black buds when they bloom. We call them 'black-eyed' or 'brown-eyed' peaches. The later variety has lighter-colored buds, called 'white-eyed' peaches. 'Brown-eyed' peaches have large flowers, deep red blossoms, but they are not long-lasting. If a cold winter wind or humid weather comes around Tet, peach growers will lose their Tet harvest. That's why people say growing peaches is 'gambling' with the weather. 'White-eyed' peaches, although the flowers are smaller, are more resilient, with successive blooms, and can withstand changing weather. If well cared for, the color of the peach blossoms is no different from the old pink peaches of Nhat Tan. Therefore, we combine growing both types. The market now has many connoisseurs who only like to choose 'brown-eyed' peaches. That's why the ancient Nhat Tan peaches have never experienced such a strong revival as they do now."

Young artisan Tran Duy Thuan tends to a peach tree in preparation for Tet (Lunar New Year). (Photo: Giang Nam)

In the large gardens of Nhat Tan, there is always a dedicated space for ancient peach blossom trees. For Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy's family, out of 700 peach trees, 200 are ancient. Similarly, Mr. Tran Tuan Viet's family has a significant number of ancient peach blossom trees among their 600 trees. Mr. Viet affirms that as society develops, the hobby of cultivating peach blossoms becomes more sophisticated, and artisans must strive to create new, more beautiful works than before. The assistance of science and technology makes this process easier. Nhat Tan was recognized as a traditional craft village of Hanoi in 2015. At the end of 2023, the Hanoi People's Committee recognized Nhat Tan as a tourist area, with peach blossom trees as its main strength. In previous years, Nhat Tan still organized a traditional peach blossom competition within the ward. This Lunar New Year (Year of the Dragon), the competition was elevated to the city level, held at the Nhat Tan peach blossom pavilion itself. The Nhat Tan peach blossom brand is expanding further. Tay Ho District is actively promoting the development of cultural industries. Peach blossom trees are no longer simply decorative items as they once were, but have become an integral part of the cultural industry through the "Development of Nhat Tan Peach Blossom Village and Tu Lien Kumquat Village in conjunction with tourism services" project that Tay Ho District is currently implementing. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the Tay Ho District Party Committee, affirmed: "Tay Ho District will invest in developing infrastructure to facilitate tourism activities in Nhat Tan peach blossom village. We encourage gardeners to design landscapes befitting visitors; at the same time, we will introduce the beauty of different peach blossom varieties, the planting and care processes, etc., to tourists. The Nhat Tan peach blossom village will connect with other scenic spots and large flower-growing areas such as the Flower Valley, the Red River Stone Beach, and other historical sites and craft villages in Tay Ho District to become an attractive tourist tour, thereby enhancing the value of peach blossom trees."

Giang Nam - Nhandan.vn

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