Earning billions thanks to the apricot blossom.
Ta Phin commune, nestled amidst rolling mountains and perpetually shrouded in mist, offers unique natural conditions for the growth of the single-branch plum blossom. The cool climate and mineral-rich soil of the highlands have shaped plum trees with a distinctive beauty. Unlike the vibrant yellow plum blossoms or the bright peach blossoms, the single-branch plum blossom possesses a pure and delicate charm, with its pinkish-red buds, pristine white flowers, and a touch of soft pink as they fade, creating a unique allure for this flower.
In the final days of the year, when temperatures drop below 10°C and Ta Phin is shrouded in a silvery-gray frost, the atmosphere remains quiet. However, as early as 4 or 5 in the morning, while many are still wrapped in warm blankets, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoan, from Sa Seng village, Ta Phin commune, Lao Cai province , is already awake. Wearing his worn-out work clothes, he slowly makes his way to his large garden, where thousands of apricot blossom trees are lined up, waiting to be cared for.
According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoan, for a "perfect" bonsai plum blossom tree to be ready for market, growers must spend a whole year caring for it with extremely strict techniques. From the beginning of the year, pest and disease control, especially stem fungus and bark borers, is carried out regularly to ensure the tree grows healthily and achieves its full beauty.
Around the fourth lunar month, when the trees begin to grow vigorously, growers carry out the first pruning and shape the canopy, creating the tree's form. However, the most important pruning, which determines the success or failure of the entire year, takes place around the beginning or middle of the sixth lunar month.
Mr. Hoan said that those who grow apricot blossom trees must rely on experience and sensitivity to the weather to determine the right time to prune. If the branches are pruned too early, the tree has time to recover, but the flowers are likely to bloom profusely before Tet; conversely, if pruned too late when the weather has turned very cold, the tree grows slowly, the buds don't have time to grow, and it is necessary to apply heat stimulation and warming measures, which are time-consuming and costly.
Mr. Hoan's family currently has about 1,000 apricot blossom trees ready for the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. If he sells all of them, Mr. Hoan expects to earn billions of dong in profit. Not only has he enriched himself, but Mr. Hoan has also created stable jobs for dozens of local workers, with an income of 200,000 to 300,000 dong per day.
In recent years, the shift in crop structure in Ta Phin has created a major turning point. From growing corn and rice just enough for consumption, the people have begun to focus on exploiting the value of ornamental plants with high economic value. The Japanese apricot blossom (Prunus mume) has quickly established its position thanks to its enduring vitality and aesthetic value, sought after by connoisseurs nationwide. This is not just a story about agriculture, but a story about "awakening" the potential of the land and the aspirations of the people of Ta Phin to rise up.
Similarly to Mr. Hoan, the family of Mr. Ta Duy Hung, in Sa Seng village, Ta Phin commune, is also tending to about 1,000 large and small apricot blossom trees. These days, dozens of laborers are diligently digging up the trees, putting the flowers into pots, and preparing them for traders to buy.
Mr. Ta Duy Hung said: "The single-branch plum blossom tree is very suitable for the soil and weather conditions in Ta Phin commune. In terms of economic efficiency, the single-branch plum blossom tree is more profitable than orchids or peach trees."
In Ta Phin commune, there are currently about 100 households growing the *Nhat Chi Mai* tree, with a total of approximately 17,000 trees.
The value lies in its originality and simplicity.
Why are the Nhat Chi Mai trees from Ta Phin so much more valuable than those from other regions? According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, a long-time trader from Phu Tho, he travels hundreds of kilometers to Ta Phin commune every year to select precious apricot blossom trees. Customers in major cities like Hanoi , Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh always particularly favor Nhat Chi Mai trees grown there.
According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung: The One-Branch Plum Blossom in Ta Phin has large, plump petals, and a pure, flawless white color. Especially, thanks to growing in a harsh natural environment, the flowers are very durable and can last throughout January without fading or shedding petals prematurely.
The prices of apricot blossom trees in Ta Phin are currently diverse, making them accessible to a wide range of customers. Small trees with common shapes cost from 500,000 VND to 2 million VND. Medium-sized trees with basic shapes cost from 3 to 7 million VND. Particularly, ancient apricot blossom trees, shaped into "upright," "horizontal," or "waterfall" forms, possessing strong artistic value, can cost from 15 to 20 million VND, and some unique trees can even fetch hundreds of millions of VND, yet still find buyers willing to pay that price.
The development of the single-branch plum blossom tree is no longer limited to spontaneous efforts. Thanks to the ingenuity of farmers like Mr. Hoan and Mr. Hung, this profession has entered a new phase – mastering the entire process from the root. Instead of spending a large sum of money to purchase saplings from other regions and cultivate them, gardeners in Ta Phin commune now proactively propagate their own trees.
Self-propagation not only helps reduce initial investment costs but also helps people preserve valuable local genetic resources. Apricot trees born and raised right in Ta Phin will have better resistance, adapt to the local climate, and thus produce more consistent and durable quality products.
Mr. Truong Xuan Chieu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ta Phin commune, said: After the merger of the former Ta Phin commune and Trung Chai commune, the land and human resources have been expanded. Agricultural development projects, especially the planning of concentrated areas for growing ornamental plants, are being promoted. The commune government coordinates with associations and organizations to support people with preferential loan capital, and at the same time organizes training courses on professional techniques for caring for and shaping ornamental plants.
Today, the Ta Phin apricot blossoms no longer grow wild at the edge of the forest or appear in the gardens of a few households. When the pristine white blossoms cover the hillsides, the people here also welcome a prosperous spring. The apricot branches reaching towards the mountain wind seem to invite friends from all directions to Ta Phin to admire its elegant beauty and feel the vibrant spirit of the highlanders.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ta-phin-khang-dinh-vi-the-thu-phu-nhat-chi-mai-post889971.html
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