Members of the An Phu Agricultural Cooperative in Chieng An ward share their experiences in growing and caring for red-fleshed dragon fruit. Photo: Truong Son

 

Son La currently has over 300 hectares of red-fleshed dragon fruit cultivation, concentrated in the communes of Mai Son, Binh Thuan, Ta Hoc, Chieng Mung, Thuan Chau, Sop Cop, Yen Chau and Chieng An ward.

Of that, the area producing according to VietGAP and organic standards reaches over 240 hectares. By 2025, the total production of the province is expected to reach approximately 5,000 tons of fruit.

These days, dragon fruit growers are busy harvesting. In Ta Hoc commune, Nguyen Thanh Liem's ​​family is harvesting their fourth crop. On their 2-hectare plot, grown organically, he expects to harvest about 15 tons of fruit this season.

"Since the beginning of the season, prices have remained stable. Thanks to cultivation with organic fertilizers and biological pesticides, the dragon fruit is glossy, beautiful, and has a rich, sweet taste, making it popular in the market," Mr. Liem shared.

Farmers in Binh Thuan commune introduce their red-fleshed dragon fruit to customers through social media platforms. Photo: Truong Son

 

In Chieng Coi commune, this year's harvest began in late June. Favorable weather conditions have resulted in abundant flowering and fruiting, a high fruit setting rate, and attractive fruit quality. The trees are ablaze with red fruit, and traders are flocking to the orchards to purchase the produce at an average price of 14,000 - 20,000 VND/kg.

Ms. Bui Thi Hoa's family in Cao Son village (Chieng Mung commune) is harvesting red-fleshed dragon fruit. Her orchard has more than 5,000 dragon fruit plants, equipped with a drip irrigation system, covered with plastic sheeting to prevent weeds, and cared for using organic techniques to increase productivity.

"This year, traders placed orders early, so we felt confident in taking care of the crops. This year the fruit is beautiful, the price is stable, and the market is good, so the farmers are very happy," said Ms. Hoa.

In Sop Cop commune, the red-fleshed dragon fruit tree, although only recently introduced for trial cultivation, has already yielded clear economic benefits.

Mr. Tong Van Thien (Ban village, Sop Cop commune) said that initially he only planted a few dozen dragon fruit trees on his unproductive field, but now he has expanded his orchard, harvesting more than 4 tons of fruit per year.

"I learned the techniques from other regions, knowing how to prune and fertilize properly. Dragon fruit trees are not difficult to care for, are resistant to pests and diseases, and yield multiple harvests a year, so they are very profitable," Thien shared.

Residents of Binh Thuan commune harvest red-fleshed dragon fruit during the peak season. Photo: Truong Son

 

Ms. Hoang Thi Thuan (Huoi Khang village, Sop Cop commune) is also one of the households that earn high profits from dragon fruit. In 2024, from 1 hectare of red-fleshed dragon fruit, she earned over 200 million VND. According to her, thanks to choosing suitable varieties, applying VietGAP standards, and cultivating organically, her family's products are always trusted by customers.

At Ngoc Hoang Agricultural Service Cooperative in Ta Hoc commune, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, the cooperative's director, said that the unit is currently collaborating with nearly 200 households growing red-fleshed dragon fruit, of which 70 hectares meet export standards.

"Since the beginning of the season, we have exported more than 150 tons of dragon fruit to foreign markets. All 70 hectares of dragon fruit are grown according to VietGAP standards and have been assigned a planting area code, which facilitates traceability and enhances product value," Mr. Vinh shared.

 

Selecting dragon fruit for packaging and sale to traders. Photo: Truong Son

 

According to Mr. Vu Duc Thuan, Chairman of the Son La Provincial Farmers' Association, Son La dragon fruit has now established its reputation and quality, and is exported to many markets such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia, with strict control requirements regarding growing areas and cultivation processes.

Besides technical aspects, branding efforts for Son La dragon fruit have also yielded positive results. In August 2024, the "Son La Dragon Fruit" certification mark was officially licensed by the Intellectual Property Office. To date, five cooperatives have been authorized to use the mark on their product packaging.

"Certification marks not only help affirm product quality but also create a competitive advantage, expanding domestic and export markets," Mr. Thuan said.

Red-fleshed dragon fruit, originally grown as a trial crop, has become a staple crop providing sustainable livelihoods for hundreds of households in the mountainous region of Son La.