The mandarin orchards in Dong Ho Village, Quang Lap Commune (Lam Dong) not only bring farmers an abundant harvest, but have also become a highlight of agritourism, attracting large numbers of visitors to experience the spring harvest season.
During the peak harvest period, the mandarin orchards in Dong Ho Village become noticeably more vibrant. Truck after truck loaded with market-bound mandarins leaves the orchards, mixed with streams of eager visitors arriving to tour, take photos, and enjoy ripe, juicy fruit right in the garden.
The harmonious blend of agriculture and experiential tourism is creating a new development path, bringing sustainable economic benefits to local communities.
When we visited Huy Quynh Mandarin Orchard in Dong Ho Village during its peak season, the gently sloping hills were lined with rows of fruit-laden trees, shimmering in gold under the spring sun. Many branches bent low under the weight of the harvest, creating a scene both lush and poetic.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh, owner of Huy Quynh Orchard, shared that her family currently cultivates nearly one hectare of pink mandarins and sugar mandarins. The orchard was planted in 2017 and began welcoming visitors in 2023.
“Besides income from selling mandarins, our family now has an additional and fairly stable source of revenue from visitors who come to tour, experience, and enjoy fruit right in the orchard. This activity helps create more sustainable income for our farm,” Ms. Quynh explained.
According to Ms. Quynh, the orchard follows safe cultivation practices. The ripe fruit offers a delicate sweetness with a gentle hint of tartness, a flavor profile well suited to most consumers.
The mandarin season usually runs from November through late February. Consequently, the orchard is open to visitors only during a brief one-to-two-month window before the final harvest.
It is precisely this fleeting season that makes the orchards even more appealing. Visitors hoping to capture the golden glow of the fruit-laden trees must time their trips carefully, when the fruit is at its peak.
Many are willing to travel long distances simply to witness this rare sight and preserve meaningful moments amid the spring scenery.
“Over the past few days, I saw many beautiful photos of this orchard on social media, so I took the opportunity during my holiday to visit. This is the first time I’ve seen mandarin trees so heavily laden with fruit. It’s a fascinating experience, and I’m sure I’ll take home many wonderful memories,” said Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Huong, a visitor.
“I happened to come across photos of this orchard online and was completely captivated. Although it’s quite far from central Da Lat, we were determined to find our way here,” shared Ms. Le Thi Thuy Nga.
Beyond offering visitors a fresh and engaging experience, the model of combining mandarin cultivation with agritourism is helping farmers increase the value of their produce.
Visitors can tour the orchards, harvest fruit themselves, and purchase mandarins on-site, easing concerns about product origin and quality compared to produce sold at markets.
“Several agritourism mandarin orchards in the area, such as Huy Quynh Orchard, 3T Orchard, and Pro Farm, have demonstrated clear economic effectiveness,” shared Mr. Ngo Dinh Phu, Chairman of the Quang Lap Farmers’ Association.
“Mandarins are a crop with high and stable economic value. We are working to develop a standardized mandarin production zone under VietGAP standards, while linking cultivation with tourism to enhance product value and increase farmers’ incomes,” Mr. Phu noted.
In the past, Quang Lap was not considered a major tourism destination, and visitor numbers were quite modest. Yet each mandarin season, Dong Ho Village becomes livelier as tourists arrive to explore, photograph, and experience harvesting fruit in the orchards.
Seizing this opportunity, many households have proactively opened their gardens, offering free entry, creating friendly spaces to attract visitors, and selling their produce directly on-site.
From these fruit-laden orchards, a new direction is gradually taking shape: agritourism linked to local specialty produce. The model not only brings economic benefits but also encourages farmers to adopt safer production practices, protect the cultivation environment, and gradually build an image of environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture.
Importantly, the mandarin orchards of Dong Ho Village are helping promote Quang Lap’s signature pink mandarins to visitors from near and far, opening up hopes for a harmonious development between agriculture and tourism, where the true value of mandarins lies not only in yield, but also in the experiences and emotions they offer visitors each spring.
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