Home to thousands of hectares of fruitful orchards, Lai Vung District in the southern province of Dong Thap has earned the affectionate title “kingdom of pink mandarins.”

Each year, during the harvest season, the orchards are alive with activity as local farmers gather the ripe mandarins to sell to traders. They also bustle with tourists eager to take impressive photos and participate in the fruit-picking process.

One of the busiest destinations is the Nguyen Van Day’s one-hectare mandarin orchard in Long Hung 1 Hamlet, Long Hau Commune. The sight of the heavy clusters of citrus bending the branches, plump and ripe, leaves first-time visitors like me in awe.

Upon arrival, visitors will be treated with fresh mandarins and then taken on a tour of the orchards. Owners like Day act as warm and enthusiastic guides, leading groups to explore the “paradise of mandarins.”

Tourists can wander through the small paths shaded by heavy, fruit-laden branches. In this serene natural setting, filled with the sweet aroma of ripe mandarins, they can admire and photograph the large, golden fruits hanging from the trees. During the harvest season, the mandarins are abundant, with some clusters even drooping to the ground or brushing against visitors as they pass by.

In each area of the garden, Day pauses to allow guests to enjoy the sights and take memorable photos, while also sharing experiences and insights on fruit cultivation.

Visitors can savour the delicious taste of freshly harvested mandarins on the spot, along with a variety of related products such as jam, wine and juice. These products are not only flavourful but also healthy, aiding digestion, stimulating appetite and boosting immunity.

“This is my second visit to a mandarin orchard,” said tourist Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy from HCM City.
“I’m captivated by the shiny golden clusters of mandarins. The trees are laden with fruit, transitioning to a bright yellow hue, allowing me and my friends to capture some beautiful photographs,” she said.