In Yen Phu Commune, prolonged flooding has left pineapple plants yellowing and rotting, with farmers fearing much of the crop could be lost.
Le Quoc Toan, 61, said his family had invested nearly VND 400 million in 1.6 hectares of pineapples due for harvest early next year. The crop could have generated a profit of more than VND 300 million.
Pineapple plants are particularly vulnerable to waterlogging. Toan said plants could begin rotting if water reached their central shoots for about three days, while fungal disease remained a risk even after floodwaters receded.
Nearby, Nguyen Duy The, 50, said his 1.5-hectare field was also submerged.
"As the water recedes, the leaves turn yellow and the plants die. My family spent nearly a year tending the crop," he added.
The same field was completely flooded after heavy rain in August 2025, forcing the family to spend more on restoring the land, buying seedlings and starting again.
Before 2025, The said his family harvested about 60 tonnes of pineapples a year. At an average price of VND 10,000 per kg, the crop generated VND 600 million in revenue and more than VND 300 million in profit after costs.
Local authorities said rain from September 13 to 19 affected about 1,000 hectares of crops across Yen Phu, including nearly 300 hectares of pineapples.
The commune has opened drainage sluices and is operating two pumping stations around the clock to remove floodwater. The Da Ngoc station has a capacity of 1,200 cubic metres per hour, while the Cong Hieu station can pump 20,000 cubic metres per hour.
Nguyen Dinh Toan, head of Yen Phu Commune's economic division, said farmers invest about VND 270 million per hectare of pineapples and can earn a profit of around VND 300 million per hectare under favourable conditions.
With nearly 300 hectares flooded, potential losses could exceed VND 80 billion, he said.
Pineapples may recover if floodwaters recede quickly, but prolonged flooding leaves little chance of survival and raises the risk of fungal disease.
Pineapple is a major crop in Yen Phu, which has about 600 hectares under cultivation. It provides the main source of income for around 1,000 households and employment for nearly 4,000 workers.