Although it is only early in the twelfth lunar month, the atmosphere in Binh Loi is already bustling, with farmers rushing to prune and care for vast apricot orchards to meet orders from central and northern provinces ahead of the holiday.
Leaves are stripped earlier than usual for trees bound for central Vietnam, where wetter and colder weather before Tet could delay blooming. The process helps ensure the yellow apricot blossoms open on time for the Lunar New Year.
At Ut Nguyen’s orchard, nearly 20 local workers were busy removing leaves, a seasonal job that provides extra income for residents, especially towards year-end.
“Although apricot prices have fallen sharply since the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing growers to cut costs, leaf stripping remains essential,” said orchard owner Bui Huu Nguyen, 53. “It also creates jobs for locals, so I welcome anyone who comes looking for work.”
Nguyen Thi Nhung, 65, who has worked as a leaf stripper for nearly 20 years, said she returns to the orchards every twelfth lunar month to earn money for Tet. “I finish one garden and move on to the next. It has become an indispensable part of my life,” she said.
The work requires care and concentration to avoid breaking branches or knocking off buds. Each large potted tree typically needs two to three workers and takes about 10-20 minutes to complete.
Work begins early in the morning and ends late in the afternoon, with daily earnings averaging VND 300,000-400,000 (USD 11.4-15.2).
Lam Cao Tho, 40, with more than a decade of experience, was seen removing wires and thinning buds on grafted trees. He is regarded as one of the village’s skilled artisans.
Covering about 600 hectares, Binh Loi is Ho Chi Minh City’s largest traditional apricot blossom village, often dubbed the city’s apricot blossom capital. It supplies millions of trees to the Tet market each year.
