Nguyen Van Hau, a farmer from Lien Huong commune in Lam Dong, said his family suffered severe losses when floodwaters surged in the early hours of December 4.

His 5,000 square meters of grapes were inundated, just ten days before an expected harvest of around 5 tons. At a farmgate price of 45,000–50,000 VND (around $1.85–$2.05 USD) per kilo, Hau lost more than $9,000 USD in potential revenue.

Worse still, the deep-standing water damaged the roots of mature vines, and it remains uncertain whether they can recover.

Additionally, 10,000 square meters of onions were buried under a one-meter-thick layer of rocks and soil. The fertile topsoil was stripped away completely. According to Hau, the cost of restoring the land is enormous.

“The grapes hadn’t ripened, and now they’re all rotten  -  not even one left to eat,” he told VietNamNet. “I was planning to harvest and use the money for Tet. But now it’s all gone. Even our sturdy shelter was swept away.”

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Floodwater left a thick layer of soil and rock on farmland. Photo: NVCC

Hau recounted that at around 6:00 PM on December 3, residents were warned about a discharge from the Phan Dung reservoir. By 3:30 AM the next day, floodwaters had surged nearly two meters high.

“It’s been raining for months, and with the floods, whatever we’ve produced is now lost. Everyone’s suffering, not just me,” he said.

For dragon fruit  -  the region’s key cash crop  -  the damage was also extensive. Nguyen Anh Mai, Director of Mai Huong Dragon Fruit Cooperative, reported that 20 hectares of dragon fruit fields were submerged.

Approximately 20 tons of unripe fruit were ruined due to prolonged submersion. At current market rates, the estimated loss is $16,000–$20,000 USD, he said.

That money was meant to cover Tet expenses for the cooperative’s members after harvest.

Mai noted that only farmers with available cash can afford to re-invest in their crops  -  buying fertilizer and tending to the plants. Recovery will take at least six months, meaning many households face a prolonged income drought.

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Dragon fruit fields submerged after December 4 flooding in Lam Dong. Photo: NVCC

“What farmers really need now is partial financial support based on actual losses to reinvest in their crops,” Mai proposed.

Huynh Canh, former Chairman of the Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, said the combination of unusually heavy rainfall and reservoir discharges caused the sudden flooding.

While dragon fruit trees can recover from water exposure, he explained, the flowers and fruit are often ruined and require careful care to regain productivity.

Binh Thuan province, where dragon fruit cultivation is concentrated, has around 25,000–26,000 hectares under cultivation. Canh said only a small portion of this area was affected by flooding, with the worst-hit zones being coastal communes in Lam Dong, such as Ham Liem, Luong Son, Lien Huong, and Ham Thang.

According to Lam Dong’s Civil Defense Authority, as of midday December 5, flood damage to agricultural production was widespread. The total area of affected farmland reached 4,128 hectares, with preliminary estimates placing total losses across the province at $4.65 million USD.

Tran Chung