With just over a month until Tet (Lunar New Year) 2025, golden-yellow grapefruit trees from multi-million dong gardens are ready for the holiday market. After three years of meticulous care, growers anxiously await buyers amidst rising costs and uncertain demand.

Grapefruit gardens prepare for Tet

In Hoai Duc District, Hanoi, one of the largest grapefruit cultivation areas in the city, over 30 households are preparing nearly 2,000 trees for sale this Tet season.

Unlike kumquats or peach blossoms, ornamental grapefruit trees are large and costly, making them a favored choice for businesses or families with spacious gardens. Prices range from 7 to 40 million VND ($290–$1,650) per tree, depending on size, fruit yield, and unique shapes.

Anh Toan, a farmer with a grapefruit garden valued at billions of VND, has been living in a tent in his garden for two weeks to oversee sales. Despite efforts, the market shows signs of stagnation.

"By this time in previous years, I sold several trees daily, earning tens of millions of dong. This year, after more than two weeks, I've only sold 5-6 trees," he laments.

This year’s unusual weather, including tropical storm Yagi, significantly increased production costs.

Farmers spent 50–100 million VND ($2,000–$4,200) on wind barriers to protect hundreds of trees. Prolonged rain led to pests and diseases, forcing growers to invest millions in pesticides and growth stimulants.

"Even with these extra costs, selling prices remain similar to previous years. It’s hard not to worry," Toan adds.

The labor-intensive craft of ornamental grapefruit

Growing ornamental grapefruit requires significant time and effort compared to kumquat or peach blossoms.

The process starts with sourcing old Dien grapefruit roots from highland areas such as Tuyen Quang and Lai Chau. These trees, often over 15 years old, are sold by locals after their fruit quality declines.

"Finding suitable roots takes weeks of travel, and each trip typically yields only a dozen trees. Transportation costs are substantial," says Hoang Thi Hoan, a grower in Hoai Duc.

After purchase, the roots must be nurtured in gardens for a year to regain health. In the second year, they are moved into pots for acclimatization. Only in the third year, once the tree is fully stabilized, can fruit grafting and shaping begin to meet market standards.

When asked why growers don’t collect leftover trees post-Tet, Trung, another grower, explains:

"Ornamental grapefruit trees are expensive, often costing tens of millions of dong. Customers typically keep them until the end of the first lunar month. By then, the trees are too weak and unsuitable for producing high-quality fruit for the next Tet."

Ngoc Cuong