Lai Thieu fruits of mangosteen, durian, rambutan and so on were used to be famous products across the Southern region and nationwide but they have disappeared on the market. Eco-tourism journeys to the orchards have now become luxurious. Lai Thieu-based orchards are self-loosing its trademark by dearness.

Most of tourists coming to the orchards in this time said that they will not return. In the past, from My to August, the orchards in the region lured hundreds of tourists per day. But now, the area has become absent with many scrubby trees.

The road leading to the orchards, that was previously busy with fruit shops, is now full with mediators and fruits bought from nearby market. Humid gardens filled with mosquitoes and torn tents are not matched prices under service. A group of tourists were forced to pay VND200,000 for their seats and fruits with the four, fivefold prices from the market price. An owner of a orchard moaned that orchards must received many tourists, so land for trees become hard plus costs for mediators make them surge prices.

Mrs.Thuy, the owner of Thu Nga orchard said that orchards herein have become absent tourists since 2003. Besides, waste water of factories pouring to nearby canals and Sai Gon River make the orchards die gradually. This makes orchard owners sell their orchards. Now, orchards from Vinh Phu commune to Lai Thieu township are hung boards with information on selling land.

According to Thuan An district division of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lai Thieu-based orchards covering 1,320ha spreads across 6 communes, township along Sai Gon river. Since industrialization has appeared, orchards’ output has decreased sharply. Green belt road and famous trademark of Lai Thieu orchard has been sunk into obliviousness.

Reported by Thanh-Hang – Translated by A.C