In May and June, as with many other gardens in this lychee-growing region, the ancient lychee orchard belonging to Mr. Thoan’s family (in Hamlet 2, Tien Kieu Village, Thanh Hong Commune) comes alive with tourists seeking authentic rural experiences.

Thuy Duong, a 1993-born visitor from Hai Phong, took advantage of a weekend break to visit the orchard. During this peak harvest period, the trees are laden with plump, ripe lychees hanging low beneath dense foliage.

“It was my first time here, and I was amazed. Every household seemed to have a large lychee garden.

Some of the older trees have trunks and branches covered in moss, and their roots jut above ground in curious patterns. At the orchard, we also learned how to distinguish different lychee varieties,” Duong said.

She described the ancient lychee trees as being up to 7-8 meters tall, with lush, sprawling canopies.

Each trunk splits into dozens of sturdy branches reaching out in every direction. Though not very thick, the branches are strong enough for visitors to climb and pose for photos.

After Duong shared her photos with the old lychee tree online, many users commented that the scene reminded them of a jungle in Ta Xua.

“At first glance, it really looks like Ta Xua with all that moss and mystical vibe – stunning!”; “The setting is so surreal, hard to believe it’s just a lychee orchard”; “You don’t need to travel far to find a ‘mini jungle’ photo spot – Hai Duong has it all!”

According to Duong, entry to the orchard is free. Guests can sample lychees on-site or purchase some to take home as gifts.

Mr. Thoan, the orchard’s owner, shared with reporters that his garden has around 100 lychee trees aged between 30 and 50 years.

In addition to the famous Thanh Ha lychee variety, the family also grows the U trung and U hong types. Each variety offers distinct sweetness levels and ripens at different times.

“Most local gardens plant a mix of varieties, harvesting progressively from early-season U trung, to U hong, and finally the Thanh Ha lychee. The lychee season here lasts about 2-3 months,” he said.

The orchard does not offer structured tourism services, but visitors are welcome to explore, take photos, and purchase fresh lychees.

Depending on the timing, lychee prices at the orchard vary, ranging from a few thousand to several tens of thousands of dong per kilogram.

This year’s harvest is abundant, resulting in lower prices than last year. Early in the season, U trung lychees fetched about 70,000 VND/kg (approximately 2.75 USD). U hong varieties followed, priced between 25,000 and 40,000 VND/kg (about 0.98–1.57 USD).
Thanh Ha lychees are more affordable, with top-grade fruit priced at just 15,000 VND/kg (around 0.59 USD).

Depending on taste preferences, people choose different lychees. Prices vary year to year.

Thanh Ha lychees are known for their sweetness, fragrant flesh, thick pulp, small seeds, and lack of rot. They are graded into type 1 and type 2, with the latter being a few thousand dong cheaper per kilogram,” Thoan added.

The Thanh Ha lychee season lasts until the end of June.

Visitors arriving during this period can also explore nearby attractions such as Dong Ngo Pagoda, Huong River eco-tourism area, and Dong Man ecological site.

Don't miss the chance to savor the lychees and sample local specialties like mung bean cakes, gai cakes, cha ruoi (ragworm sausage), and soft-shell crabs.

Thao Trinh

Photos by Ga Chan Ngan