Moc Chau develops fruit trees linked to tourism

As a major agricultural production area in Son La province, Moc Chau is famous for its distinctive products, such as tea, temperate fruits, organic vegetables, and livestock. Today, Moc Chau stands as a vibrant example of a strong transformation, effectively implementing the policy of cultivating fruit trees on sloping land, combined with experiential tourism, bringing high economic returns.

 

Visitors experience picking Ly oranges in Van Son ward, Moc Chau township.

Looking back on nearly a decade of implementing the provincial Party Committee’s policy on developing fruit trees on sloping land, Moc Chau township has achieved impressive results. With the close leadership of the local Party Committee and authorities and the enthusiastic support of local people, the previously low-yield maize and cassava fields have now been replaced with lush orchards.

Moc Chau now boasts 11,481 hectares of fruit trees, an increase of 8,530 hectares compared to 2015. Annual fruit output has reached nearly 56,000 tonnes, up by more than 38,000 tonnes compared to 10 years ago. Bold investments in new crop varieties, the application of advanced agricultural techniques, and the use of high technology have enabled many orchards to generate incomes of 200–400 million VND (7,700-15,400 USD) per hectare, with some models achieving between 800 million and 1 billion VND per hectare.

Ha Van Chien, a resident of Van Son ward, tends to his Ly orange orchard to serve tourists.

According to Le Trong Binh, Chairman of the Moc Chau People's Committee, with the view of “Agriculture supporting tourism,” the township is actively developing unique and attractive agricultural tourism models. Vast white-blossomed plum and apricot orchards in spring, golden and fruit-laden orange hills, and bright red persimmon gardens, not only produce agricultural value but also serve as key tourist attractions in Moc Chau.

At Tran Xuan Kha’s 2-hectare plum orchard in Pa Khen residential area, Co Do ward, visitors flock each year during the plum blossom and harvest seasons. Kha proudly shared that by switching to VietGAP-standard plum cultivation and combining it with tourism, his family now earns over 1 billion VND (38,506 USD) annually. He is currently investing in 2,000 square meters of newly grafted late-blooming plum trees that still yield early, large, and beautiful fruits—ideal for both flower photography and fruit-picking experiences in the coming season.

Meanwhile, in Residential Area 68, Van Son ward, Ha Van Chien’s Ly orange orchard has become a popular destination during the fruiting season. "We grow more than one hectare of oranges organically. During the peak season, especially weekends, we welcome over 1,000 visitors," Chien said. "Many visitors not only enjoy fresh oranges at the orchard but also purchase them as gifts. Thanks to this, we no longer worry about market access, and our family earns over 3 billion VND per year from orange farming and tourism."

To promote its agricultural products, Moc Chau frequently organises events and festivals linked to farm produce, such as the Plum Harvest Festival and the International Marathon, which winds through picturesque plum valleys, orchards, and tea hills. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in local farm life—picking fruit by hand, witnessing production processes, and sampling fresh produce right in the garden. During the recent April 30 – May 1 holiday alone, the township welcomed over 50,000 tourists.

Tourists experience picking strawberries in Moc Chau.

Beyond fresh fruit and scenic landscapes, many local cooperatives and producers have invested in processing technologies to diversify their offerings. These include plum wine, plum syrup, strawberry jam, dried persimmons, and banana chips. Currently, the township has 39 certified OCOP (One Commune One Product) items, helping elevate the Moc Chau agricultural brand and providing meaningful gifts for visitors.

Tourists experience plum picking in Na Ka valley.

With its inherent potential and advantages, clear development orientation, and increasing investment in both agriculture and tourism, Moc Chau continues to transform its hillsides and valleys into sweet orchards and must-visit destinations, thus enriching the socio-economic landscape of the plateau.

 

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