From early morning, crowds of locals and tourists flocked to Na Ka plum valley, Co Do ward, Moc Chau township to take part in the festival.

Attending the event were former Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and former Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Hoang Van Chat; Dinh Thi Bich Thao, member of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board, head of the provincial Party Committee’s Board for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation; Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee; along with leaders from various provincial departments and agencies, representatives from Tay Ninh province, and a large number of local residents and visitors.

After more than 30 years of taking root and growing on the Moc Chau plateau, plum has become a key agricultural product, helping many local households escape poverty and improve their livelihoods.

Currently, Moc Chau has nearly 3,500 hectares of plum orchards, cultivated and cared for under VietGAP standards and organic production processes that are safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Processed products made from Moc Chau plums are increasingly gaining recognition among domestic and foreign tourists.

Nguyen Thi Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of the Moc Chau township People's Committee, said that this year, the festival’s activities continue to honour the value of plums and celebrate the cultural exchange among ethnic communities. Through the event, Moc Chau aims to introduce and promote to both domestic and international consumers the outstanding quality of Moc Chau plums compared to those grown in other regions thanks to their crisp texture, sweetness, fragrance, and, most importantly, their safety and health benefits.

She also emphasised the festival's message: "To produce safe agricultural products, say no to herbicides and harmful pesticides, contributing to the restoration and preservation of a sustainable natural ecosystem, environmental protection, and public health."

Following the vibrant art performances and the award ceremonies for the contests composing songs about Moc Chau and searching Moc Chau tourism KOL in 2025, delegates and visitors immersed themselves in the plum-picking competition. Amidst the lush plum orchards laden with fruit, local farmers delivered an impressive showcase as they confidently demonstrated their skills and experience to harvest as many ripe plums as possible within five minutes. At the end of the competition, the team from Muong Sang ward emerged victorious, picking the highest amount—85 kilogrammes of plums.

Ha Thi Khiet, a member of the plum-picking team from Muong Sang ward said:
"Each of our team members owns about 1 to 2 hectares of plum orchards, so harvesting plums has become a daily routine during the ripe season. To pick quickly, we have to be fast with our hands and sharp with our eyes to select the biggest and most beautiful plums that meet the standards."

Beyond the plum-picking contest, Moc Chau’s farmers also had the opportunity to showcase their dexterity and creativity through a fruit arrangement and presentation segment. They skillfully introduced and promoted their signature “hau” plums, while also highlighting the beauty of Moc Chau’s land and people through artistic displays.

The carefully arranged fruit trays were not only visually stunning but also carried meaningful messages about a prosperous, friendly, and hospitable Moc Chau.

Another highlight was the “plum eating” competition, which drew much curiosity from the audience. Contestants had to demonstrate the appeal of eating the plums while leaving as little flesh as possible on the seed.

The festive atmosphere grew even more vibrant as visitors were invited to take part in traditional ethnic sports and folk games such as tug of war and stick pushing. A variety of engaging contests were also organised especially for the audience, including plum tasting and crossbow shooting, drawing enthusiastic participation from people of all ages.

Adding to the festive spirit were booths showcasing Moc Chau’s signature products—from agricultural goods and medicinal herbs to unique ethnic cuisine and a wide range of plum-based products. These displays created a rich cultural and commercial space, offering visitors a deeper look into the region’s diversity and charm.

All created a truly dynamic festival, bringing unforgettable experiences and leaving a lasting impression on both delegates and visitors from near and far.

A highlight of this year's festival was the first-ever agricultural product and traditional costume show organised by Moc Chau township. The programme combined the creative display of local agricultural products and ethnic costumes with the introduction of Moc Chau’s signature produce and OCOP (One Commune One Product) items. This unique presentation offered both domestic and international visitors engaging and inspiring stories behind the OCOP products, reflecting the ingenuity and pride of farmers on the Moc Chau plateau.

Ha Thu Uyen from Tan Yen commune, shared: "Through these competitions, we aim to introduce the cultural beauty of our ethnic communities as well as Moc Chau’s signature agricultural products and OCOP items to visitors. We are committed to continuing safe and standardised production practices to create high-quality, healthy agricultural products."

The Moc Chau Fruit Picking Festival has offered visitors a unique and memorable experience, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. It served not only as a platform to promote Moc Chau’s premium ‘hau’ plums, but also as an opportunity to link agricultural development with environmental protection and the preservation of distinctive local cultures.

The festival contributes to the creation of new, attractive tourism products to lure visitors to Moc Chau - the World's Leading Regional Nature Destination.