A recent visit to the traditional apricot flower fields in An Nhơn Bắc and An Nhơn Đông wards, Gia Lai province—known as the “capital” of Central Vietnam’s golden apricot trees—revealed a heartbreaking scene in the aftermath of a devastating storm.
A once-lush apricot garden in the Central Highlands’ apricot capital lies in ruins after Typhoon No. 13.
Along the apricot gardens in An Nhơn Bắc ward, the most common sight is bare, dry branches and scorched leaves. The intense sunlight following the storm has further weakened the trees, causing many to wither despite the gardeners’ efforts to save them.
In Trung Lý field, Mrs. Trần Thị Kim Hà guided us through over 10,000 apricot pots shredded by the storm. Leaves had fallen, and branches were as dry as firewood. Mrs. Hà, on the verge of tears, shared that her family had invested 2–3 billion VND for this year’s apricot season, mostly from loans.
“We prepared 3,000 four to five-year-old apricot trees for sale across the North and South, receiving over 200 million VND in deposits. But the storm wiped everything out, leaving nearly all trees severely damaged,” she said sadly.
Nearby, Mr. Trần Ngọc Tuấn’s Thái Xuân apricot garden was equally devastated. Of the 2,000 trees prepared for the Tet season, 1,800 had lost leaves, broken branches, and cracked pots. “The storm hit during the budding stage, making recovery nearly impossible. We estimate a 90% loss, essentially a total wipeout,” Mr. Tuấn sighed.
A potted apricot tree in An Nhơn Đông ward, its leaves shredded by the storm’s fierce winds.
In An Nhơn Đông ward, many households, despite heavy losses, remain in their gardens, tending to the surviving trees. Mr. and Mrs. Nguyễn Văn Bảy in Thuận Thái village were busy applying organic fertilizer and pruning broken branches, hoping the trees would recover quickly.
Mr. Nguyễn Anh Dũng, Chairman of An Nhơn Đông Ward People’s Committee, reported that approximately 120,000 apricot trees in the ward were affected, with total damages estimated at over 84 billion VND.
“This year, the locality has almost no Tet apricot trees left for sale. The authorities are urgently conducting surveys, proposing support plans, and mobilizing resources from organizations and benefactors to help residents overcome these difficulties,” Mr. Dũng shared.
Residents of the Central Highlands’ apricot capital nurture surviving trees, hoping for future seasons.
Amid the leafless apricot gardens, growers cling to faint hopes, no matter how fragile.
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