On Tuesday morning, through appeals made by the Da Nang Young Entrepreneurs’ Association, 16 tonnes of lychee grown in the northern province of Bac Giang, one of the major COVID-19 hotspots in Viet Nam, were ordered for consumption in the city.

Many Da Nang residents make the purchase of Bac Giang-grown lychees at the headquarters of the Da Nang Youth Union at 71 Xuan Thuy, Khue Trung Ward, Cam Le District, June 1, 2021.

Accordingly, styrofoam cartons containing 16 kg of lychees were sold at only VND350,000 at the headquarters of the Da Nang Youth Union at 71 Xuan Thuy, Khue Trung Ward, Cam Le District.

In reality, the unexpected COVID-19 crisis is adversely affecting the consumption of Bac Giang agricultural products.

According to initial statistics, in 2021, Bac Giang Province, dubbed as Viet Nam’s “lychee kingdom,” has 28,100 ha of lychee this year this year, with a total output of some 180,000 tonnes, up 15,000 tonnes from the previous year. The main lychee harvest season will begin in mid-June.

But business is down this year as the country still keeps its borders shut. Because of the pandemic, Bac Giang farmers aren't seeing foreign traders and they mostly sell to domestic traders so the price is very low.

Styrofoam cartons containing 16 kg of lychees were sold at only VND350,000

Mr Nguyen Trung Truc, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Viet Huong Ceramics Construction JSC said that he ordered 60 cartons of lychees. According to him, the fact that Da Nang residents enthusiastically consumed Bac Giang Province-grown agriculture products is a highly practical deed.

Ordering 15 cartons of lychee, Mr. Ho Tan Anh, a representative from a local business shared, “The quality of lychee is very good, suitable to serve as gifts for my relatives and partners, and the consumption of the sweet fruit contributes to helping Bac Giang farmers to overcome financial difficulties triggered by COVID-19.

Reporting by MAI QUE – Translating by A.T