A dream in the "pink capital"
The persimmon trees in Nam Anh commune, Nam Dan district, are undergoing a transformation day by day. With the right direction and the creativity and boldness of the local people, this "persimmon capital" can absolutely become a tourist highlight in President Ho Chi Minh's homeland.
The persimmon trees in Nam Anh commune, Nam Dan district, are undergoing a transformation day by day. With the right direction and the creativity and boldness of the local people, this "persimmon capital" can absolutely become a tourist highlight in President Ho Chi Minh's homeland.
Memories of the Rose Garden
Born and raised in Nam Anh, Nguyen Thi Hoa (57 years old) has spent her entire life connected to the persimmon tree. This tree, with its spreading branches and rough, cracked bark, yet bearing juicy fruit, has witnessed many major and minor events that she will never forget.
Ms. Hoa and her contemporaries are all unsure.persimmonNam Anh has been around for as long as anyone knows, their childhood years were spent perched on the branches of the persimmon tree. Back then, persimmon trees weren't as widely planted as they are now, and any household that managed to grow one was considered very lucky. The children in the village, partly because they were hungry and partly because they were mischievous, would look for houses that were careless so they could climb up and steal persimmons.
"That time, while we were stealing persimmons with our friends, the homeowner caught us red-handed. The whole group quickly climbed down the tree and ran away. I was on a higher branch, so I just managed to drop all the persimmons to the ground before climbing over to the next tree to deny my guilt. No matter what the homeowner said, I wouldn't come down. I wouldn't answer when they asked whose child I was, until they promised not to punish me and let me pick up the persimmons to take home. And indeed, I wasn't punished; I even got to pick up the persimmons to take home," Mrs. Hoa said, laughing as she recounted her childhood story.
"Perhaps out of gratitude for the kindness of the rose bush owner, when she reached marriageable age, despite many suitors proposing to her, Mrs. Hoa only 'chose' the son of the rose bush owner who had returned from military service years ago," a friend of Mrs. Hoa added.
And indeed, by some twist of fate, Mrs. Hoa only "liked" the son of the former owner of the rose garden. The love between Mrs. Hoa and her husband blossomed, and their first daughter was born exactly 37 years ago, the same year they planted the rose bush in front of their gate. The rose bush is now considered an ancient tree, regularly bearing bright red fruit every year. Their children have also married and settled down, living comfortable and happy lives.
Under the rose bushes, in the stories of the women of Nam Anh, roses are not only memories, culture, and life, but also a sacred "heritage": "Back then, any family that had roses was very well-off. If the harvest was good, they could sell a hundred kilograms of each plant, exchange it for rice, meat, and money for school fees… My family didn't have any, but I bought green roses from other gardens, soaked them, and sold them at the market, earning a small profit. Thanks to that, we had extra money to buy books and school supplies, and my siblings and I were able to finish our studies." "After we got married, my grandparents gave us a small garden. My husband asked for some rose cuttings to plant – those were the first plants in the garden, the money trees that sustained the whole family. Now life is more prosperous, our income no longer depends on those roses, and some of the kids even discussed cutting down the roses to build a bigger house, but my husband and I absolutely refused. As long as we live, those rose bushes will still be there." "I've never seen a persimmon tree as fruitful, beautiful, and delicious as the one in front of my grandmother's house. One year, it alone yielded 300 kilograms of fruit. My grandmother cherished that persimmon tree so much; she said, 'If I die, I'll take this persimmon tree with me.' Later, when she passed away, the healthy persimmon tree naturally withered and died. Everyone said it went with her..."
In the "rose capital," we heard such heartfelt stories about rose bushes…
"Pink tourism"
From an economic perspective, many households choose to cultivate rose gardens because this plant requires little care, has a long lifespan, flexible stems and branches that easily withstand storms, and provides a stable annual profit of up to hundreds of millions of dong.
But that's not all; the benefits from the rose bush also come from its beauty. In recent years, the rose gardens in Nam Anh have become an ideal check-in spot for tourists. Thanks to the rose bush, the tourism industry and local products have been given a boost.
From a photographic perspective, the special appeal of the persimmon orchards in Nam Anh comes from the rustic, unspoiled beauty of the gnarled, ancient trees. In late autumn, when the persimmons turn orange, the trees begin to shed their leaves. Once the "leafy cloak" is completely removed, plump, vibrant red persimmons hang from the bare, weathered branches, creating a fascinating contrast. Along with the beauty of the persimmon trees, moss-covered stones, and lush green ferns on the brick pavement, the orchard owners have cleverly added small decorative elements such as tables, chairs, a piano, and swings. In many photographs, the persimmon orchard exudes a magical beauty, like a setting from a European fairy tale. This beauty is enough to convince many tourists from within the province to visit Nam Anh during the persimmon ripening season. The peak season is from mid-October to mid-November.
Ms. Phan Thi Tuyet, an employee at a well-known tourist attraction in Nam Anh, shared: “During peak season, on some weekends, our garden welcomes 500-700 visitors. On days when it's too crowded and there isn't enough space, we even have to ask neighboring garden owners to open their doors and allow visitors to take the best photos. The neighbors here are also very open and helpful. Besides taking photos, visitors can also eat, borrow costumes, and stay in air-conditioned rooms… Visitors who want souvenirs can buy persimmons at the garden or purchase persimmon wine made by the garden itself.”
Then, Ms. Tuyet led us to see the jars of freshly made persimmon wine. The wine, made from green persimmons that had begun to turn yellowish-brown, was rich, fragrant, and smooth. This persimmon wine, meeting OCOP 3-star standards, was bottled, labeled, and sold right in the orchard alongside many other local products.localsuch as tangerine wine, soy sauce, tapioca starch...
The allure of the rose gardens has encouraged many investors to boldly develop agro-tourism destinations with various services and amenities. “Five years ago, this very spot was a rugged, rocky, and wild rose garden with steep slopes. The investor had to spend a lot of money and effort to improve the land, transforming it into a complex of guesthouses, swimming pools, campsites… with full amenities. The Nam Anh rose gardens are becoming increasingly famous thanks to strong media coverage, inspiring experiential tourism and attracting visitors from near and far,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa.
“We are preparing for the renovation of the rose garden before the peak season, from rebuilding the fences, reinforcing the bridges, repainting the guesthouses… We want to ensure that when guests arrive, everything is ready for the best possible experience. This meticulous attention to detail is also the reason why we can sustainably pursue the rose garden tourism model in the long run,” shared Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen, owner of a rose garden resort in Nam Anh.
Another persimmon season is approaching. Listening to the stories of the people of Nam Anh, and the reflections of those involved in tourism related to persimmons, I suddenly remembered the famous air-dried persimmons of Da Lat. Who knows, perhaps one day, Nam Anh's "persimmon dream" will also become a famous brand throughout the South and North of Vietnam, just like that...
