Hanoi’s Beloved Peach Orchards Suffer Loss as Red River Floods Strike Post-Storm

The recent storm has led to severe flooding from the Red River, which has drastically impacted the peach orchards in Group 16, Phu Thuong Ward, as well as the nearby ornamental tree fields near Nhat Tan Bridge in Hanoi. After the floodwaters receded, the landscape was left saturated with thick layers of mud.

This image captures a section of the peach field in Group 16, located in Residential Area 12 of Phu Thuong Ward, Tay Ho District, which has been hit hardest among Hanoi’s traditional ornamental tree villages.

Local farmers are now on hold, waiting for their fields to dry out so they can start the grueling task of cleaning up and replanting. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy and fellow garden owners, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nghi and Ms. Mai Thi To, gather to comfort each other and share their concerns after this disaster.

While these women are experienced peach growers, their extensive background could not shield them from the flood’s devastating impact.

Reports indicate that every peach tree in Group 16, including those around Nhat Tan Bridge, has perished due to excessive flooding.

Mr. Dung’s orchard in Group 16 exemplifies the destruction, where all the peach trees, expected to blossom soon, have turned into decaying grass.

Many peach cultivators in the region also lease additional land in the Vinh Ngoc commune, with annual costs reaching 3 million VND per sao (roughly 360 square meters). However, these plots faced even more severe flooding, resulting in significant losses for farmers like Mr. Minh, Mr. Thanh, and Ms. Thuy. “My family possesses 2 hectares of our own land and rents another 6 sao, and unfortunately, all our peach trees are gone,” Ms. Thuy lamented.

Ms. Nghi expressed the helplessness they felt, stating that despite the warning signs of potential deep flooding, they could do little to protect their crops. “At Tu Lien, even potted trees couldn’t be relocated to safety,” she explained.

By September 16, the Red River’s level had decreased by 4 meters from its earlier high but remained abnormal. Farmers noted that if the peach trees had only remained submerged for a day or two, they might have survived. Tragically, the trees were underwater for four days, making them unsalvageable.

Residents reminisce about this year’s flooding, recalling it as the most severe since the catastrophic floods of 1996 that struck Phu Thuong and Nhat Tan’s peach orchards.

Replacing the lost trees will incur significant expenses for farmers, with peach saplings priced around 3 million VND each and seeds at about 30,000 VND. Following grafting, it will take a minimum of one year for the trees to be market-ready for the upcoming Tet festival.

Farmers are now faced with the challenging task of replanting and grafting, with hopes of their first harvest by the next Tet festival.

According to Hanoi authorities, over 11,678 hectares of crops have been submerged, marking the highest crop loss in the northern region due to the recent floods.

In Nhat Tan Ward alone, around 25.5 hectares were flooded, affecting approximately 20,000 peach trees.