Brian Jeffrey
Nomadic Beekeeping in Central Vietnam
As September draws to a close, the sweltering temperatures in central Vietnam start to decline. In the acacia forests of Phu Ninh district, Quang Nam province, a beekeeping enthusiast named Tran, hailing from Krong Nang Town, is diligently collecting the final batch of honey before relocating his bee colonies.
Tran identifies as a nomadic beekeeper. Each year, he transports hundreds of bee colonies across Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Quang Nam during the flowering seasons.
“I move 200-500 bee colonies between these provinces to match the blooming cycles of coffee, acacia, and rubber trees. If the bees don’t move with the flowering seasons, they risk starving or abandoning their hives,” he shared.
Beekeepers like Tran are well-acquainted with the blooming periods critical for high-quality honey, as well as the environmental elements that affect their bees.
From February to April, he sets his bees in coffee orchards in Dak Lak to gather nectar. The period from May to October is dedicated to harvesting acacia honey in Quang Nam, followed by rubber honey collection in Gia Lai during the subsequent months.
Tran’s bees are Italian in origin, with each colony featuring a queen bee responsible for breeding many worker bees to source nectar.
A queen bee typically has a lifespan of 3-5 years, necessitating a replacement every two years to maintain hive productivity.
The honey extraction timeline can differ based on the health of the bee colonies. “If the bees are strong, I can harvest honey in about 10 days; otherwise, it may take up to 15 days for extraction,” he noted.
Honey prices fluctuate, with companies purchasing it from him at rates ranging between VND 20,000-50,000 per kilogram. This means that with 200-500 bee colonies, Tran could earn between VND 200-500 million after deducting expenses.
While beekeeping can yield profitable returns, it is also fraught with challenges. During the rainy season, beekeepers like Tran must frequently relocate to find ample food sources for their bees, which can lead to losses and potential disease outbreaks among the colonies.
