Orange blossoms in an orchard in Moc Chau. At the end of January, orange orchards on Moc Chau Plateau turn yellow with ripe fruits but there are still white flowers here and there. Tourists can visit local orchards and pick ripen oranges in gardens on the mountain slope. Moc Chau Plateau is located about 200km to the west of Hanoi, at an altitude of over 1,000m, in Moc Chau district, the northwestern province of Son La. The area has a temperate climate and rich soil, which underpins the growth of the vegetable, tea, fruit and diary sectors. Moc Chau has become a key economic district in Son La province and the northwest region. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
In Suoi Bang commune (Moc Chau district), farmers cultivate the off-season orange variety named V2. As V2 oranges ripen late, after the harvest season of other orange varieties, local farmers can sell their fruits at good prices. Traders come from other localities to the orchards in Suoi Bang to buy oranges, paying around 30,000 VND a kilo. The main season of orange usually begins from the end of November and the beginning of December and lasts until before the Lunar New Year (Tet), which is around the end of January or the beginning of February. On-season oranges fetch lower prices because they are readily available everywhere. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Visitors at an orange orchard in Moc Chau. Visitors can look into the way local farmers cultivate the orange trees in accordance with the VietGAP (Vietnam Good Agricultural Practice) standards. They can also pick ripe oranges and enjoy them right in the garden. Off-season oranges can fetch better prices than on-season fruits. The main season of orange usually begins from the end of November and the beginning of December and lasts until before the Lunar New Year (Tet), which is around the end of January or the beginning of February. Traders go all the way from other localities to the orchards in Suoi Bang to buy off-season oranges. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Ripe V2 oranges in Suoi Bang. Farmers in Suoi Bang commune cultivate orange trees in the organic direction. They use neither pesticide nor herbicide. Grass is even planted around the trees to create a natural layer preserving humidity and nutrition in the soil. To kill the pests, farmers make a spray mixture from garlic, chili and cinnamon. With its location in the basin of the Da river, Moc Chau plateau has sub-temperate climate with feralit soil on limestone that has a high humus content, which is advantageous for growing specific fruits of high quality. Moc Chau, along with Son La province in general, has become one of the largest fruit producers in the north. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Locals are happy with the orange harvest. Off-season oranges can fetch better prices than on-season fruits. The main season of orange usually begins from the end of November and the beginning of December and lasts until before the Lunar New Year (Tet), which is around the end of January or the beginning of February. Traders go all the way from other localities to the orchards in Suoi Bang to buy off-season oranges. Thanks to the favourable weather conditions and rich soil in Moc Chau, fruit trees grow well and bear good fruit. Besides their high economic value, fruit gardens also help attract tourists. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Dinh Cong Lieu, a fruit tree farmer in Suoi Bang commune. Lieu said his family grows oranges on three hectares of hill lands. Every day, he checks the trees to timely detect any pest or signs of plant diseases. In Suoi Bang commune (Moc Chau district), farmers cultivate the off-season orange variety named V2. As V2 oranges ripen late, after the harvest season of other orange varieties, local farmers can sell their fruits at good prices. Traders go all the way from other localities to the orchards in Suoi Bang to buy oranges. The main season of orange usually begins from the end of November and the beginning of December and lasts until before the Lunar New Year (Tet), which is around the end of January or the beginning of February. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Dinh Cong Lieu is happy with ripe oranges in his orchard. According to the farmer, he will remove excessive blossoms or small fruits to ensure that other fruits can grow to a standard size. Lieu’s family grows oranges on three hectares of hill lands. Every day, he checks the trees to timely detect any pest or signs of plant diseases. In Suoi Bang commune (Moc Chau district), farmers cultivate the off-season orange variety named V2. As V2 oranges ripen late, after the harvest season of other orange varieties, local farmers can sell their fruits at good prices. Thanks to the favourable weather conditions and rich soil in Moc Chau, fruit trees grow well and bear good fruit. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Old leaves or those are affected by pest should be cut off quickly. Lieu said he checks the trees every day to timely detect any pest or signs of plant diseases. According to the farmer, he will also remove excessive blossoms or small fruits to ensure that other fruits can grow to a standard size. Lieu’s family owns three hectares of orange gardens on hill lands. The main season of orange usually begins from the end of November and the beginning of December and lasts until before the Lunar New Year (Tet), which is around the end of January or the beginning of February. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
When flower buds begin to appear, farmers must pay close attention to them. Without proper care, the flowers may fall when it rains. Farmers in Suoi Bang commune cultivate orange trees in the organic direction. They use neither pesticide nor herbicide. Grass is even planted around the trees to create a natural layer preserving humidity and nutrition in the soil. To kill the pests, farmers make a spray mixture from garlic, chili and cinnamon. Moc Chau plateau has sub-temperate climate with feralit soil on limestone that has a high humus content, which is advantageous for growing specific fruits of high quality. Moc Chau, along with Son La province in general, has become one of the largest fruit producers in the north. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Local women in Suoi Bang commune, with rattan papooses on their backs, go to orchards to pick oranges in early morning. The time after Tet (lunar new year) is when off-season oranges in Moc Chau plateau ripen. The sight of green orchards will yellow and succulent oranges is sure to please any visitor. At the end of January, orange orchards on Moc Chau Plateau turn yellow with ripe fruits but there are still white flowers here and there. Tourists can visit local orchards and pick ripen oranges in gardens on the mountain slope. Moc Chau Plateau is located about 200km to the west of Hanoi, at an altitude of over 1,000m, in Moc Chau district, the northwestern province of Son La. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Thai women in Suoi Bang commune happily pick ripe oranges. After farmers in the commune switched to growing off-season oranges, their incomes have increased remarkably. Many families have become well-off. In Suoi Bang commune (Moc Chau district), farmers cultivate the off-season orange variety named V2. As V2 oranges ripen late, after the harvest season of other orange varieties, local farmers can sell their fruits at good prices. Traders go all the way from other localities to the orchards in Suoi Bang to buy oranges, paying around 30,000 VND a kilo. Besides, farmers in Suoi Bang commune cultivate orange trees in the organic direction. They use neither pesticide nor herbicide. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
An orchard on the mountain slope in Am village, Suoi Bang commune. On a height of 1,000m above sea level, Moc Chau plateau has a temperate climate and rich soil, which underpins the growth of the vegetable, tea, fruit and diary sectors. Therefore, Son La province has given priority to developing the cultivation of temperate and subtropical trees like peach, plum, orange, persimmon, pear, and avocado for the past decades. These fruit trees have helped diversify the farming system, fight erosion on sloping surfaces, and increase farmers' incomes. The time after Tet (lunar new year) is when off-season oranges in Moc Chau plateau ripen. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
In each stage of harvest, between 50 – 70 kilogrammes of fruits can be picked from one orange tree. After farmers in the commune switched to growing off-season oranges, their incomes have increased remarkably. Many families have become well-off. In Suoi Bang commune (Moc Chau district), farmers cultivate the off-season orange variety named V2. As V2 oranges ripen late, after the harvest season of other orange varieties, local farmers can sell their fruits at good prices. Traders go all the way from other localities to the orchards in Suoi Bang to buy oranges. Besides, these fruit trees have helped diversify the farming system and fight erosion on sloping surfaces. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Visitors joyfully take photos under trees laden with ripe oranges. Picking fruits in orchards has become a new attraction for visitors to Moc Chau Plateau. Moc Chau plateau has sub-temperate climate with feralit soil on limestone that has a high humus content, which is advantageous for growing specific fruits of high quality. Moc Chau, along with Son La province in general, has become one of the largest fruit producers in the north. Tourists can visit local orchards and pick ripen oranges in gardens on the mountain slope. The time after Tet (lunar new year) is when off-season oranges in Moc Chau plateau ripen. The sight of green orchards will yellow and succulent oranges is sure to please any visitor. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Off-season oranges in Suoi Bang commune are a specialty of Moc Chau Plateau, along with plumps or strawberries. On a height of 1,000m above sea level, Moc Chau plateau has a temperate climate and rich soil, which underpins the growth of the vegetable, tea, fruit and diary sectors. Therefore, Son La province has given priority to developing the cultivation of temperate and subtropical trees like peach, plum, orange, persimmon, pear, and avocado for the past decades. Fruit tree cultivation has helped diversify the farming system, fight erosion on sloping surfaces, and increase farmers' incomes. Besides their high economic value, fruit gardens also help attract tourists. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
