As early autumn arrives, the border district of Bình Liêu in Quảng Ninh Province is filled with the fragrance of grasses, trees, and wildflowers. However, the most distinctive scent is the blossoms of Vietnam-produced star anise forests. Autumn is the mildest season of the year, when endless fields of white silver grass blanket the hillsides. Accordingly, their feathery plumes sway gently in the breeze, creating a striking natural landscape.
Alongside the pristine white grasslands, Bình Liêu glows with the golden hues of terraced rice fields ready for harvest. Traveling through villages such as Khe O, Cao Thắng, and Ngàn Pạt in Lục Hồn Commune, or Sông Moóc in Hoành Mô Commune and Húc Động in Bình Liêu Commune, visitors feel excited by breathtaking scenery and rich cultural traditions. They are also welcomed by the warmth and hospitality of the local people.
The Vietnam-produced star anise harvest season in Bình Liêu begins in September. As soon as the sun rises, villagers across the district head into the forests to pick the fragrant blossoms. At 7 a.m., Trần A Chiu, a resident of Bình Liêu Commune, took me on his old motorbike to his family’s star anise forest in Húc Động Village. Birds greeted the morning with cheerful songs. Meanwhile, the sounds of neighbors calling to one another and the clinking of baskets and hats signaled that the harvest season had truly begun.
Vietnam-produced star anise
Leaving the motorbike at the forest’s edge, we continued on foot into the woods. Chiu explained that most of the Vietnam-produced star anise trees here are several decades old. Clusters of tiny ivory-colored flowers adorned the branches. Experienced farmers worked skillfully, gently picking each cluster by hand. They moved confidently across the rolling hills and climbed the tall trees with remarkable agility to reach the blossoms.
Their sun-tanned faces glistened with sweat, yet their eyes reflected joy and optimism. It was the happiness of a plentiful harvest and the satisfaction of cultivating a tree that has helped countless families escape poverty and build lasting prosperity.
Often referred to as Bình Liêu’s “poverty-alleviation tree,” Vietnamese star anise has a unique growing cycle. After around 15 to 16 years, the trees produce two harvests each year—one in February and March, and another in September and October. Bình Liêu’s cool climate and large day-to-night temperature differences create ideal conditions for producing premium-quality blossoms that are highly valuable in the market. As a result, the flowers are sold almost immediately after harvest at relatively stable prices. This provides local farmers with a reliable source of income.
Dường Chống Thím is a resident of Nà Pò Village in Hoành Mô Commune. His family owns about 10 hectares of Vietnam-produced star anise forest. “This year, my family expects to harvest more than four tonnes of fresh star anise flowers,” he said. “Prices are good, at over VND 30,000 per kilogram of fresh flowers and around VND 130,000 per kilogram of dried flowers. This harvest is likely to earn my family more than VND 100 million.”
Thím’s story illustrates the economic value that star anise has brought to the people of Bình Liêu. Like his family, many households in Hoành Mô, Lục Hồn, and Bình Liêu communes have steadily improved their livelihoods through star anise cultivation.
Vietnamese star anise forest
Beyond its economic benefits, Vietnam’s star anise also contributes to environmental protection by helping preserve forest ecosystems. Local farmers cultivate the trees using natural methods without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. This produces clean and safe blossoms that are highly popular after in both domestic and international markets.
The Vietnam-produced star anise harvest is more than just an agricultural season. It is also a time when neighbors come together to help one another, strengthening community bonds. It reflects the hard work, resilience, and optimism of local people. Their hopes for a better future are rooted in these fragrant forests and expressed through their warm smiles.
With its graceful silver grass fields, majestic mountains, and captivating aroma of star anise blossoms, autumn in Bình Liêu has become an increasingly attractive destination. It offers unforgettable experiences to everyone who visits this remarkable border region.
Vietnamese source: https://daidoanket.vn/di-qua-nhung-rung-hoi-binh-lieu.html
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