Although production declined due to unfavorable weather conditions, the 2026 lychee harvest in Bắc Ninh Province recorded encouraging results. The fruit received high marks for quality and enjoyed stable market demand. From Vietgap orchards to planting area codes and export-approved packing facilities, lychee growers are increasingly shifting toward a quality-focused mindset. Their priority is to build strong Vietnamese lychee brand and gain access to demanding international markets. This strategy is helping Bắc Ninh’s lychees increase their value while strengthening their position in both domestic and overseas markets.
In late May, the early-ripening lychee orchards across Bắc Ninh Province begin to glow with clusters of bright red fruit. Harvest activities start early each morning as traders and transport vehicles move continuously between collection points. Although unfavorable weather reduced output this year, the fruit has been widely praised for its attractive appearance, thick flesh, and sweet flavor. As a result, market demand for Vietnamese lychee brand has remained stable.
In Quất Du 2 Village, Phúc Hòa Commune, many visitors are impressed by Ngô Văn Cường’s orchard of u trứng lychees, a premium variety that he introduced more than seven years ago. The variety has proven highly profitable. It produces large, bright-red fruits with only 15 to 18 lychees per kilogram. According to Cường, the variety not only offers an attractive appearance and superior quality but also has naturally bitter fruit stems that help reduce pest attacks. Even before the harvest began, traders had already purchased his entire crop at around VND 150,000 per kilogram.
Vietnamese lychee brand
Beyond cultivating premium varieties, Phúc Hòa Commune has focused on developing certified production areas for Vietnamese lychee brand. In 2026, the commune has 845 hectares of lychee orchards with an estimated output of around 7,500 tonnes, most of which are early-ripening varieties. It currently maintains 25 export planting area codes and one export-certified packing facility. These serve markets including China, Japan, the United States, Australia, and Thailand.
According to local authorities, the commune has harvested about 2,506 tonnes of early-season lychees so far. This represents more than 33% of its production target. Most of the fruit has been sold in the domestic market, while around 25 tonnes have been exported to Canada and several other overseas markets.
To meet increasingly stringent market requirements, farmers and cooperatives are placing greater emphasis on safe production, quality improvement, and product traceability. Nguyễn Văn Thiết is the Director of the Phúc Hòa Early Lychee Production and Marketing Cooperative. He said the cooperative manages 80 to 100 hectares of concentrated production, with annual output ranging from 800 to 1,000 tonnes. Many orchards already comply with Vietgap standards. Meanwhile, others are gradually adopting Globalgap certification and organic production methods.
According to Thiết, growers are paying greater attention to maintaining production records and carefully managing fertilizer and pesticide use. They are also strictly following cultivation protocols to ensure high-quality Vietnamese lychee brand. These practices have become essential to maintaining Phúc Hòa lychees’ competitiveness in export markets.
Alongside Phúc Hòa, Chũ Ward continues to reinforce its position as one of Bắc Ninh Province’s leading lychee-growing areas. The ward has nearly 2,000 hectares of lychee orchards, including more than 1,250 hectares certified under VietGAP standards. It maintains planting area codes covering 1,968 hectares of Vietnamese lychee brand for exports to China. It also has 19 additional planting area codes for other international markets and 14 export-qualified packing facilities.
Vietnamese seedless lychees
Mr. Mạc Anh Tuấn is the Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Chũ Ward. From his view, unfavorable weather reduced this year’s flowering rate to around 30–35%. However, thanks to the timely application of technical measures, fruit set remained high. This year’s lychees have been particularly praised for their attractive appearance and exceptional sweetness. As a result, they meet the stringent requirements of premium markets.
To further increase the fruit’s value, local authorities are promoting the adoption of advanced farming techniques and expanding VietGAP- and GlobalGAP-certified production. They are also strengthening traceability through electronic labels and planting area codes while closely managing the entire production and marketing process. At the same time, they are intensifying trade promotion efforts through digital platforms, e-commerce channels, and lychee harvest tourism.
The 2026 lychee season in Bắc Ninh has moved beyond the familiar cycle of bumper harvests followed by falling prices. Instead, it reflects a clear transition from volume-driven production to a strategy centered on quality improvement. It also emphasizes professional export organization and diversified markets.
This year, the province has approximately 29,800 hectares of lychee orchards, with total production estimated at more than 95,000 tonnes, or nearly 60% of the original target. Although output has declined, local authorities view this as an opportunity to focus on premium-quality fruit. They also aim to increase export value on a per-unit basis.
Over the years, Bắc Ninh has steadily developed a production system for Vietnamese lychee brand that meets official export requirements. The province currently manages 241 planting area codes covering more than 17,450 hectares. These areas have received approval for exports to markets including China, the United States, Australia, Japan, and Thailand. It also operates 42 export-qualified packing facilities. This provides a strong foundation for ensuring compliance with international standards on product traceability, food safety, and phytosanitary requirements.
Special lychees from Vietnam
In early May, the first shipment of early-season lychees from Phúc Hòa Commune was exported to Canada, marking a promising start to the 2026 harvest. A major milestone followed in mid-May when the Hanoi Irradiation Center received approval from U.S. authorities to irradiate fresh fruit destined for the U.S. market. The approval is expected to reduce logistics costs and expand export opportunities to North American markets.
At the same time, international markets are imposing increasingly stringent requirements. China remains the primary export destination for Bắc Ninh lychees. However, from June 1, 2026, the country began enforcing new food exporter registration requirements under Order 280 issued by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). The new regulations introduce stricter standards for planting area codes, packing facilities, and product traceability.
Mr. Nguyễn Đức Hưng is the Director of a Vietnamese lychee export enterprise. From his perspective, local authorities, cooperatives, and businesses must move quickly to standardize production processes, upgrade packing facilities, and strengthen quality control. Otherwise, they risk having their export registration codes suspended or revoked.
These developments underscore the need for Vietnamese lychee brand to accelerate its transition toward professional production focused on value rather than volume. In addition to traditional markets, emerging destinations such as North America, Europe, and Japan offer significant growth potential for Vietnamese lychees. However, they also demand higher standards of quality and food safety.
Beyond fresh fruit exports, Bắc Ninh is also expanding deep processing to increase the fruit’s added value. Products such as frozen lychees, dried lychees, lychee juice, and One Commune One Product (OCOP) items made from lychees are being promoted. This helps reduce marketing pressure during the peak harvest season.
Vietnamese frozen lychees
Another notable feature of this year’s harvest is the expansion of export logistics capacity. A representative of Viettel Logistics said the company has added more than 120 refrigerated container trucks, bringing its fleet to over 300 vehicles to meet peak-season demand. In addition to road transport to China, the company is expanding refrigerated container and air freight services to premium markets. These include Europe and the United States.
Mr. Phạm Văn Thịnh is the Vice Chairman of the Bắc Ninh Provincial People’s Committee. From his view, lychees are not only one of the province’s most valuable agricultural products but also a symbol of its high-quality agriculture. The fruit is now available in many demanding markets, including Japan, the United States, the European Union, and Australia.
To further strengthen the Bắc Ninh lychee brand, the province has identified three strategic priorities. The first is to develop safe and sustainable production areas that fully meet export standards. This will be the result of strictly managing planting area codes, export packing facilities, and product quality.
The second is to strengthen branding by promoting lychees in association with their geographical indication and regional cultural identity. At the same time, the province is accelerating digital transformation in trade promotion. It is also expanding sales through e-commerce platforms and modern retail distribution networks.
Vietnamese lychee factory
The third priority is to diversify export markets by making better use of free trade agreements and expanding into new destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. It also includes investing in deep processing and cold-chain logistics. These efforts will increase added value and extend the fruit’s shelf life.
With a well-organized production system, professional export practices, and a strong commitment to quality, the 2026 lychee season is likely to achieve strong sales. It is also likely to generate higher export value per unit of production. This will further reinforce the reputation of the Bắc Ninh lychee brand in both domestic and international markets.
Vietnamese source: https://thuonghieusanpham.vn/giu-thuong-hieu-vai-thieu-bang-chat-luong-va-xuat-khau-chuyen-nghiep
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