Mango and longan seen fruit specialties in the Southwestern region

The Southwestern region has many varieties of mango but the most famous are Hoa Loc mango and Cat Chu mango.

The mangoes previously gave fruit in April and May, but they now can fructify all year round thanks to advanced technologies and new varieties. Cat Chu, Taiwanese green and Keo mangoes are currently exported from Vietnam to China, the US and Australia.

Hoa Loc mango is seen as the No.1 mango in the West, being famous for its deliciousness and sweetness before the country’s liberation day. This mango variety won the first prize in the Mango Contest held by the Long Dinh Fruit Center in April 1996. It was then popularly grown in Hoa Loc commune, Cai Be district, Tien Giang.

We think that the Hoa Loc variety will continue to hold the title of top mango in Vietnam for the next 20 years. This was proved at an international workshop organized by TFNet and Southern Fruit Institutein HCM City in 2013, in which all international scientists agreed that Hoa Loc mango is a premium quality fruit.

Therefore, its selling price is always double or three times higher than that of Cat Chu mango.

Cat Chu mango, being grown in Cao Lanh, Dong Thap Province, is currently exported to Japan, the US and Australia, thanks to its affordable prices. The yield of Cat Chu mango is also higher than that of Hoa Loc mango because it is easier to fructify.

Taiwanese green mango is grown in the North, particularly in the northern mountain province of Son La. Meanwhile, Keo mango is originated from Cambodia, recently grown a lot by gardeners in the Mekong Delta thanks to its easy-to-grow, high-yield, good tasty fruit and beautiful shape.

The Western region is well-known for Edor and Hue longan, while the Eastern region is famous for yellow-flesh longan. In the past, longan produced fruits in June and July. Today, the trees become fruitful all year round, especially with Edor variety.

Edor longan originated from Thailand and is grown in Chau Thanh district, Dong Thap province. Growers can harvest this fruit year-round, with high-yield, crispy, thick and delicious flesh. This variety has good prospects because of its better resistance to disease than Hue longan. This fruit has been exported to China and the US.

The yellow-flesh longan was sellected from natural varieties in the country. It won the first prize in the Good Variety Contest in 1997. This longan, widely grown in the southern Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, is very delicious with big-sized fruit and thick flesh, but only suitable to grow on sandy soils of the East.