Gia Kiem dong leaf hub enters bustling harvest season as Tet approaches

Every year around mid-December, the dong (Phrynium placentarium) leaf growing area in Gia Kiem commune, Dong Nai province, enters its busiest harvest season to serve the demand for wrapping chung cake (Vietnamese square sticky rice cake) and tet cake (Vietnamese cylindrical sticky rice cake) on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet).

Farmers are excited to harvest dong leaves for Tet. Photo: Thuy Tien

From early morning, people start cutting leaves. After harvesting, the dong leaves are transported home, washed, sorted by size and quality, and then neatly bundled before being sold.

These days, the Gia Kiem dong leaf growing area is always busy harvesting to supply for Tet. Photo: Thuy Tien

According to residents in the locality, Gia Kiem commune has natural conditions very suitable for dong plants. The hot and humid climate, abundant rainfall, fertile soil, and rich water sources help dong plants grow well, producing large, thick, and less torn leaves. The dong leaves here have long stems, wide blades from 30-40cm, an average length of 60-70cm, dark green color, and moderate thickness, making them very suitable for wrapping traditional chung cake.

This year, favorable weather conditions have allowed the dong plants to grow well, producing large and beautiful leaves. Photo: Thuy Tien

Tran Quang Duyet (residing in Gia Kiem commune, Dong Nai province) said: "This year, the weather is favorable, with regular rain, so the dong plants grew better than in previous years, with beautiful and uniform leaves, without leaf burn. Traders come to buy directly from the garden, so the people are very excited."

After being cut, the dong leaves are washed, sorted, and then neatly arranged into bundles, ready for sale to the market. Photo: Thuy Tien

Before reaching the market, dong leaves are carefully sorted. Grade 1 leaves are large and vibrant, typically bundled in packs of 50. This year, prices for dong leaves range from 100,000 to 200,000 VND per 100 leaves, depending on the type. On average, each "sao" (a traditional Vietnamese unit of land measurement; one sao is roughly equivalent to 500 square metres in the region) of dong can generate an income of 20 to 25 million VND during the Tet season.

This year, grade 1 dong leaves, which are extra-large and used for wrapping 3-4kg chung cakes, are priced at around 200,000 VND per 100 leaves. Despite the price, they remain in high demand due to their quality. Photo: Thuy Tien

Not only does it generate income for growers, but the Tet dong leaf season also creates seasonal jobs for many local laborers. Le Van Vu, residing in Thong Nhat commune, Dong Nai province, shared: "From mid-December, I work almost every day. Although the work is a bit hard, it provides good income, allowing me to earn more money to prepare for Tet for my family."

Thanks to the Tet dong leaf season, Le Van Vu is excited to earn extra income to support his family during Tet. Photo: Thuy Tien

With more than 30 years of experience in buying dong leaves, Mai Thanh Dung (residing in Gia Kiem commune, Dong Nai province) said that starting around the 17th of December in the lunar calendar, he hires over 40 workers each day to trim, sort, and package the leaves according to orders. Chung cakes wrapped in dong leaves have a natural green color, a fragrant aroma, and a chewy texture, making them popular among producers and consumers alike.

Dong leaves are usually arranged in bundles of 50 leaves. Photo: Thuy Tien

"On the occasion of Tet, demand increases sharply. On average, I supply about 100,000 dong leaves daily to various contacts, not only for consumption within the province but also to Ho Chi Minh City and many provinces in the Mekong Delta. Thanks to stable quality, local dong leaf products have maintained a good market for many years," Dung added.

Thanks to its consistent quality, Gia Kiem dong leaves have maintained strong market demand, not only within the province but also across many other provinces and cities. Photo: Thuy Tien

The vibrant consumer market not only provides a stable source of income for the people of Gia Kiem commune but also helps preserve the traditional beauty of Tet, with green chung cakes carrying the taste of reunion to every family in the new spring.

By Thuy Tien-Translated by Mai Nga, Minho