In northwestern Vietnam, agricultural biologist Tran Le, known as the 'cherry blossom doctor,' has cultivated over 120,000 cherry trees from just 10 seeds received from a Japanese friend, turning a lakeside area into a popular attraction. Le aims to plant Japanese cherry trees across Vietnam to foster friendship between the two nations.
In a lakeside area about an hour's drive from Dien Bien Phu, a city 300 kilometers west of Hanoi near the Laos border, pink and white cherry blossoms bloom vibrantly in early January. This 10-hectare cherry orchard, managed by Tran Le, features around 20 varieties, including Japan's edohigan type, drawing tourists annually.
Le, who served in the North Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War, was sent to Hungary in 1968 to study biotechnology at a Budapest university for seven years. He returned in September 1975 and worked at a national research institute, applying his plant cultivation expertise to aid farmers. After marrying, he became an independent agricultural researcher in Da Lat, a highland city in central-southern Vietnam known for its agriculture.
In the mid-1990s, Le was captivated by wasabi's flavor at a Hanoi sushi restaurant. Despite its difficulty to grow, he launched a project and by around 2000 harvested up to 20 tons yearly, even exporting to Japan. Hearing that Japanese cherry trees wouldn't thrive in Vietnam reignited his passion for challenges. 'I decided to make Japanese cherry trees bloom in Vietnam,' he said.
Cherry buds require cold winters to awaken, so Le targeted Vietnam's northern mountainous region with its four seasons. In 2004, he planted 10 edohigan seeds from a Japanese friend; nine germinated thanks to careful temperature control. After four years, in 2008, several trees finally bloomed, transforming the site into a tourist spot.
To date, Le has grown over 120,000 cherry trees, many sold or donated to schools and temples nationwide, including in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc island. 'Cherry blossoms brighten people's spirits and strengthen human connections,' Le said. 'I want to plant Japanese cherry trees all over Vietnam, so many people can enjoy their blossoms, and help strengthen Japan-Vietnam relations as a result.' He pursues this with young Vietnamese studying in Japan.
'Now is the best time to view them. They are truly vivid,' Le said with a smile.
