Growers in the communes of Nam Co, Nam Khat, Che Cu Nha, Kim Noi and Lao Chai started the harvest season between late August and early September. This year's prices are not as high as those of 2018 - 2019 but the harvest was sold out quickly.

Sung A Sang, a farmer in Hang Gang hamlet in Lao Chai commune, said his family owns two plots of crab apple orchards, most of the area have been harvested. At the district's centre, his crop fetched between 4,000 - 6,000 VND per kg for those used to make crab apple liquor while those for eating directly could be sold at higher prices, he said.

He added that this year's output can reach more than 5 tonnes to generate nearly 20 million VND (836.5 USD) in total earnings.

Lao Chai commune is currently home to over 400 hectares of crab apples with some 420 households making profits out of the fruit. Total output can amount to over 1,000 tonnes annually. Meanwhile, there are more than 1,400 hectares in Nam Co commune, around 300 hectares of which has been harvested.

Thao A Cu, Vice Chairman of the Nam Co People's Committee, said the commune estimates to produce over 400 tonnes of crab apples to earn about 2 billion VND. Many households are able to gain an annual income of more than 10 million VND from this fruit, for example, Chang A Ninh's, Lu A Sinh's, Thao Su Rua's, and Chang A Cua's.

Provided with stable distribution and consumption, crab apples can be more profitable than the commune's key crops like rice or maize, he said, adding that the trees can also help cover bare hills.

Crab apple farms now stretch across more than 6,000 hectares of land in 13 communes in Mu Cang Chai district, over 3,000 hectares of which have been harvested so far with output averaging 3,000 tonnes per year. It has helped local residents improve living standards.