In a small coastal village in central Vietnam, surrounded by mountains on three sides and the sea on the other, giant winter melons weighing up to 60–70 kg hang from trellises.

For the locals, these melons are not only a part of daily life and cultural identity but also a dream of turning their farmlands into a tourist attraction.

Bau Chanh Trach, a low-lying area between Chanh Trach 1 and 2 hamlets in Phu My Dong Commune, Gia Lai Province, carries a legend of a giant who carried two mountains to block a sea monster.

The carrying pole broke here, and the mountains fell, forming a fertile barrier of alluvial soil. Since then, the land has thrived, producing exceptional crops such as giant winter melons and three-month sticky rice - treasures that have become the pride of the community.

No one can fully explain why the winter melons here reach such massive sizes. Scientists believe it is due to a combination of rare local genetics, special soil conditions with thick alluvial layers over sand for good drainage, a mild climate, gentle sea breezes, and traditional farming methods passed down for generations.

In Chanh Trach, giant winter melons are not considered a commercial specialty but rather a living memory of the village - a crop tied to countless generations and an irreplaceable source of pride.

Le Ba Bien, known as the guardian of the village’s winter melon heritage, guided us through his 500 m² garden. Here, over 200 vines were ready for harvest, with only one fruit left per vine - a secret to achieving maximum weight and quality.

“My grandfather grew winter melons long before me, but there’s no magic trick to it. This plant is very ‘fussy.’ You must select seeds carefully, keep the soil loose, water on schedule, and fertilize precisely. That’s why I visit the garden twice a day, at dawn and in the cool of the evening, caring for them like children,” Bien shared.

Elsewhere, winter melons are simply food, but in Chanh Trach, they form a diverse ecosystem. Residents sell not only the fruits but also the shoots, melon sap, and dried melon tea - and sometimes even the experience itself.

The melon sap, collected drop by drop from the stem during harvest, is considered nature’s essence. At 30,000–50,000 VND (about $1.20–$2.00) per liter, it is always sold out in summer. Tender shoots are delicious boiled or stir-fried, while the fruit can be cooked in soups or dried for tea. Every part of the plant has value.

This year, with farm-gate prices at around 10,000 VND (about $0.40) per kilogram, Bien’s family harvested over 6 tons, earning tens of millions of dong. Yet for him, the greatest value lies in preserving this precious variety tied to the land for decades.

In recent years, villagers in Chanh Trach 2 have explored agritourism. About 20 households now grow giant winter melons, and many open their gardens to visitors for a small fee of 10,000 VND (about $0.40) per person.

Not only individual tourists but also traders from other provinces come to buy the melons - some for beverages, others for decorative or culinary highlights.

Nguyen Thi To Tran, Deputy Director of Gia Lai Province’s Department of Agriculture and Environment, noted that while the village does not yet qualify as a traditional craft village, it has unique value. Turning to agritourism is a creative, effective, and sustainable path. Villagers do not seek titles; they seek recognition from visitors and the market.

Amid today’s technological and urban development, Chanh Trach’s giant winter melon village has retained its rustic charm and peaceful atmosphere.

It is not just a place that grows “giant” fruits but also nurtures dreams - dreams of a countryside sustained by agriculture, community tourism, and a love for the land. Bien recalled selling seeds to growers in other provinces, but their melons only reached 30 kg at most.

The local climate, with abundant sunshine, light winds, and minimal frost, provides a one-of-a-kind environment for these melons to thrive.

Nhan Dan