Hưng Yên: Longan Orchards, Ancient Temples & the Hidden Gem of the Red River Delta

The Longan Capital

Hưng Yên is synonymous with nhãn lồng — the prized longan fruit that grows nowhere else with the same sweetness and fragrance. During harvest season (July–August), the province transforms into a perfumed paradise of longan orchards, and roadside stalls overflow with the small, honey-sweet fruits. The Longan Festival in Khoái Châu district celebrates the harvest with fruit competitions, folk performances, and longan-derived product tastings (dried longan, longan wine, longan jam).

Phố Hiến: Vietnam’s Forgotten Trading Port

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Phố Hiến was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia — a cosmopolitan hub where Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, English, and Portuguese merchants converged. The Vietnamese saying “First Kẻ Chợ [Hanoi], Second Phố Hiến” attests to its former status. Today, remnants of this golden age survive in over 100 historical structures, including:

• Mau Temple — dedicated to the Mother Goddess, with exquisite 17th-century wood carvings
• Hiến Temple — one of Vietnam’s most sacred Confucian temples
• Chuông Pagoda — housing a massive bronze bell cast in 1711