The litchi trees for export were planted in Hong Giang commune of Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province. At least 107 local households registered to plant and take care of their trees under the Global GAP standards.

This is the 1-ha litchi garden of Mr. Giap Van Lien. This year, he sold nearly a ton of fruit to America, at the on-the-spot price of VND30,000 per kilo, compared to the market prices of VND8,000-VND10,000/kg.

Lien said it took him more time and effort to take care of his litchi garden under international standards, particularly the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Mr. Giap Van Vang said this is the first year Luc Ngan litchi trees were planted and taken care according to Global GAP standards. Most households have to master this process.

"Right now, the whole village has 95 hectares of litchi and nearly 50% of which have met the Global GAP standards, ensuring conditions for export," said Vang.

Local farmers said they had applied US procedures. For example, they were prohibited from using five types of chemicals, which they had used before.

Le Ba Thanh, Vice Chairman of Luc Ngan district, said: "This is a great opportunity for Luc Ngan people. Therefore, we have focused on planting litchi of high quality for exports. We have asked local pesticide sellers and the households in the project area to sign commitments not to buy, sell, or  use the five kinds of pesticides banned by the US."

From the beginning of the litchi season, many companies from America, Australia, Japan and others went to Luc Ngan to purchase litchi. Mr. Nguyen Van Khien, deputy chief of Luc Ngan District People's Committee office, said the district has exported several tens of tons.

Ms. Dao Thi Thuy has 300 lychee trees for export to the US and Australia. Frozen lychees are boxed and transported abroad by air.

Luc Ngan litchi is also served on flights of Vietnam Airlines.

Vietnam Airlines purchases litchi for VND30,000/kg, higher than the market price.

The fruit is strictly inspected by quarantine staff of American and Australian importers before they are boxed and transported to HCM City for irradiation.

Foreign quarantine experts will randomly select one among hundreds of boxes of litchi for inspection at the irradiation workshop.

Robert Guillermo, quarantine staff from the US Department of Agriculture, said Vietnamese fruit exported to the US including dragon fruit, longan, rambutan, and lychee were all fresh and tasty, and were favored by American customers.

The fruits were covered with a special piece of cloth.

Mai Xuan Thin, representing litchi exporters, said the provincial government of Bac Giang and Hai Duong will support enterprises to purchase litchi for exports.

To meet the strict requirements from importers from the US and Australia, Vietnam has established a process of sterilization and cleaning products, improving quality and extending storage time, at a cost of $0.6 to $1/kg. Irradiation is the last stage before litchis are transported to the US and Australia.

Litchi boxes for export at Tan Son Nhat airport, HCM City. Mr. Alex Aexopoulos, from the Australian company Panasia Fresh, a litchi importer, said he was very pleased with the quality control procedures of Vietnam. This company imports between 15 and 20 tons of litchis per week.

On May 30, the first shipment of litchis were delivered to the US by air.