Beneath the cajeput canopy filled with the fragrant scent of U Minh Ha's wild flowers, the craft of wild honey beekeeping and harvesting natural honey has long been part of Vietnam's intangible cultural heritage. This is a unique ecotourism experience, taking visitors deep into the forest to witness the skills of local woodsmen in conquering wild bees.
National Heritage
U Minh Ca Mau
beekeeping craft
Honey Features
Golden, mildly sweet,
signature cajeput scent
Activities
Jungle trekking,
smoking with coconut husk
Location
U Minh Ha
National Park
1. Setting up bee kèo - The unique art of luring honeybees
U Minh Ha cajeput honey is entirely a natural product created by wild honeybees. To actively harvest honey without affecting the biodiversity of the cajeput forest, locals invented the art of "gác kèo" (setting up rafters). They select sturdy cajeput tree trunks, smooth the bark, and place them at an angle in the humid mangrove forest in airy clearings, facing the right amount of oblique sunlight.
Every rafter worker has their own family secrets regarding the orientation of the rafters and the wind distance, inviting wild bees to choose it as an ideal nesting site.
2. The thrilling "bee eating" journey in the deep forest
Honey harvesting activity (commonly known locally as "ăn ong" or eating bees) requires courage, calmness, and extensive handling experience. Woodsmen wear simple protective clothing, pulling a mesh hat over their heads. The most crucial tool is a bundle of dry coconut husks used to create smoke, temporarily chasing the bees away from their hive.
As the smoke rises and disperses the bees, the worker quickly uses a sharp knife to cut away the comb filled with golden, rich sweet honey, skillfully leaving behind the part of the comb containing young bee pupae so the colony stays and rebuilds a new nest. This respect for nature is the secret that has kept the profession going for hundreds of years.
3. The rich specialty of U Minh young bee pupae
Besides the raw wild honey which is extremely good for health, the newly harvested young bee pupae comb is an excellent ingredient for making delicious dishes. Young bee pupae stir-fried with chives, made into crispy green banana salad, or deep-fried and rolled in rice paper dipped in rich, nutty garlic chili fish sauce is a highly unique snack used by U Minh people to treat esteemed guests.
4. Book an U Minh Ha ecotourism tour
If visitors want to directly follow the footsteps of professional rafter workers, please contact the homestay to ensure safety and a carefully arranged itinerary. This experience package is included in the all-inclusive U Minh Ha Tour of Ba Ngoai Homestay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to distinguish real and fake U Minh wild honey?
Real U Minh cajeput wild honey has moderate thickness, smells like a very natural mild cajeput flower, and doesn't settle sugar at the bottom of the bottle over time. When poured into a glass of filtered water, real honey will form threads flowing straight to the bottom rather than dissolving immediately like sugar-mixed honey.
Is the honey harvesting activity dangerous for tourists?
When participating, tourists always stand at a safe distance of about 15-20 meters, wear protective clothing, and are protected continuously by the woodsman's smoke, so it is completely safe and there's no worry about bee stings.
Reference Sources
To ensure objectivity, scientific accuracy about traditional craft villages, and respect author copyright, information in this article has been cross-referenced with official sources:
- Decision No. 461/QD-BVHTTDL of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on announcing the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage for the "Wild honey beekeeping craft" in Ca Mau province.
- Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ca Mau Province (sovhttdl.camau.gov.vn): Archived documents on the unique intangible heritages of residents in U Minh Ha cajeput forest.
- Management Board of U Minh Ha National Park: Sustainable honey harvesting technical process and forest product management under the cajeput canopy.
Experience U Minh Wild Honey Harvesting
Join an exciting cajeput forest trekking trip, hand-squeeze fresh sweet honey and enjoy the famous bee pupae salad with Ba Ngoai Homestay.
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Written by
Tran Bi (Founder of Ba Ngoai Homestay)
Tran Bi is a local tourism expert with over 10 years of experience guiding visitors through Cape Ca Mau and the U Minh mangrove forests.
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