Current production and development trends of lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) in Vietnam in the coming future

Vietnam is one of the largest lychee producing countries in the world, ranking the third after China and India. In 2018, the planting area under lychee cultivation of the country reached 58,340 ha - twice as much as the production area in 2006, with an average yield of 6.52 t ha^‑1, producing 380,600 t of lychee year^‑1. Lychee germplasm resource in Vietnam is highly diverse, with two major groups of early cultivars, which enable harvests in early May and accounts for 20% of the production, and main-season cultivars, which harvests in June-July and accounts for 80% of the production. Current cultivation protocols on lychee, including fertilization, pruning, application of growth regulators and leaf nutrition, pest and disease management are generally easy and economically efficient and widely applied in major growing areas, such as Bac Giang, Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces. Trends of lychee development in Vietnam in the coming years include continuing selection of early cultivars, prolonging the harvest season; flower induction in winter season of high temperature; standard food safety production (VietGAP and GlobalGAP); promote application of postharvest technologies and consumption for domestic and export markets.