Honey beekeeping thrives on Quang Ninh's natural strengths

Understanding bee behavior to keep colonies healthy

With more than 20 years of experience in beekeeping, Mr. Nguyen Phuc Long from Dong Mai Ward, Quang Ninh Province, regards beekeeping as more than just a side occupation; it has become a stable source of income for his family.

Mr. Long recalled that he initially started with only a few small bee colonies as a household-scale operation. Through continuous learning, self-study of beekeeping techniques, and years of hands-on experience, he gradually expanded his apiary.

“There were years when flowering conditions were ideal, and the bee colonies thrived, allowing me to maintain nearly 100 hives. However, as my family now has other commitments, we keep around 40–50 hives to ensure they receive proper care,” Mr. Long said.

According to him, beekeeping requires patience and a thorough understanding of bee biology and behavior. Beekeepers must not only master techniques such as queen rearing, colony splitting, and queen replacement, but also closely monitor colony health and detect diseases early to prevent outbreaks.

Within a colony, the queen bee plays the most critical role as the only reproductive individual. The queen's health directly determines the colony's growth and vitality. Worker bees are responsible for foraging, caring for larvae, and defending the hive, while drones serve the sole purpose of mating with the queen.

“Beekeepers need to understand the behavior and role of each type of bee within the colony. Once you master the techniques, managing the hives becomes much easier. Without that knowledge, it is difficult to maintain strong and healthy colonies,” Mr. Long explained.

Food availability is the key factor determining both the yield and quality of honey. Thanks to favorable natural conditions, Dong Mai and many other areas in Quang Ninh have rich and diverse vegetation, providing abundant nectar sources for honey bees.

Based on Mr. Long's experience, the main honey-harvesting season usually runs from March through the end of June. Under favorable weather conditions, beekeepers can harvest honey several times a year.

“This year, I've already harvested honey seven times, collecting around 30-40 liters each time. My total annual production is expected to reach about 200 liters. At present, I sell honey directly from my home for around VND 300,000 per liter,” he said.

Harnessing ecological advantages to develop beekeeping

Although beekeeping provides a relatively stable source of income, the industry also faces numerous challenges. Unpredictable weather, seasonal declines in flowering plants, and recurring diseases continue to threaten the health and productivity of bee colonies.

According to Mr. Long, the most challenging period for beekeepers typically falls in July and August, during the prolonged rainy season. At this time, floral resources become scarce, leaving bee colonies short of food and more vulnerable to disease due to weakened immunity.

"During this period, beekeepers need to inspect their colonies regularly, reduce the number of combs when necessary, and provide supplemental sugar syrup and pollen to maintain the bees' health. If you neglect the colonies, they can quickly weaken or even abandon the hive," Mr. Long explained.

Besides adverse weather, diseases such as American and European foulbrood (larval diseases), wax moth infestations, and attacks by natural predators also pose significant challenges for beekeepers. As a result, proper hive sanitation, routine colony management, and seasonal care are essential practices for professional beekeeping operations.

Leveraging ecological advantages for beekeeping development

Assessing the prospects for beekeeping in the province, Ms. Nguyen Thuy Toan of the Technology Transfer Division, Quang Ninh Center for Agricultural Extension and Forest Protection and Development Management, said the model is well suited to the province's ecological conditions.

According to Ms. Toan, Quang Ninh's extensive forest area, high forest cover, and rich plant biodiversity provide ideal conditions for developing commercial honey production.

“To ensure the sustainable development of beekeeping, farmers should strictly follow technical guidelines, particularly in colony management, queen replacement, colony splitting, and disease prevention and control. These are the key factors determining both honey yield and product quality,” she said.

Ms. Toan also noted that as climate change continues to bring increasingly unpredictable weather, beekeepers need to proactively adapt their management practices and improve seasonal colony care to minimize risks.

In recent years, the Quang Ninh Agricultural Extension Center has intensified training programs and technology transfer activities to help local beekeepers improve production efficiency. The center has also encouraged households to form production linkages, develop product brands, and enhance honey quality to expand market opportunities.

“Beekeeping not only provides an additional source of income for rural households, but also contributes to environmental conservation by supporting the pollination of crops and wild plants. It is a production model with significant growth potential in the years ahead, provided it is developed systematically and accompanied by strong product branding,” Ms. Toan emphasized.

$ 1 = 26,460 VND - Source: Vietcombank.