With schools shuttered across Ho Chi Minh City due to recent coronavirus outbreaks, families in the southern metropolis are taking advantage of the extra time off by journeying to the Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Binh Chanh District.

To Uyen, a local mother, brought her family to the farmstead in the hope that her children would be given the chance to understand exactly where their fruits and veggies come from.

“They’ve been on farm visits like this with their school, but this is the first time they have had the chance to eat the produce on the spot,” Uyen said. 

“It’s a bit of a journey from the city center, but the kids are still so excited to be here.”  

Visitors harvest fresh produce at Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Video: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Uyen’s children spent much of the trip asking engineers at the farm questions about each fruit.

The cantaloupe, in particular, seemed to really grab their attention.

“With only one fruit per plant, cantaloupes have a better nutritional distribution than plants with several fruits,” Minh Phong, an agricultural engineer at the farm, explained.

Huong and her children carry fresh produce harvested at Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

To Uyen and her children, Vinh and Han, harvest Frillice lettuce at Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Thuy Linh harvests Red Oak lettuce at Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A visitor picks cantaloupes at Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Visitors pick cantaloupes at Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Visitors pick cantaloupes at Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Visitors try a hotpot with fresh picked veggies from Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Children taste fresh cantaloupes at Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A bird’s-eye view of Mekong Hydroponic Farm in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre