Vietnamese fruits: Distinct tastes in every bite

One of the specialties from northern Vietnam that the Chinese eagerly await is the lychee. Lychee blossoms in the spring, when the weather is cool, and reaches peak harvest amid the intense summer heat. Each growth stage and nutrient accumulation phase of the lychee corresponds with different weather patterns. As a result, lychee has a bright red color and a uniquely rich sweetness, making it very popular among the Chinese. In the 2024 harvest season, 9,200 tons of the highest quality fresh lychees were exported to China.

The Central and Central Highlands regions, with their year-round warm climate, have fertile red basalt soil plantations formed from geological activity millions of years ago. This area is home to vast passion fruit orchards. A characteristic tropical fruit of Vietnam, passion fruit is not only well-known for its distinctive aroma but also for its incredible nutritional benefits, such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, and polyphenols that help boost the immune system, neutralize free radicals, and prevent aging.

Thanks to natural cultivation, Vietnamese passion fruit is not only delicious and visually appealing but also meets stringent food safety and phytosanitary standards. With an estimated annual yield of 135,000 tons, passion fruit is consistently among the top high-value export fruits from Vietnam and is also one of the twelve fruits officially exported to China. In addition, the sunny and windy red basalt soil of the Central Highlands is home to other tropical fruits like avocado, banana, pineapple, and many others, each offering wholesome nutrients and unique tropical flavors.

Heading the South, a vast area the end of Mekong delta, with the year-round mild tropical climate and abundant alluvial deposits, is Vietnam's largest fruit-growing region, producing a variety of high-quality tropical fruits such as dragon fruit, mangosteen, fresh coconut, mango, rambutan, and green-skinned grapefruit.

Together with the Central Highlands and Southeast regions, the Mekong Delta is helping to position Vietnam as a top exporter of durian worldwide. Known as the 'queen of fruits' for its exceptional quality, Vietnamese durian is cultivated scientifically to strict standards, offering a unique, aromatic taste with golden-yellow flesh, rich creaminess, and an irresistible fragrance that anyone who tastes it finds unforgettable. In 2023, Vietnam surpassed Thailand to become the number one durian exporter to China, reaching nearly 33,000 tons, valued at USD 161 million, representing a 2.4-fold increase in volume and value compared to the same period in 2022.

Mr. Nguyen Khac Tien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ameii Vietnam Corporation, a fruit export company with extensive experience in the Chinese market, emphasizes that for Vietnamese fruits to continue dominating this market, one critical factor is that businesses must work together. Currently, exports are still carried out in a fragmented way, with small-scale companies working independently.

Agreeing with this, Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, suggested that enterprises need to align and look in the same direction to ensure a long-term path, not only for the Chinese market but also for many other potential markets like the U.S., Japan, and the EU. The support and oversight of state management agencies in accordance with export development and industry growth policies will create sustainability in the agricultural export trend.