The Allure of Chinese Golden Plums

With their golden-yellow skin, subtle fragrance, and a perfect balance of crisp texture and delicate sweetness, Chinese golden plums are making a significant mark in Vietnam's premium fruit market. These plums, notably larger than their Vietnamese counterparts, are now competing with high-end fruits like seedless lychees and milk grapes.

Market Response and Seller Insights

Tuyet, a premium fruit store owner in Ho Chi Minh City, shared her success story, selling over 200 kilograms in just two weeks. "Customers often return after their first try," she noted, highlighting the fruit's growing popularity. Online sellers are also aggressively marketing these plums, with Le Thoa praising their unique qualities over Chilean and Australian varieties.

Import Challenges and Cultivation Details

Currently, these plums are either hand-carried or imported in small volumes due to the lack of an official agreement between China and Vietnam. Nguyen Lien, a trader in Lao Cai, mentioned wholesale prices reaching up to VND300,000 per kilogram. Cultivated in regions like Yunnan, Xinjiang, and Miyun County, the golden plum thrives across thousands of hectares, with the primary harvest season from late June to August.

Trade Dynamics Between China and Vietnam

Vietnamese customs data underscores China's role as the largest supplier of fruits and vegetables to Vietnam, with imports worth $402 million in the first half of this year alone, accounting for 33.5% of total imports in this category.