For a long time, Chinese fruits were only traded at wholesale markets, and were sold in the retail market as Vietnamese or products from Australia, the US, Japan or Korea.

In fact, many popular fruits for Vietnamese consumers for decades such as "Ha Giang apple", "Sapa peach ", "Vietnamese specialty pomegranate” were all Chinese fruits. Some 3-4 years ago, the authorities confirmed that Vietnam did not produce these fruits.

According to statistics, by the end of July 2022, the import value of Chinese fruit and vegetables reached nearly 400 million USD, up 60% over the same period last year. 

The trade of Chinese fruits is bustling more than ever, particularly at online markets. However, traders don’t hesitate to tell their customers about the Chinese origin of their fruits. The most popular products include Beijing peaches, Yunnan grapes, Chinese red apples. Traders also describe the growing area as well as the Chinese product quality.

“In the past, Vietnamese did not like Chinese goods for fear of poor quality. Now they are ready to buy Chinese products so I do not hesitate to tell them about the product origin," said Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, a trader of Chinese fruits in Hanoi. 

Ms. Van Ngoc Bich from Hanoi told VietNamNet that she did not often buy Chinese fruits, believing in the low quality. But nearly a year ago, she realized that traders began advertising Chinese fruits publicly on the online market, with details on the growing area and quality standards. 

Moreover, the products are eye-catching and well packed. They are also delicious. Since then, she has bought Chinese fruits often.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit Association, said previously Chinese fruits imported into Vietnam were mainly cheap. The authorities also detected residue of pesticides on these products, so Vietnamese consumers were afraid of Chinese fruits. So small traders faked the origin of Chinese products to deceive consumers to buy with peace of mind. 

In recent years, China has raised food hygiene and safety standards for all kinds of goods, which has forced Chinese farmers to change their production habits and make better quality goods to meet the needs of domestic consumption and exports. They also are focusing more on high-quality product lines to serve the high-end segment. The image of Chinese fruit in the eyes of consumers has gradually improved.

In the Vietnamese market, news about Chinese vegetables and fruits that do not guarantee food safety is nearly absent. Traders are confident to publicize the origin, and Vietnamese consumers also assume that Chinese fruits are safer.

Tam An