Chinese red pearl jelly attracts Vietnamese customers.

Mini Chinese red dates (24-26 fruits per kilogram), with their eye-catching red color, are attracting Vietnamese customers despite being twice as expensive as domestic varieties.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong from Cau Giay, Hanoi , who imported about 100 kg of mini Chinese persimmons for the first time, the entire shipment sold out within a day. Each kilogram contains approximately 24-26 fruits; when ripe, the fruit is chewy like jelly, with a rich, sweet flavor and aroma. The selling price ranges from 80,000 to 100,000 VND per kilogram.

In Ho Chi Minh City, this type of persimmon is also sold in traditional markets and on social media, priced from 100,000 to 120,000 VND per kilogram, 2-3 times higher than the egg-shaped persimmons of Vietnam.

Chinese red pearl jelly is packaged in plastic containers. Photo: Hong Chau

Despite the high price, mini pink jelly remains popular with many people. According to Ms. Hong Nga, an importer at the Lao Cai international border gate, she initially imported 5 tons as a trial, and seeing good demand, she imported more and more. Besides Hanoi and Lao Cai, she distributes the goods to Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang .

Persimmons are usually packed in 12 kg crates or baskets, priced at around 360,000 VND (equivalent to 30,000 VND per kg) at the Lao Cai border gate. Wholesale customers must purchase at least two crates of persimmons and bear the shipping costs.

Chinese red jelly contains approximately 24-26 pieces per kilogram. (Photo: Provided by the subject)

In China, this fruit is commonly grown in cold climates, especially in Shandong and Shaanxi provinces, and sells for around 10-15 yuan (35,000-55,000 VND) per kilogram.

Previously, red jelly pearls were mainly consumed in China due to their perishability during transportation. However, thanks to improvements in preservation and packaging, this product has been exported to many countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan.

The head of the Thu Duc wholesale agricultural market said that Chinese persimmons imported to the market are usually the crunchy variety; pearl jelly persimmons, in particular, are mainly imported through Lao Cai and sold directly to wholesalers or consumers. "This is a new product, appearing in Vietnam for the first time, so consumers should choose products with traceability labels and from reputable suppliers to ensure quality," he advised.

The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association also believes that it is necessary to strengthen the inspection of imported goods and closely monitor border crossings and unofficial routes to prevent substandard goods from entering the market.

In the first nine months of the year, Vietnam spent $700 million importing fruits and vegetables from China, a 39% increase compared to the same period last year, with popular items including grapes, apples, persimmons, and onions and garlic.

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