Early season plums cost 300,000 VND per kilogram.

Many stores sell Son La plums (18-25 fruits per kilogram) for 300,000 VND per kilogram, which is more expensive than imported Australian plums.

Observations in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi show that since the beginning of March, early-season plums have started to be imported and sold in many stores. Accordingly, each kilogram of grade 1 plums (18-25 fruits) costs 300,000 VND; the grade 25-35 fruits costs 250,000-270,000 VND.

Grade 2 and 3 rice is being offered by traders at 80,000-130,000 VND per kilogram. This is an increase of about 5% compared to the same period last year, and is 20,000-30,000 VND more expensive than rice imported from Australia and Chile.

Ms. Quynh Nhu, the owner of a fruit shop in Hanoi, said that since the plum season has just begun, the quantity is limited and the price is still high. The premium variety, picked directly from orchards in Moc Chau, costs 250,000 VND per kilogram (excluding shipping fees). Because it's out of season, Ms. Nhu can only import a few dozen kilograms at a time.

Ngoc An, the owner of a fruit shop in Hanoi, also said that her shop only imports 40-50kg of top-quality plums daily from a farm in Kim Chung, Phieng Khoai (Son La). "This year's early-season plums are in smaller quantities than in previous years, and we can't always get them when customers place orders," Ms. An said.

However, according to Ms. Nhu, despite the high price, customers are still willing to pay, even though imported plums dominate the market. "This is my first time selling this fruit out of season, and I was worried that the high price would deter customers, but on many days, it still sells out," she said.

Premium quality plums at a store in Hanoi. Photo: Ngoc An — Premium quality plums at a store in Hanoi. Photo: *Ngoc An*

The advantage of the "Mận Hậu" plum is that the fruit is fresh, crisp, sweet, and has a distinctive tangy flavor, making it less cloying than imported varieties. Furthermore, this type of plum is only available once a year, making it highly sought after by many customers.

Ms. Nhu said that this year's plums are bigger and more uniform than in previous years. In particular, even though it's the beginning of the season, the fruit is sweet and not bitter or astringent.

Son La province is most famous for growing late-season plums, with an area of over 11,730 hectares. According to Mr. Ha Nhu Hue, Director of the Son La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, this year's plum production may be low, reaching approximately 80,000 tons. This is a decrease of 5,000 tons compared to last year.

Out-of-season plums are scarce. During this period, each orchard harvests only a few tens of kilograms to one hundred kilograms per day, and coupled with increased care costs, the price is high.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chung, a trader specializing in buying late-season plums in Son La, said that off-season plums are being cultivated in larger quantities than in previous years, but unfavorable weather conditions have resulted in low fruit set. In particular, the supply of premium plums is insufficient to meet demand, leading to high prices. Plum prices are expected to cool down in mid-April, when the peak season arrives.

Plum (Mận hậu) is a famous fruit of the Northwest mountainous region, widely grown in several provinces such as Ha Giang, Moc Chau, Sapa, and most famously in Son La. The main plum season lasts from April to July.

Hong Chau

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