Cheap durians flood Ho Chi Minh City: What is the quality like?

Many durian vendors in Ho Chi Minh City display price tags of only 35,000-50,000 VND/kg, but most of the durians are substandard, with few segments...

Recently, many stalls selling durian at cheap prices (only 35,000-50,000 VND/kg) have appeared on many streets in Ho Chi Minh City. On social media, numerous posts advertising "shockingly low durian prices," "farm-direct prices," etc., have attracted significant consumer attention.

Displaying low price signs to attract customers.

According to VTC News reporters ' investigation, these low prices mostly apply to substandard, defective, or low-quality durians. For good quality durians with thick flesh, many segments, and guaranteed quality by the seller, the price still ranges from 80,000 to 90,000 VND/kg.

A roadside durian stall on Phan Van Hon Street, Ho Chi Minh City.

At a durian stall in An Khanh ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Son - a long-time durian vendor - said that his store currently sells durian at two main prices: 50,000 VND/kg and 70,000 VND/kg. He sells about 200 kg of durian daily.

According to Mr. Son, this year's supply mainly consists of common durians, with few high-quality or VIP shipments. Imported durians are often inconsistent in size, with a mix of large and small fruits, and the quality varies considerably.

"This year I didn't import much high-quality durian because the price isn't cheap, and the best kind is mostly for export. Durian priced at 35,000-40,000 VND/kg is mostly substandard; good quality durian can't be sold at that price," said Mr. Son.

Surveys conducted at numerous stalls along streets such as Pham Van Dong, Truong Chinh, Le Van Tho, Le Trong Tan, etc., show that many stalls display signs advertising durian at only 37,000-39,000 VND/kg. However, when customers inquire about purchasing the better quality variety, the actual price often increases significantly.

According to vendors, cheap durians are mostly substandard, have few segments, or are of inconsistent quality.

Ms. Phuong, a durian seller on Ngo Tat To Street, Thanh My Tay Ward, said that the current extremely low prices easily mislead consumers into thinking that durian prices are plummeting. However, in reality, for those who buy small quantities of 100-200 kg, transportation costs and losses remain very high, making it difficult to sell high-quality durian at such low prices.

According to her, durians sold at 35,000-40,000 VND/kg are usually "low-quality" or "pork-quality" – a term used in the trade for fruits with few segments and poor quality. These fruits typically only have one or two segments of flesh, rarely three. Many also have burnt flesh, are tough or bland, and lack sweetness.

This seller stated that there are currently two common types of sales in the market: sales without a guarantee of quality and sales with a guarantee of quality. With the no-return/exchange guarantee, the price may be cheaper because the buyer accepts the risk of encountering unripe or bland fruit.

Conversely, if the store commits to a return or exchange policy if the quality is unsatisfactory, the selling price must be higher to compensate for the losses.

"If you want to sell with a guarantee of quality, the price has to be much higher because you have to bear the risk for the customer. If you buy the goods at 40,000 VND/kg, you have to sell them for 70,000-80,000 VND/kg to cover the costs," Ms. Phuong said.

Durian prices have started to rise in recent days, but many varieties are still available at affordable prices.

You get what you pay for.

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, owner of Tuan Map durian shop on Truong Chinh Street, said that durian prices this year are about 10-15% lower than last year due to large supply, while exports are facing difficulties in the inspection process.

With over 20 years of experience in the business, Mr. Tuan said that his store still imports several hundred kilograms of Ri6 durian every day for sale. According to him, the current retail price depends heavily on the quality segment.

Grade A Ri6 durians, with all five segments, beautiful yellow flesh, and delicious aroma, are usually sold for around 90,000 VND/kg, while Grade B durians are sold for around 50,000 VND/kg.

Specifically, misshapen, unevenly sized, sparsely segmented, mushy flesh, or bland-tasting fruits are classified as substandard. These are mainly sold to ice cream makers or processors, hence their much lower price.

According to vendors, the low prices advertised in many places are actually a marketing ploy. Consumers are easily tempted to stop and buy a few tens of thousands of dong per kilogram when they see the price. However, if they want to choose high-quality produce with plenty of segments and the option to return it if there are any defects, the actual price is not as cheap as advertised.

Grade B durians are usually priced below 50,000 VND/kg at many stores in Ho Chi Minh City.

"Many places put up signs advertising 39,000 VND/kg to attract customers, but ultimately, customers who want good quality produce still have to pay a higher price," a small trader said.

At the Four Seasons Clean Durian Shop 01 on Le Van Tho Street, Mr. Nguyen Thanh is also selling Ri6 durian at various prices ranging from 39,000 to 79,000 VND/kg.

According to Mr. Thanh, the price difference lies in the quality of each type of fruit. Fruits with thick flesh, good taste, and many segments will fetch a higher price. Meanwhile, fruits with less flesh, poor appearance, or low quality will be sold at a lower price.

Mr. Thanh said that recently, there were times when the price of Grade A durian at the farm was only about 30,000 VND/kg. However, from harvest to reaching consumers, a series of costs arise such as labor for picking the fruit, transportation, processing, preservation, and distribution.

Furthermore, most stores now sell durian on a "guarantee of satisfaction," meaning they promise to exchange or refund if the durian is unripe, burnt, or of poor quality. This leads to a high rate of loss.

According to Mr. Thanh, the average loss rate is currently around 15-20%. This is a cost that sellers must factor into the selling price to ensure a balance between profit and consumer demand.

Not only small traders, but many industry experts also believe that the recent appearance of cheap durian mainly stems from a sharp increase in supply during the peak season in the Mekong Delta.

High-quality durians with beautiful yellow flesh and many segments are still being sold for 80,000-90,000 VND/kg.

Amidst export difficulties, traders prioritize purchasing grade A, high-quality fruit, leaving much of the lower-quality fruit behind. Many farmers, reluctant to part with their produce, sell it by the roadside or push it to the domestic market at low prices. However, most of this is substandard, failing to meet export standards, resulting in inconsistent quality.

According to vendors, consumers need to be wary of durian advertisements that claim "super delicious," "wholesale price," or "surprisingly cheap." If the price is significantly lower than the average, it's very likely that the durian has fewer segments, inconsistent quality, or no guarantee of exchange or return.

Many long-time sellers believe that the current durian market still offers good quality durian at more reasonable prices than before, but it hasn't reached the "unprecedentedly cheap" levels advertised on social media.

With high-quality Ri6 varieties, featuring golden flesh, numerous segments, and a consistently rich and sweet flavor, the retail price in Ho Chi Minh City remains around 80,000-90,000 VND/kg. This price accurately reflects the quality of this fruit, often dubbed the "king of fruits."

Source: https://znews.vn/sau-rieng-gia-re-do-bo-tphcm-chat-luong-ra-sao-post1654607.html