Top 10 Fruits That Are Never Imported From China

Grapefruit is another fruit that Vietnam only exports and never imports. Vietnam is home to a variety of famous grapefruit types such as Năm Roi, Green Skin grapefruit from the Mekong Delta, Diễn grapefruit from Hanoi that is popular during the Lunar New Year, Đoan Hùng grapefruit from Phú Thọ, and Văn Luận grapefruit from Thanh Hóa. Green Skin grapefruit originated in Thanh Tân, Mỏ Cày Bắc, Ben Tre province.

The Green Skin grapefruit is round in shape, with a green to slightly yellowish peel when ripe. The peel is easy to remove and quite thin. The segments are pinkish-red, tightly packed, and easily separable. The flavor is sweet without sourness and has a fragrant aroma. The number of seeds varies from none to quite a few. This variety is recognized as a national fruit and has been exported to 50 different markets worldwide. Under normal conditions, Green Skin grapefruit can last over 15 days. Its price ranges from 12,000 to 15,000 VND per kilogram.

Lychee is not only famous in Vietnam but also widely recognized around the world. The Lychee capital of Bắc Giang currently has 30,000 hectares of lychee orchards, while Hải Dương has about 10,000 hectares, producing hundreds of thousands of tons each year. During the summer, lychees are sold in markets across the country, with prices ranging from 60,000 to 80,000 VND per kilogram at the beginning or end of the season, and around 15,000 to 35,000 VND per kilogram during peak season.

The fruit weighs 18 to 20 grams, with 72 to 80% of the fruit being flesh. The flesh is slightly soft, and when peeled, it easily breaks into juice with a fragrant aroma. The seeds in lychees are nearly nonexistent, shrinking into a small form instead of the regular lychee seed. When you bite into a lychee, it feels like it melts in your mouth, gradually becoming sweeter with no bitter or sour taste. Thanh Hà lychees have small seeds, dark brown in color. The older the tree, the smaller the seed, and many fruits have no seeds at all, with thick, sweet, and juicy flesh. Thanh Hà lychees are considered superior quality, so their price is higher than other varieties. In July, Thanh Hà lychees are priced around 25,000 to 30,000 VND per kilogram.

Bananas are an essential fruit in every Vietnamese household, especially during holidays, Tet, the full moon, and the first day of the lunar month. Bananas are widely cultivated in the Red River Delta, Mekong Delta, and provinces like Vĩnh Phúc and Hưng Yên. Some famous banana varieties include Hồng tiêu banana, Sứ banana, Sáp banana, and Ngự banana.

This fruit is a significant export in the fruit industry, reaching countries like Japan, South Korea, and China. Thanks to advancements in post-harvest processing, Vietnamese bananas are now sold in supermarkets like Coop Mart, Aeon, Lotte, and Big C, often at higher prices than their export rates.

Sapodilla is one of the prominent specialty fruits from Tiền Giang. The region's natural conditions are perfect for sapodilla cultivation. The Mặc Bắc sapodilla variety is known for its year-round fruiting, avoiding the seasonal gluts and 'market shortages'. Growing and caring for these trees is relatively simple and does not require excessive effort or resources.

This fruit is common in Vietnam, widely cultivated, so there is no need to worry about imports from China.

The durian tree is a distinctive and famous fruit in Vietnam. The Ri6 durian brand from Vĩnh Long has surpassed many other regional durian brands due to its golden-yellow flesh, seedless, dry, non-sticky texture, intense sweetness, and fragrant aroma. The name 'Ri6' originates from the hybrid created by Mr. Sáu Ri in Phước Định, Bình Hòa Phước, Long Hồ, Vĩnh Long, in 1990.

Durian trees can grow as tall as 27 meters. The fruit is quite large, with a yellow-green color, oval shape, and can reach up to 30cm in length, with a diameter of 20-22cm, weighing up to 3kg. The exterior of the fruit is covered with sharp spines, while the inside contains 5 large, creamy yellow segments. The seeds are shiny brown, ranging from 3-6cm long. Durian prices range from 60,000-80,000 VND per kilogram.

Mangoes are often wrongly believed to be too hot for summer, but in reality, they are a low-fat, high-sugar, and fiber-rich fruit, which helps keep you feeling full for longer. The vitamin A in mangoes is fantastic for maintaining glowing skin and shiny hair, especially in the summer months.

Additionally, vitamin A acts as a potent antioxidant that helps delay the onset of aging and degenerative diseases. Vitamin C in mangoes also helps prevent heatstroke from sun exposure. Therefore, mangoes should definitely be part of your summer diet! They are typically priced at around 20,000-25,000 VND per kilogram. When you eat a mango, you'll experience the delightful sensation of tiny, sweet sugar-like granules melting in your mouth.

Papaya is a popular fruit in Vietnam, commonly served as a dessert in hotels and on both domestic and international flights.

Known for its cooling properties, papaya is excellent for detoxifying the body and soothing the liver. Studies show that papayas are made up of approximately 90% water, along with essential nutrients like vitamins A, B, and C. With its affordability and numerous health benefits, papaya is truly a fruit you shouldn’t miss out on.

Vietnam is currently the only country in the world exporting custard apple. There are many varieties, such as Lo Ren custard apple, brown-purple custard apple, and yellow custard apple. Lo Ren custard apple is highly praised internationally for its thin skin, shiny appearance, and sweet fragrance. It’s known for its rich, soft flesh and abundant nutrients.

To enjoy Lo Ren custard apple, simply roll it gently with your hands to soften the fruit, then pull the stem to release a sweet, milky liquid. The fruit’s translucent, soft flesh is fragrant and refreshing. This is the common way of eating at home, but when hosting guests, the fruit is often sliced into 4 to 6 pieces or eaten with a spoon. The Tiền Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has set quality standards for Lo Ren custard apple.

Watermelon is cultivated throughout Vietnam, with the highest concentrations found in Hải Dương, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Cần Thơ, and Tiền Giang. On the market, watermelons are sold for prices ranging from 10,000 to 35,000 VND per kilogram, depending on the type and season.

Not only is watermelon delicious, but it also provides many health benefits, including treating kidney disorders, lowering blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of heart disease, fighting cancer, helping with weight loss, and treating acne.

In addition to watermelon, dragon fruit is another quintessential Vietnamese fruit that is never imported. Vietnam's production of dragon fruit is more than enough to meet domestic demand and even allows for export to various countries worldwide.

Dragon fruit can weigh up to 0.5 kg and features skin that ranges from vibrant pink to deep red. The skin is easily peeled off when ripe, revealing white flesh speckled with tiny black seeds. Known for its sweet taste, dragon fruit is typically harvested in October, November, April, and May. There are both red and white-fleshed varieties, commonly grown in regions such as Bình Thuận, Tiền Giang, Ninh Thuận, and Long An.