The lychee, which is priced five times that of Vietnam’s best quality lychee, is being sold two weeks ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet), when locals often give each other gifts.
Vendors said that this the second year the fruit has been imported to Vietnam for the Tet holiday. The lychee has a large size, attractive appearance and a distinct flavor.
Lychees have long been a staple among Vietnam’s prominent agricultural exports, generating significant revenue from international markets.
However, the local lychee season runs only from April to July, resulting in a shortage during Tet.
Meanwhile, in Australia, the summer harvest season from December to February aligns with Vietnam’s Lunar New Year.
Dragon lychees are scarce and come at a premium price. Nguyen Thu Trinh, an Australia-based supplier for the Vietnamese market, explained that the fruit is grown in limited quantities due to its short harvest season of just a few weeks.
The meticulous selection process, including stem cutting, cold storage, and air freight transportation, drives up costs. Each shipment to Vietnam typically includes only a few dozen 5-kilogram boxes.
Thanh, a store owner in the southern province of Binh Duong, has seen a growing demand for Australian dragon lychees.
While customers last year often bought just one kilogram to try, many now purchase 5-kilogram boxes as corporate gifts, he said. Thanh noted that prices have risen 10-15% from 2023-end.
In addition to lychees, other specialty fruits from Australia are also imported to Vietnam at premium prices.
Despite this, they remain popular among Vietnamese consumers for their high quality and uniqueness.
Vietnam spent $143 million on fruit and vegetable imports from Australia in the first 11 months of 2024, marking a nearly 5% increase from the same period in 2023, according to customs data.
Australia is now Vietnam’s third-largest source of fruit and vegetable imports, following the U.S. and China.
