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.

Dragon egg lychees placed next to a chicken egg.

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.

Luc Ngan lychee recognised as 5-star OCOP product at national level

BAC GIANG - Luc Ngan lychee of the Hong Xuan Agricultural Production and General Services Cooperative in Luc Ngan district has been recognised as a 5-star One Commune One Product (OCOP) item at national level, becoming the first and only product in the province obtaining this status.

Premium lychee prices jump 5-fold on low supply due to bad weather

Prices of the premium Luc Ngan lychee have jumped five-fold from a year ago due to low supply but many people are willing to pay them.

Lychee prices hit record high at season end

BAC GIANG - At this time, farmers in Luc Ngan district (Bac Giang province) are harvesting the remaining lychee. This year's lychee yield is low so traders directly visit each garden to buy the special fruit at high prices.

"Luc Ngan lychee" product rated 5-star OCOP standards

BAC GIANG - "Luc Ngan lychee" product of Hong Xuan Production and General Service Trading Cooperative (Cooperative) in Hong Giang commune, Luc Ngan district is one of 4 products that have just been rated 5-star standards under One Commune One Product programme (OCOP) by the Central Council for evaluating and classifying OCOP products (Council) in 2024 on June 25. 

Bac Giang successfully exports lychee to demanding markets

According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Bac Giang province, approximately 67,000 tonnes of lychee have been sold so far, representing about 67% of the province's total output. Bac Giang "thieu" lychee has found its way into many domestic and international markets, notably penetrating several demanding ones.

Bac Giang lychees promoted in Thailand

Fresh lychees from Luc Ngan district, the northern province of Bac Giang, continue to be sold at the supermarket chain of Gourmet Market and shopping malls belonging to Thailand’s The Mall Group this year.