Chinese heart-shaped grapes retail at $11 per kilogram

The fruits have been pouring into Vietnam since late last month and are often sold in bunches of two or three kilograms each.

Nguyen Thanh Truc, owner of a fruit shop in HCMC’s Binh Thanh Ward, said she has sold over 100 bunches in the last two weeks, 20% more than in the same period last year.

"These grapes are priced the same as U.S. ones but look juicier and taste sweeter, and so customers love them."

They are among the best-selling items at some wholesale markets. Hoang Thu, a wholesaler in HCMC’s Bay Hien Ward, said she offers a lower rate of VND190,000 per kilogram for customers buying more than 20 bunches.

Supply of this and Shine Muscat grape and other Chinese fruits like cherries has been abundant this year, she said.

Heart-shaped grapes on sale at markets and online platforms in Vietnam. Photo obtained by VnExpress

Heart-shaped grapes were originally developed in Japan as a hybrid between the shine Muscat and European pareto varieties.

They are called "my heart" grapes and considered a high-end product in that country.

The fruit was once imported exclusively from Japan and sold at VND1.5-2.5 million per kilogram, but China has managed to mass-produce the variety at lower cost in the last two years.

A manager of HCMC’s Thu Duc Agriculture Wholesale Market said imports of the fruit only started this year but volume has been rapidly rising.

According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam imported over US$669 million worth of fruits and vegetables from China in the first nine months of 2025.

Grapes accounted for the largest share and the heart-shaped variety is the most expensive among them; red and green grapes cost VND50,000-80,000 per kilogram and Shine Muscat costs VND80,000-150,000.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruits & Vegetables Association, said China has been making premium fruits more affordable in recent years thanks to high-tech farming.

But their quality might admittedly not match the original, he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said Vietnam has a few thousand hectares under grapes, with the former Ninh Thuan Province accounting for 1,000-1,200 hectares.

Newer varieties offer higher yields but come with costly requirements like greenhouses, drip irrigation and cold storage systems, making them more expensive than Chinese imports.

The Plant Protection Department assured consumers that all imported fruits are subject to phytosanitary inspections. It has also been updating its sampling and inspection methods to ensure food safety.