Online grocery prices surge in HCMC

Hoa in Go Vap District has seen the price of ten eggs surge 60 percent to VND45,000 ($1.96) from before the social distancing period.

A kilogram of red tilapia fish is priced double at VND120,000, while chickens price surged 70 percent to VND190,000.

Hanh in Tan Binh saw prices of squid and shrimp rising 60-80 percent to VND290,000-350,000 per kilogram.

Hoang, who sells fish online in Tan Binih District, said sourcing fresh fish has become more challenging these days as transportation prices surge.

"The only way I can profit is by increasing the price tag. I can only sell within my district as no shipper accepts cross-district delivery."

Thanh, who usually sources fresh meat from Mekong Delta provinces to HCMC, said transportation prices, including oxygen for the fish, fuel and driver incomes, have doubled.

Checkpoints and social distancing orders also make shipping difficult. Some shippers ask triple the fee, he added.

But in Mekong Delta, fish and chicken prices have been plunging due to oversupply.

Minh’s red tilapia fish farm in Tien Giang Province sells its produce at a third of the price in HCMC but no one buys it.

"The fish just stay in their ponds. If this keeps up we will have to bear rising costs and suffer losses," he said.

In Tay Ninh Province, there are one million chickens priced at VND7,000 kilogram but no buyers.