Thai red pomelo outsells Vietnamese rivals

Hoang Anh in District 2, HCMC, said she plans to buy Siam ruby pomelo at a price of VND200,000 (US$8) for a fruit weighing two kilograms for Tet (the Lunar New Year). Tet, Vietnam’s biggest and most important festival, will last from Feb. 8 to 14, 2024. The traditional festival will peak on Feb. 10.

Siam ruby pomelos sold in Vietnam. Photo by Kieu Chung

"Last year I bought the Vietnamese fruit, but it tasted bitter, not sweet like the Thai one."

Hanh in the city’s District 5 said Vietnamese red-fleshed pomelo is much cheaper at VND60,000-70,000 per kilogram, but supply is not reliable and its appearance is not comparable, and so she preferred the Thai variety. "I buy it to offer during Tet, so not only must it be delicious but also the appearance must be beautiful."

Kieu Chung said she has imported some 1,000 Siam ruby pomelos for Tet and is selling two-kilogram fruits for VND200,000 per kilogram.

The Vietnamese pomelos do not have skin as shiny green as the Thai ones, and their flesh is not really red."
She added that demand for the Thai fruit is higher than during Tet last year.