Chinese emperor plums, known for their striking yellow skin and large size, have recently gained traction in Vietnam's high-end fruit market. Priced at up to 500,000 VND (around $19.60/kg), they rival premium fruits like seedless lychees in cost and demand. Despite not being officially licensed for import into Vietnam, these plums are entering the country through small-scale traders and hand-carried shipments, with volumes sometimes reaching a ton per consignment, as reported by VNExpress.
Sourced from plum-growing regions in Yunnan, Xinjiang, and Miyun County in China, this variety benefits from ideal climatic conditions and targeted cultivation strategies. For instance, Miyun alone has allocated over 660 hectares for high-grade plums, with the main harvest season stretching from late June through August.
While the fruit's entry into Vietnam is informal, it reflects broader trends in bilateral agricultural trade. According to Vietnam Customs, fruit and vegetable imports from China reached $402 million in the first half of 2025, making China Vietnam's largest supplier and accounting for 33.5% of total produce imports.
Source: VNExpress
