subpage

Blog

Fruits in Vietnam: 7 fruits that you need to try when travel to Vietnam

Fruits in Vietnam: 7 fruits that you need to try when travel to Vietnam

April 30, 2021

Located in tropical regions, Vietnam has an ideal condition for a good deal of fruits with different colors and flavors to grow. Here is a list of 7 must-try fruits in Vietnam that are enjoyed not solely by local people but also by foreign tourists who have been to Vietnam.

1. Mangosteen (Măng cụt)

Purple Mangosteen (or Garcinia mangostana) is considered one of the most exotic fruits in Vietnam. At first sight, it doesn’t seem to be so attractive. You have to cut it along the middle and then gently twist to reveal the white, juicy flesh inside. Mangoteens may be a little sour at first bite but it’s generally sweet, soft and melting in the mouth.


Mangosteen - one of the best tropical fruits
Mangosteen - one of the best tropical fruits


A good mangosteen has more flesh and less seeds. Vietnamese believe that buying the mangosteen is like winning the lottery as it is challenging to choose a good mangosteen. But there are some suggestions: dark purple mangosteen with fresh, green stem is always a good choice. Also, you can see the number of “flower petals”  at the bottom of the fruit, which equals the number of sections in each mangosteen. In other words, you can find out how many sections there are only by looking at its bottom. 

 

Nutritional Facts

According to research, 100g of mangosteen contains many nutritional components which are very useful for the human body (73 kcal of energy, up to 17.91g of carbohydrates, about 1.8g of fiber, 0.58g of fat, 0.41g of protein and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B9, ... vitamin C). Minerals include calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, … 

When and Where ?

The mangosteen season often lasts from May to September.
Mangosteen is grown predominantly in the South of Vietnam (Lai Thieu mangosteens from a little town in Binh Duong Province north of Ho Chi Minh City are the best). However, people export mangosteen to almost every other region in the country so you can easily find it in the market. 

Local price

Approximately VND 80,000 per kilogram

 

2. Rambutan (Chôm chôm)

Originated from Malaysia, rambutan looks like a sea creature with the soft messy hair from 2 to 3 cm long over the entire surface. The best rambutan in Vietnam is called Chom chom nhan (Chôm chôm nhãn) – it is smaller (the size of a golf ball) and has less thorns than the normal one. The rambutan is a relative of the lychee but its flesh is more like jelly. You might come across some sour taste, but generally, rambutan is sweet and juicy and extremely enjoyable to eat.

 

Rambutan - the satisfying fruit that you need to try in Vietnam
Rambutan - the satisfying fruit that you need to try in Vietnam


What’s more, rambutan is such a convenient fruit! Unlike almost other fruits in Vietnam, you can peel off the skin with your hand and slip the flesh into your mouth without getting your fingers sticky. 

 

Nutritional Facts

This fruit provides a large amount of natural nutrients including calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, potassium, magnesium, manganese, vitamins B3, A, C as well as vitamin B9. It is these minerals and vitamins that work to support strong bones, enhance weight loss as well as provide compounds with anti-parasitic properties. In addition, the juice of rambutan also has a special effect: helping to nourish and replenish the scalp while the seeds of this fruit contain natural anti-diabetic properties. 

When and Where ?

In Vietnam, rambutan is grown most in Vinh Long Province, during the rainy season.
You can buy them during the summer, from May to September, which is the time the rambutan gets ripe and offers the best experience. 

Local price

Around VND 15,000 - 30,000 per kilogram.

 

3. Pomelo (Bưởi)

Pomelo is a member of the citrus family and it is a famous speciality among the fruits in Vietnam. Pomelo is sort of a giant grapefruit but it has a softer, thicker cover. There are some tasty varieties of pomelo in Vietnam and they are often named after the region they are grown in. The color of the cover, the color of the flesh as well as the taste of the pomelo is different and it depends on the kind of pomelo. 

 

Dien pomelo - the necessary goods during the Tet holiday | Source: tainangviet.vn
Dien pomelo - the necessary goods during the Tet holiday | Source: tainangviet.vn

 

Da Xanh pomelo - special gift from Vietnam Northern | Source: nongnghiepmoi.net
Da Xanh pomelo - special gift from Vietnam Northern | Source: nongnghiepmoi.net


On special occasions, you can also see Vietnamese people display pomelos on the family’s altar in order to show their respect and gratuity to their ancestors.

 

Polemos are displayed during special occasions | Source: banthoviet.com
Polemos are displayed during special occasions | Source: banthoviet.com

 

Nutritional Facts

Pomelo is a very rich source of vitamin C, which acts as a powerful antioxidant, helping to slow down aging and cell damage and benefiting health. It reduces the cholesterol in the body, which leads to a healthier heart. Moreover, it can also help the body absorb more iron, making the wound heal quicklier. 

When and Where ?

There are many different types of pomelos and they are harvested all year round so that you can enjoy pomelos anytime in the local market. 

Local price

The price of pomelos varies from VND 20,000 to VND 70,000 depending on their type.

 

4. Dragon fruit (Thanh long)

Dragon fruit scatters widely in the Mekong Delta. Dragon fruit has a pink cover with thick fuschia rind and wispy green extensions outside. Inside, the flesh of this Vietnam’s delicious fruit is white or red and it is very soft and juicy. The little black seeds look like sesame are actually edible and they surprisingly benefit your digestion. 

 

Dragon fruit
Dragon fruit

 

Nutritional Facts

Each dragon fruit contains about 60 calories and is rich in vitamins C, B1, B2, B3 and minerals such as iron, calcium and phosphorus. Dragon fruit can slow down aging and it helps in preventing consumers from diabete, cancer, and heart diseases. 

When and Where?

The best dragon fruits are in Binh Thuan province in the South of Vietnam.
The harvest season of dragon fruit is in October, November, April and May. 

Local price

Around VND 15,000 to 25,000 per kilogram of dragon fruit.

 

5. Star Apple (Vú sữa)

The star apple signifies the breast milk in Vietnamese culture because of the milky juice that comes out when squeezing the fruit. The pods of the fruit are round, with a purple or greenish-brown skin when ripe and a star-shaped pattern in the flesh. There are several varieties that produce greenish-white fruit. The ripe star apple is sweet and juicy and refreshing. In fact, star apple can be considered one of the sharpest fruits in Vietnam.

 

The juicy star apple (or melastella) | Source: eva.vn
The juicy star apple (or melastella) | Source: eva.vn


There are two ways you can try star apples as a local. First choice is that you cut it in half and enjoy the flesh inside with a spoon, however, be careful because the seeds are large and inedible. The second option is to press and roll the fruit then puncture a hole at the bottom to suck out the milky juice, just like you suck the milk out of the milk bottle.

 

Nutritional Facts

The nutritional composition in a breast milk is very high including: Calcium 14.65mg, phosphorus 73.23mg, potassium 67.2mg, magnesium 3.3mg, iron 2.33mg, water 73.23mg, protein 2.33mg, substance 3.3mg fiber, 67.2mg energy, 14.65mg carbohydrates, 14.5mg vitamin C …,including many vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, especially carbohydrates, calcium, malic acid oil, ingredients Chemistry has the effect of preventing and treating darkened skin, antibacterial ...The nutrient of star apple can restrict diabetes or some forms of cancer and it is also useful for weight loss. 

When and Where ?

When it’s in the season of star apples in the late autumn and early winter months, you can easily buy it in the street market. 

Local price

Around VND 30,000 - 40,000 per kilogram.

 

6. Durian (Sầu riêng)

If mangosteen is called ‘The queen of the fruits’, durian is the king of the fruits. It has an unique look and taste that distinguishes it from any other fruits in the world. Among the fruits in Vietnam, Durian has the strongest aroma, which is so fungent that the fruit is banned from public transport and hotels in many countries around the world. Durian has a texture like custard with the flesh melts on the tongue, leaving a strong flavour and fragrance in our mouths.

 

Durian - King of the fruit
Durian - King of the fruit 

 

Nutritional Facts

Due to the high amino acid tryptophan, durian works to help reduce depression, insomnia, create a sense of relaxation for people by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, repelling anxiety and boredom. Durian fruit works to help strengthen and restore health for the sick, beneficial for muscles, maintain bone strength, help maintain and regulate the activity of the thyroid gland, protect the health for teeth and gums. In the summer, the more outdoor activities you do, the more active muscles are, then durian will be the fruit to help you get back your energy. 

When and Where ?

The best durians are said to be grown in Cai Mon, Ben Tre and Ri 6 in Vinh Long. 
The season of durians usually lasts from October to February. 

Local price

The best type of durian is between VND 70,000 and 90,000. However, there are also different types of durian that are cheaper, only from VND 55,000 to 65,000.

 

7. Jackfruit (Mít)

A fruit that is very similar to durian about size and color is jackfruit. Jackfruit usually weighs around 10 kilogram and has the ellipse shape with the size of  30–60 cm x 20–30 cm, making it one of the biggest fruits in Vietnam The skin has many ridged bumps, and the flesh has a gummy texture. Jackfruit has a sweet taste with a comfortable fragrance, which is not so pungent like durian, that makes nearly everyone love it from the first bite.


Jackfruit has a look that almost the same with durian
Jackfruit has a look that almost the same with durian

 

Nutritional Facts

Jackfruit is rich in important nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, magnesium and many other nutrients. Therefore, they are very beneficial for human health. Jackfruit helps improve the immune system, the skin and the eyes and protects against cancer and blood-shortage disease. 

When and Where ?

The season of jackfruit is usually from May or June and it lasts for 2-3 months.
During this time, you can get the jackfruit in the street market with various types. 

Local price

Around VND 20,000 - 40,000 per kilogram.