Ms. Hoa, a resident of Gia Dinh ward, stated that her family often hosts parties at home featuring lobster. Recently, she switched from spiny lobster to Canadian lobster.

"This lobster is affordable, making it easier to buy. I purchased live lobster, freshly imported, and the meat is quite sweet and firm," she said.

A survey of several seafood stores in TP HCM reveals that Canadian lobster, weighing 500-600 grams per individual, costs approximately 950,000 dong to 1,1 million dong per kilogram. Larger lobsters, weighing one kilogram or more, are priced around 1,3-1,4 million dong. Current prices are about 5-10% lower than the same period last year, depending on the type.

In contrast, Australian lobster costs about 3,5 million dong per kilogram, Vietnamese spiny lobster is nearly 3 million dong, and domestic green lobster is approximately 1,5 million dong.

Mr. Hong, owner of an imported seafood store on Pham Van Hai street, Tan Son Hoa ward, imports several hundred kilograms monthly. He noted, "Canadian lobster supply is about 30% higher than other lobster varieties, yet it sells fastest due to its affordable price."

The lower price is making Canadian lobster popular and more widely available. He mentioned that previously, only a few distributors imported this type, but now more businesses are involved in its import and distribution.

Consequently, Canadian lobster is now sold through seafood stores, supermarkets, and online channels. Many restaurants are also combining Canadian lobster with crab, shrimp, clams, or other seafood into combo meals, offering customers more choices. This sales approach allows groups or families to enjoy lobster without spending a lot on a single dish.

Tran Van Truong, CEO of Hai san Hoang Gia chain, a legitimate importer of Canadian lobster, attributed the increased purchasing power to its price. In the first seven months of the year, the company's imports of Canadian lobster saw two-digit growth compared to the same period last year.

According to Truong, this lobster is in season from July to September, with more abundant supply than Australian varieties. They are robust and resilient, leading to low spoilage rates during transport and storage. While the quality may not match Vietnamese lobster, Canadian lobster has advantages in supply and price, currently being among the most affordable lobster types.

The low price is partly due to import taxes. Canadian lobster meeting CPTPP conditions enjoys a 0% tax when entering Vietnam. In China, Canadian lobster previously faced a total tax of 32% after an additional 25% was imposed in 2025. While the additional tax was lifted from 1/3, Canadian lobster still incurs a regular 7% tax, higher than Vietnam's 0%.

Canadian lobster sold at a seafood store on Ly Tu Trong street, Ben Thanh ward (TP HCM). *Photo: Tran Van Truong*

Canada is the world's largest lobster exporter. Data from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada shows that the country exported 79,380 tons of lobster, valued at 3,01 billion USD, in 2025, marking the highest among its exported seafood categories.

In Vietnam, Canadian lobster imports are also rapidly increasing. According to General Department of Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam imported approximately 34 million USD worth of seafood from Canada in the first seven months of the year, a 41,7% increase compared to the same period last year. Lobster alone accounted for about 60-65% of the total turnover, equivalent to approximately 22 million USD during those seven months. Thus, Canadian lobster represents the majority of Canada's seafood value entering Vietnam.

Besides live lobster, frozen Canadian lobster is also more widely available, priced at about 600,000-900,000 dong per kilogram, depending on the type. Frozen products have a longer shelf life and can be transported by sea, which helps reduce costs compared to live lobsters requiring rapid transport.

Thi Ha