In Ha Noi, many stores reported a sharp increase in demand for Buddha's hand fruit after the 15th of the 12th lunar month. By the 25th of the 12th lunar month (12/2), many sellers had stopped accepting new orders, having run out of the most beautiful pieces. This trend was similar in Ho Chi Minh City, where a store owner in Hanh Thong ward imported about 500 fruits for Tet. Of these, 200 fruits weighing over 2 kg were pre-ordered by customers online and scheduled for delivery on the 27th and 28th days of Tet.

Ms. Hanh, who owns a fruit store in Ha Dong, stated that she sold thousands of fruits in just over ten days in early February. These were primarily larger varieties, weighing over 2 kg, and priced from 500,000 VND to one million dong. She noted that the 2-4 kg fruits sold the fastest despite their high cost. "The beautiful stock sold out quickly, so I stopped taking orders from the 25th of the 12th lunar month," she explained.

Buddha's hand fruits weighing over 2 kg at a store in Ha Noi. *Photo: provided by source*

According to traders, the price increase and "sold out" situation primarily affected the premium, type 1 fruits, weighing 2-4 kg. This year, unpredictable weather conditions resulted in a lower percentage of aesthetically perfect fruits compared to previous years. Many fruits were misshapen, had unevenly spread "fingers," or poor skin quality, causing them to be classified as average and sold at lower prices.

Meanwhile, demand for the type 1 fruits, which are traditionally used for five-fruit trays or as gifts, remained almost unchanged. This imbalance between supply and demand led to a scarcity of beautiful fruits, driving prices up significantly and causing them to sell out quickly.

Buddha's hand fruit is mainly cultivated in Dac So commune, Hoai Duc, Ha Noi, and certain areas along the Red River, which are major suppliers to the northern market. This year, unseasonal rain and prolonged cold weather negatively impacted the flowering and fruiting process, resulting in a reduced yield compared to favorable years. Additionally, this crop requires manual care and specialized techniques to achieve the desired beautiful shapes. Increased labor and material costs have further driven up production expenses. During the peak Tet season, transportation and storage costs also escalated due to overall market logistics demand.

In the lower price segment, the supply of smaller Buddha's hand fruits was also limited, but demand did not see a sudden surge. These fruits typically have clustered fingers and a less balanced shape, so their prices did not increase compared to the same period last year. Beyond fresh fruits, Buddha's hand bonsai pots also recorded early sales. According to some gardeners in Ha Noi, pots with 3-5 year old roots, attractive shapes, and large fruits were often ordered by customers from the 10th-11th lunar months. By mid-11th lunar month, many places had stopped taking orders as they couldn't keep up with the care and shaping required. Mini bonsai, grafted with 1-3 fruits and priced at 1-3 million VND per pot, also sold well due to their moderate cost.

The trend of rising prices near Tet was not limited to Buddha's hand fruit. Custard apples and mangoes are currently widely available for 120,000-200,000 VND per kg. Canh oranges have reached 70,000 VND, nearly double their previous price. Figs were offered by some traders at 300,000 VND per kg. The Tet flower market also saw price increases: chrysanthemums ranged from 40,000-60,000 VND for one bunch of 10 flowers, lilies were commonly 50,000-120,000 VND per stem, and snow apricot was priced at 150,000-220,000 VND per bunch.

Thi Ha