Cabbage lychees are a specialty of Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Their flesh is layered like a cabbage, with a sweet, dry, and crisp taste. In 2022, this variety was highly sought after, fetching high prices of 120,000-150,000 VND per kilogram, with premium grade-one lychees even reaching 250,000 VND. From 2023, prices began to cool down to around 90,000-120,000 VND. This year, at Ho Chi Minh City's wholesale market, these lychees are selling for just 35,000-45,000 VND per kilogram, the lowest in the past 5 years.

At the retail level, many fruit shops and supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City are selling them for 60,000 VND, similar to xuong com vang lychees, and only about 10,000 VND more expensive than Bac lychees.

In Ba Ria - Vung Tau, a major distributor for Ho Chi Minh City's wholesale markets is selling these lychees for 105,000 VND for 3 kilograms, a 50-70% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. "Traders are buying a lot, but the price is too low, making it difficult for farmers to profit," shared Hanh, the owner of a lychee farm in Xuyen Moc commune.

Cabbage lychees are sold widely in Ho Chi Minh City markets. Photo: Thi Ha

Cabbage lychees are sold widely in Ho Chi Minh City markets. Photo: Thi Ha

According to growers, the main reason for the sharp price decline is a surge in production. Nguyen Van Thanh, the owner of a 1.5-hectare lychee farm in Hoa Hiep commune, reported a yield of 15 tons, 1.5 times higher than in 2024. "The yield is high, but the price is too low. After deducting fertilizer and labor costs, I'm losing tens of millions of dong," he said.

Not only cabbage lychees but also xuong com vang lychees, a famous specialty of Binh Chau, are facing a surplus. The entire region cultivates approximately 500 hectares of xuong com vang lychees, with an estimated output of over 5,000 tons, and is now entering its main harvest season. Phuoc Hai alone has over 100 hectares of cabbage lychees being harvested, adding to the pressure.

To address the oversupply, some localities have implemented production linkages and granted area codes for official exports to China, Japan, and the US. Phuoc Hai commune is also developing a community tourism model combined with lychee orchards, allowing visitors to tour and pick fruit on-site. About 12 hectares of lychees are currently using this method, providing a more stable income source.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment recommends that farmers apply techniques to stagger flowering and invest in post-harvest preservation to avoid a "bumper crop, low price" situation. The department also suggests diversifying sales channels, building brands, and increasing collaboration with businesses to bring this specialty to the international market.

Cabbage lychees, also known as Thanh lychees, originated in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Their distinguishing feature is the crisp, dry flesh that easily separates into layers like a miniature cabbage, along with a thick, sweet rind with attractive veins. Thanks to this uniqueness, from 2020-2022, this fruit was considered a "rare item" for feasts, with many customers having to order a week in advance.

However, after just a few years, cabbage lychees have gone from being an "expensive" specialty to a common fruit. According to agricultural experts, without fundamental solutions in production and consumption, this once sought-after fruit risks losing its value.

Thi Ha