Sweet potatoes are a common agricultural product in Vietnam, widely cultivated in the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta. In 2024, sweet potato exports reached nearly 900 billion VND. Currently, farm gate prices fluctuate between 14,000 and 16,000 VND per kilogram, while retail prices range from 25,000 to 50,000 VND, depending on the variety.
However, since July, the Chinese "durian sweet potato" has flooded into Vietnam, becoming a hot item in online marketplaces. It's touted for its golden flesh, smooth texture, and a sweetness and chewiness reminiscent of durian.
Hong Anh, a food store owner in District 12 (TP HCM), recounted her initial hesitation when first offered the product. The import price was three times higher than Vietnamese sweet potatoes. However, after trying it, she found the texture smooth, the flavor sweet, and the potato practically melting in her mouth, so she decided to give it a try.
"In two weeks, I've sold about 300 kilograms. Customers are drawn to its appealing, uniformly small size, as well as its unusual name," she said. She currently sells a 2.5 kg box for 240,000 VND, which equates to 96,000 VND per kilogram—double the price of the best domestic sweet potatoes and triple the price of regular ones.
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Durian sweet potatoes are widely available in online markets. Photo: Agricultural Wholesale Market |
Durian sweet potatoes are widely available in online markets. Photo: Agricultural Wholesale Market
In the north, To Khuyen, an importer in Lao Cai, reported having brought in thousands of boxes in just over a month. The initial price reached over 100,000 VND per kilogram due to limited supply, but it has now dropped to 85,000 VND thanks to a two-to-threefold increase in imports. "Since early July, these sweet potatoes have been constantly sold out. Wholesale customers place orders as soon as a shipment arrives," Khuyen said.
According to Khuyen, in addition to its sweet and chewy flavor, this variety has a thick, easy-to-peel skin, uniformly small tubers, and attractive, hygienic carton packaging, making it very appealing to customers.
Despite their online popularity, many sources admit that durian sweet potatoes are mainly imported through unofficial channels, distributed directly to online stores, and have not yet entered formal channels. Representatives of Thu Duc and Hoc Mon wholesale markets (TP HCM) stated that this product has not been seen in their markets, where the primary sweet potato offerings are Japanese sweet potatoes from Lam Dong and Le Can sweet potatoes from Gia Lai and Quang Ngai. "Consumers should be cautious about new products with unclear origins," a market leader advised.
According to the Guangdong Province (China) information portal, the "durian sweet potato" is actually the Xinxiang variety, also known as the mini sweet potato. Officially recognized in 2007, it's now widely grown in southern provinces like Zhejiang and Guangdong. This variety is characterized by its compact size, thin skin, soft golden flesh, and sweet, chewy texture. Local purchase prices range from 13 to 16 CNY (55,000-59,000 VND) per kilogram. In supermarkets or online, especially for attractively packaged boxes of 2-5 kg, the price can reach 20 CNY (74,000 VND).
Thi Ha
