On September 16, at a retail market on An Duong Vuong Street (Binh Tan District), Ms. Huong, the owner of a vegetable and fruit stall, said that most green vegetables such as lettuce, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes have increased in price by VND 5,000-10,000/kg depending on the type.
Lettuce, chili peppers, and squash have all increased in price by VND 5,000-10,000/kg in recent days at local markets in Ho Chi Minh City. |
For example, lettuce from Da Lat now costs VND 55,000/kg (an increase of VND 10,000); cucumbers are VND 30,000/kg (up by VND 5,000), and chili peppers are VND 60,000/kg (also up by VND 10,000)…
“Since vegetables and tubers are perishable items that are purchased daily and cannot be stored, we have no choice but to raise our prices as well,” Ms. Huong explained. “To show my appreciation for their continued patronage, I’ve been giving away extra scallions and chili peppers with purchases. Fortunately, we haven’t experienced any disruptions in our supply of these products.”
At Phu Lam Market (District 6), Ms. Thuy, a dry food trader, reported that prices for noodles, vermicelli, rice sticks, and pho remain unchanged. “I’ve been stocking up on these dry goods beforehand,” she said. “Even though we’re entering the rainy season, city consumers aren’t buying more dry food reserves, so there’s plenty of supply, and prices are stable.”
Meat prices, including pork, beef, chicken, and duck, remain stable, but demand is rather weak.
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Meanwhile, the supply of fresh seafood has been disrupted for certain items. Larger fish like red tilapia and snakehead fish weighing 1.5 kg or more are currently unavailable. Smaller fish like mackerel and basa are priced between VND 55,000 and VND 80,000/kg.
“The supply of fish in the market has decreased due to the loss of many fish cages and ponds in the North due to the recent floods,” said Mr. Hai, a seafood trader at Pham Van Hai Market in Tan Binh District. “The fish I’m selling now mostly comes from the Mekong Delta region.”
Prices of other fresh produce, such as pork, beef, chicken, and duck, have remained stable compared to regular days. According to traders, the supply of fresh produce is relatively stable, preventing any sudden price hikes.
Supermarkets are also doing their part to maintain price stability. A representative from Saigon Co.op assured that they would keep the prices of essential items in their system steady. In Northern markets, Saigon Co.op is collaborating with suppliers to share costs and offer the lowest prices for fruits, vegetables, purified water, and dry goods.
Noodle, vermicelli, and dry food prices have remained stable. |
According to the Thu Duc Agricultural Wholesale Market Management, the continuous rainy weather has reduced the yield of most vegetables and tubers, but it hasn’t significantly impacted prices or supply. However, some items like lettuce, chili peppers, and squash are experiencing rapid price increases.
To prevent price gouging in the aftermath of the storms, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has instructed local authorities to closely monitor prices. In Ho Chi Minh City, businesses participating in the price stabilization program and the satellite supermarket system in the directly affected provinces and cities have proactively increased their reserves by 2-3 times and are ready to supplement supplies to maintain a balanced market.
By Uyen Phuong
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