It comes as a surprise that Thailand used to be Vietnam’s top supplier of fruits and vegetables, especially when it comes to exotic fruits. However, imports from the “Land of Golden Temples” have significantly dropped, even as Vietnam’s overall imports of fruits and vegetables continue to rise.
Ms. Kim Anh, a fruit vendor in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, started offering Thai fruits for sale in early May but found the prices to be quite steep.
Thai mangosteens, sold in packs of 5 (2.5 kg), cost up to VND 300,000, while Thai rambutans, sold in original baskets of 9 kg, are priced at VND 750,000 (approximately VND 83,000/kg).
The manager of a high-end supermarket in District 1 shared that Thai fruits have been slow to arrive this year, and the supply has been inconsistent. Their policy of guaranteeing the quality of each mangosteen has resulted in high prices for this fruit, reaching nearly VND 150,000/kg, which has led to lower sales volumes.

Thai Mangosteens – First Harvest of 2025
Explaining this “setback,” the supermarket manager attributed it to the fact that most Thai fruits have the same harvest season as Vietnamese fruits. Therefore, when domestic supplies are abundant, the supermarket prioritizes Vietnamese fruits for their freshness and richer flavors.
For instance, mangosteens from Lam Dong province are currently in season and are highly regarded for their quality.
Additionally, the Vietnamese market is experiencing an oversupply of durians, resulting in fewer orders for Thai durians. Imports of Thai durians are now mainly based on specific orders rather than the previous bulk imports.
Mr. Nguyen Binh Phuong, Deputy Director of Thu Duc Agricultural Products Wholesale Market, noted that Thai fruits have been trickling in since the beginning of April, whereas, by this time last year, there was already a substantial amount of Thai fruits in the market.
A staggering decline was observed in the import volumes of seven key Thai fruits (mangosteen, rambutan, pomelo, rose apple, tamarind, salak, and pineapple) entering the Thu Duc market during the first four months of 2025, ranging from 77% to 98% compared to the same period last year.

Thai Pineapples
Notably, the import volumes of mangosteen and rambutan witnessed the sharpest drops, with only 1 ton imported for each type compared to 58 and 57 tons, respectively, in the previous year. Mangosteen imports, the highest among the Thai fruits, reached only 22 tons compared to 208 tons during the same period in 2024. In 2020, this figure stood at 700 tons.
This significant drop in supply has led to a surge in prices for Thai fruits. The wholesale price of mangosteen has climbed to VND 130,000/kg, an increase of 189% from VND 45,000/kg last year. On the other hand, rambutan prices have slightly decreased from VND 96,000/kg to VND 93,000/kg, despite the low import volume.
According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, fruit and vegetable imports in the first quarter of 2025 reached USD 605 million, a 23% increase. However, Thailand ranked 10th among suppliers, contributing only USD 8.25 million, a 16% decrease compared to the previous year. The market share of Thai fruits and vegetables in Vietnam has also declined from 2% in 2024 to 1.36%.