Surprise: Supermarket Vegetables Cost Nearly Half as Much as Traditional Markets

On November 20th, while vegetable prices in Ho Chi Minh City remained significantly higher than meat and fish, many were surprised to find that prices at supermarkets remained unchanged.

A survey by Báo Người Lao Động reporters at Bách Hóa Xanh on Lê Văn Duyệt Street (Gia Định Ward) revealed an abundance of affordable vegetables. Various greens like spoon cabbage, green cabbage, sweet cabbage, dipping cabbage, and water spinach were available with a buy-one-get-one offer.

For instance, a 300-gram pack of water spinach seeds priced at nearly 17,000 VND, after the promotion, equates to approximately 28,000 VND/kg, while traditional markets charge around 50,000 VND/kg.

Some less fresh vegetables like eggplant and cucumber were discounted by 50%, similar to regular days.

However, some items like green onions, currently in short supply, ran out by noon due to limited stock.

Saigon Co.op’s retail system is also offering promotions on high-demand items. From November 20th to 26th, Saigon Co.op is hosting a Vegetable Festival featuring 100% VietGAP – GlobalGAP certified products, “Green Tick Responsibility,” and transparent traceability.

Many leafy greens and tubers are discounted by 10-20% compared to the market, including cabbage, hydroponic lettuce, bell peppers, broccoli, beef tomatoes, and carrots.

Saigon Co.op has collaborated with local suppliers to adjust flexible transportation plans to maintain a steady supply of temperate vegetables from Da Lat and tropical greens like water spinach and sweet cabbage, ensuring stable quality and prices to support consumers.

Beyond distribution, Saigon Co.op will continue to support production capital and purchase products from local cooperatives and suppliers until the end of the year, aiming to stabilize the market, ensure a consistent supply, and meet customer needs at reasonable prices, reflecting current realities.

Similarly, MM Mega Market is striving to maintain inventory and run scheduled promotions.

Post-promotion prices are notably low, with Da Lat napa cabbage at 12,000 VND/kg, pumpkin at 15,000 VND/kg, watermelon at 12,000 VND/kg, and green cabbage at 12,000 VND for a 0.5 kg pack.

According to the Thu Duc Wholesale Market Management Company, on the night of November 19th and early morning of November 20th, 1,652 tons of vegetables arrived, 14 tons less than the previous day. Prices remain high, but some items have cooled, such as squash, bottle gourd, bitter melon, cilantro, and cowpeas, with slower sales and price drops of 3,000 – 10,000 VND/kg.

Significant price drops include squash, from 28,000 to 20,000 VND/kg, and cowpeas, from 45,000 to 37,000 VND/kg.

Meanwhile, pumpkins, tomatoes, and pomelos, with normal supply, saw increased demand and price hikes of 3,000 – 5,000 VND/kg. Tomatoes rose from 35,000 to 40,000 VND/kg, and pumpkins from 17,000 to 22,000 VND/kg.