On December 24th, along Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in Ho Chi Minh City, a unique street-side stall caught the attention of passersby. A small Styrofoam box displayed fresh green Siamese chili peppers, neatly packed into small bags and priced at 10,000 VND each.
For the first time, chili peppers are sold solo on the sidewalk. Each 50-gram bag is priced at 10,000 VND.
“On my way home from work, I spotted this stall selling fresh chilies with a clear price tag of 10,000 VND, so I bought two bags. Usually, chilies come as a freebie with vegetables, but now they’re sold separately like an essential item. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone selling only chilies on the sidewalk,” shared Ms. Thanh Uyen (40, from An Lac Ward).
The vendor used a digital scale to ensure each bag weighed approximately 50 grams, making the price per kilogram a staggering 200,000 VND. According to the seller, these chilies are homegrown without pesticides, hence the premium price.
At 200,000 VND per kilogram, these sidewalk chilies are pricey but still attract many buyers.
Despite the high price, many passersby stopped to purchase. The stall sells approximately 3 kilograms of chilies daily.
In contrast, traditional markets offer chilies at 130,000–160,000 VND/kg. Mrs. Thu, a vegetable vendor at An Duong Vuong Market, noted that two months ago, chilies were priced at 40,000–50,000 VND/kg. Now, wholesalers charge her 150,000 VND/kg, which she resells at 160,000 VND/kg to retailers and 180,000 VND/kg to individual buyers.
At wholesale markets like Thu Duc and Binh Dien, chili prices have dropped slightly since November but remain high. Lower-grade chilies are priced at 85,000–100,000 VND/kg, while premium varieties start at 130,000 VND/kg.
Following recent storms, chilies have seen the highest price increase. While prices have eased slightly, they remain above 100,000 VND/kg at retail markets. At Thu Duc Wholesale Market, red chilies are priced at 85,000 VND/kg.
The price surge is attributed to reduced supply and increased year-end demand. Prolonged rains have caused diseases like anthracnose, lowering the yield of premium chilies. Meanwhile, demand for fresh and processed chilies has risen, driving up procurement prices.
“Chili prices are at an all-time high, with premium varieties reaching 140,000 VND/kg across regions. Adverse weather, including storms and diseases, has reduced both yield and quality, pushing prices upward. Seed prices remain stable, with ample supply to meet farmer demand,” said a representative from a Ho Chi Minh City-based agricultural seed supplier.
Once a complimentary item with vegetables, chilies are now sold separately at the highest price among produce.
Storms in Central and Northern Vietnam have severely impacted agricultural production, reducing the supply of chilies. Additionally, chili harvests in Southern provinces are nearing their end.
Currently, chili prices in Central and Northern regions range from 90,000–100,000 VND/kg, while in the Mekong Delta, they are around 90,000 VND/kg. Supply in Dong Thap Province remains limited.
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