VietNamNet Bridge – The Mekong Delta is considered the largest fruit basket of Vietnam but it is being “attacked” by Chinese fruit.

Mrs. Anh, who sells fruit at Ho Phong market in Gia Rai district, Bac Lieu province, said that about 30 percent of the fruit in her kiosk came from China. She explains that she sold Chinese fruit because some customers like fruit of beautiful forms and “dirt” prices.

In the biggest city in the Mekong Delta of Can Tho, fruit originating from China and Thailand is sold along the road.

Mr. Do Van Nam, who runs a sidewalk fruit stall on Cach Mang Thang Tam Road, said: "Every day, I sell over 100kg of fruits. Here, only durian is a domestic product. Chinese fruits include apples, pears, citrus, mangosteen, tamarind, mango while bon bon is from Thailand."

Nam said he sold foreign fruit because compared with domestic fruit of the same type; their prices are equal to or even lower than so many customers buy them.

Foreign fruit, especially Chinese fruit have also penetrated rural markets in the Mekong Delta. In Tra On market in Vinh Long province, Chinese fruit like grapes, persimmons, pomegranates, apples are available.

Ms. Do Hong Tham, a customer, said: "Previously I did not dare to buy foreign fruit because it was expensive. But recently, the market sells cheap imported grape so I buy it."

At large markets in Long Xuyen City, An Giang Province, like My Binh and My Long, foreign fruit is sold rampantly.

While being fiercely competed by foreign fruit, some kinds of domestic fruit are being hit hard when their prices are falling sharply in the harvest season. Oranges, guava, panaya, etc. are piled up on the sidewalk in Can Tho city, being sold at very low prices, for example VND10,000 ($0.4) for 3kg, VND2,000-3,000 ($0.1) per a kilo of guava, VND4,000-8,000 ($0.2-0.4) per a kilo of oranges…

Mr. Nguyen Van Khoa, Chairman of Hoa Hung commune, Cai Be district of Tien Giang province said that even the price for Hoa Loc mango, which is very famous and popular in foreign markets, also fell. During the harvest time, Hoa Loc mango has to compete with mangos from Taiwan, Cambodia and Thailand. Because of the abundant supply, the price for this specialty falls, Khoa explained.

Ms. Tran Thi Thu Thuy, from the Market Management Bureau of An Giang Province, said that it is not easy to define whether China's fruit or vegetables are treated with chemicals because of the lack of standard substances for analysis. Therefore, the local authorities can only test some common substances. Moreover, if the tested sample yields safe results, the authorities can be sued and have to pay compensation for damage caused by goods in custody.

Mr. Phan Loi, Deputy Director of the Market Management Bureau of An Giang Province, said recently, the department seized a shipment of more than 1.2 tons of Chinese grapes and pomegranates without proof of origin. Normally, if Chinese fruits detected by the customs agency for containing pesticide residues in excess of standard, the product will be re-exported.

Compiled by Thu Ha