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Top 25 Delicious Vietnamese Fruits You Must Try

Top 25 Delicious Vietnamese Fruits You Must Try

One of the great delights when visiting any tropical country like Vietnam is that you get to try and taste different exotic fruits. As usual, travelers will stay with the common fruits, but it would be adventurous to explore some of the more unusual Vietnamese fruits. When you visit Vietnam, here are the Vietnamese fruits you should try.

In this post, VINUT will introduce you to some popular and delicious Vietnamese fruits when you decide to visit Viet Nam in the future.

1. Rambutan

VINUT_Rambutan
VINUT_Rambutan

Often grown together in a bundle, the exterior colors of the rambutans vary from red, yellow, or yellow-orange. As a native fruit to tropical countries, the outer spines of the rambutans are often referred to as “messy hair.” Its flesh may stick a bit in the seed, some not. It is white, thick has a good fragrance, and a little sour. In addition, a ripened rambutan season often lasts from June to August to harvest. This is one of the Vietnamese fruits you should try when in Vietnam.

2. Sweetsop/Custard Apple

VINUT_Sweetsop/Custard Apple
VINUT_Sweetsop/Custard Apple

Originating from the Americas, the custard apple is grown in many tropical countries. The bumpy green skin covers the white flesh and hard black pips. The taste is sweet and floral, promising a unique and satisfying mouthfeel. As a delicious fruit with a market price of around VND 60,000/kg, it is a good source of vitamins C and B.

3. Soursop

VINUT_ Soursop
VINUT_ Soursop

Soursop is not only known as a tropical fruit with a sweet and sour taste, but it is also a sort of nutrient involving a variety of valuable medicines. Therefore, it boosts the immune system and helps to prevent cancer.

4. Mangosteen

VINUT_Mangosteen
VINUT_Mangosteen

The mangosteen is regarded as one of the most delicious fruits in the world. As a “super fruit,” it comes with a vast array of health benefits due to the richness of nutrients and antioxidants. The soft and sweet center has a sweet and acidic flavor that is balanced and beautifully wrapped in the outer purple skin. We recommend trying this fruit on your trip to Vietnam.

5. Longan

VINUT_Longans: The “Dragon Eye” Fruit
VINUT_Longans: The “Dragon Eye” Fruit

Despite the shiny, soft round brown peel, longan has a fresh and fleshy pulp inside. The pulp is succulent, pure sweet, and has a special aroma. Every year, the farmers pick all ripened longans in July and August. This is one of the sweet tropical fruits to try.

6. Lychee

VINUT_Lychees: A Sweet and Fragrant Delight
VINUT_Lychees: A Sweet and Fragrant Delight

The lychee is one of the popular fruits in Vietnam, particularly at the beginning of summer. Its skin is dark red and easy to peel by hand. The juicy white center has a lot of vitamin C and natural sweetness; it can be served raw or making a cool beverage by adding sugar syrup with other fruits like mango or dragon fruit.

7. Persimmon

VINUT_Persimmon
VINUT_Persimmon

The culinary uses of persimmons are abundant; they can be eaten fresh, dried, raw, or cooked. This fruit’s flesh ranges from firm to soft, but the texture is unique. With a golden yellow color and smooth outer skin, the persimmon is packed with health promoting benefits. Try to spot one of these on your trip to Vietnam in the local markets.

8. Jackfruit

VINUT_Jackfruit: The Largest Tree-Borne Fruit
VINUT_Jackfruit: The Largest Tree-Borne Fruit

Jackfruit is one of the most popular fruits in Vietnam. In spite of the spiky crust and the large shape, the sweet taste and the amazing smell often attract people who have a sweet tooth. Inside, there are lots of fleshy yellow knots covering all the seeds of the fruit when peeled. However, its latex is sticky, so remember to use a towel or glove to separate the outer of the fruit and take the knots out. Moreover, jackfruits also provide many kinds of nutrition for health and preventing diseases. If you want to enjoy tropical fruits in Vietnam, you wouldn’t want to skip this fruit.

9. Coconut

VINUT_Coconut
VINUT_Coconut

The coconut is one of the tropical fruits that have much water than its flesh inside. Cutting its hard green outer, you will have a pouring delicious fresh drink before getting to enjoy the softly sweet, tasteful meat. It is one of the best fruits in Vietnam to enjoy during hot summer. Besides, they are sold in almost Vietnamese locals markets and only cost you about VND 10,000 – 15,000/fruit. All of the parts of the fruit have a variety of uses in cooking such as stewing meat with the juice instead of water, braised pork (thit kho trung) making a smoothie, and sweetening the soup. Ben Tre is a “coconut paradise” with the traditional special treat, coconut candy. That is an exciting reason why you should explore this land when visiting Mekong delta.

10. Nipa Palm/Mangrove Palm

VINUT_Nipa Palm/Mangrove Palm
VINUT_Nipa Palm/Mangrove Palm

Nipa palm often wildly grows copiously along the banks of many rivers in Cuu Long areas. The flesh inside is white with a greasy and syrupy taste. Every bunch of nipa palms in the shape of a spiky ball you see is a combination of small nipa palms the size of an egg. After taking the nipa palm from its bunch, we use a knife to separate it into two and take a spoon to enjoy the flesh inside. You can also make a refreshing drink by adding sugar syrup to iced water and putting a peeled nipa palm in that mix. Other parts of the tree are also used in many ways such as its leaves which are used to build the roofs of houses in the countryside or to make a leaf-woven basket.

11. Durian

VINUT_Durian
VINUT_Durian

Known as the “stinky fruit,” the durian has a remarkable characteristic of tasting like heaven but smelling like hell. As a popular fruit in Vietnam, it is sweet, and the aroma is distinctive and often repulsive. The hard and spiny outer skin makes the durian instantly recognizable. For about VND 70,000/kg, the durian is one of the Vietnamese fruits you should try when in Vietnam.

12. Dragon Fruit

VINUT_Dragon Fruit
VINUT_Dragon Fruit

The dragon fruit is a species of cactus and is grown primarily in the Southern region of Vietnam, particularly in Phan Thiet. To hasten and enhance the growing process, producers use halogen lights to expose the plants for 24 hours. As a sweet, tasty, and refreshing fruit, this is widely popular and available in Vietnam for a price of VND 30,000/kg. This is one of the Vietnamese fruits you should try when in Vietnam.

13. Avocado

VINUT_Avocado
VINUT_Avocado

One of the most versatile fruits available, this fruit is best suited to Vietnam’s tropical climate. It is grown mostly in the Central and Southern provinces like Dalat. At around VND 40,000/kg, the eating choices are endless. Avocado is a good source of antioxidants, potassium, and unsaturated fats.

14. Sapodilla

VINUT_Sapodilla
VINUT_Sapodilla

This truly delicious fruit is rarely seen in Western countries. It is shaped like an egg with a thin outer brown skin. Grown primarily in the North of Vietnam, this distinctive fruit tastes like a blend of apple, peach, and banana. Available all year round, you can find Sapodilla at the local markets for VND 30,000 – 40,000/kg.

15. Guava

VINUT_Guava
VINUT_Guava

Guava is famous in many parts of the world for its refreshing juice. But in Vietnam, you can enjoy guava raw by simply cutting them into small long pieces and serving them with salt and pepper. Many people in Vietnam eat the skin and the seed of guava as well. The white peach center has a slight fragrance and sour-sweetness that goes well with the salty taste. It is one of the most popular fruits in Vietnam that can be enjoyed as a healthy snack.

16. Papaya

VINUT_Papaya
VINUT_Papaya

The papaya’s fresh is light yellow color when ripened. There are a lot of black or brown seeds in the center of the fruit. Scoop out all the seeds, and you should be able to enjoy them fresh as desserts. A papaya is so popular and has essential nutrients for kids and adults diets because of its the soft pulp. Furthermore, in Vietnam, a green papaya can be used as a vegetable to make stew soup, pickle, and the delicious goi du du.

17. Java Apple

VINUT_Java Apple
VINUT_Java Apple

Java apple is another refreshing choice for the summer. You may find two common types of java apples in Vietnam’s markets: red/pink skin and green skin (the latter usually have a smaller size but taste sweeter). The java apple can be made into jam or added to drinks, but like other fruits in Vietnam, it is mostly eaten raw with salt and pepper.

18. Tamarind

VINUT_Tamarind
VINUT_Tamarind

This sour and sweet fruit is commonly used as a spice in Vietnamese cooking to make a sour tasting soup and a special dipping sauce for grilled dishes and fresh fruits. Its soft flesh can also be used to make Worcestershire sauce, jam, drink or sprinkled with sugar to make candy.

19. Banana

VINUT_Banana
VINUT_Banana

Banana is one of the popular fruits in Vietnam in a daily diet, like many parts around the world. However, a diversity of banana just can be found in tropical countries like Vietnam. They are all different in size, color, and taste but all are delicious and healthy. With its distinctive scent, soft pulp and high in nutrient, banana is an excellent choice of fruits for people in any age groups.

20. Pomelo

VINUT_Pomelo
VINUT_Pomelo

This sweet and juicy fruit is good on its own or in fruits salad. As a good source of Vitamin C, like all citrus fruits, it is thought to reduce blood pressure if eaten regularly. With a market price of VND 70,000/kg, try this Vietnamese fruit chilled or at room temperature.

21. Star Fruit

VINUT_Star Fruit
VINUT_Star Fruit

There are five segments to the fruit, so when cutting it, you may find it a bit like a five-pointed star. Its skin is thin, soft, shiny and turns into dark yellow when ripens. The inside will turn from white and green to yellow when ripens and taste a little sour. They are mostly used with cucumber as an ingredient in a fresh roll like the spring roll. When in Vietnam, don’t forget to try these Vietnamese foods.

22. Star Apple/Caimito/Milk fruit

VINUT_Star Apple
VINUT_Star Apple

Star apple or milk fruit got its name for its juicy, sweet, soft, and white center like milk. It is grown in many places in the Mekong Delta such as Tien Giang, Ben Tre, and Vinh Long. You can enjoy it raw by cutting it in half and scooping out the flesh with a spoon as a dessert. The market will be flooded with star apples from October to December. This is one of the popular fruits in Vietnam that you must try.

23. Mango

VINUT_Mango
VINUT_Mango

Vietnam’s tropical climate is best to grow mangoes. With a large variety of mangoes available, they are abundant during February to May in the South and May to September in the North. Prices range between VND 20,000 – 55,000/kg during the peak periods and out of season.

24. Watermelon

VINUT_Incorporating Fruits in Lunar New Year Celebrations
VINUT_Incorporating Fruits in Lunar New Year Celebrations

Known as a juicy fruit in tropical areas, commonly, it has a thick green outer and fleshy red pulp inside. In Vietnam, there are seedless watermelons and yellow watermelons (the inside is yellow) as well. It can be made into a fresh yummy smoothie for your thirsty in summer or simple desserts in daily meals of the Vietnamese. You can also find a pair of watermelon on the altar in a Vietnamese family during Tet holiday.

25. Orange

VINUT_Oranges
VINUT_Oranges

Have you seen an orange that is not orange? The skin color of orange in Vietnam when it is ripe stays green or light green. There are also two types of them: “cam xoan” and “cam sanh.” “cam xoan” is usually sectioned and cannot be juiced. The best time to enjoy them is at the beginning of summer. Its inside has a light yellow color like champagne and tastes a little sweet. On the other hand, “cam sanh” has more juice, a darker color, and a more sour taste. The juice is high in vitamin C and is used as a cold remedy drink. You can easily find them at any local markets in Vietnam at the end and the beginning of the year.

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