Top 10 Typical Fruits in Mekong Delta
When mentioning the Western region of Vietnam, it’s impossible not to mention the scenes of lush fruit orchards blooming all year round. Follow Deluxe Group Tours to explore the flavors that will make your journey explode with the typical fruits in the Mekong Delta.
Most Famous Fruits
Pineapple
When visiting the Western region of Vietnam, you shouldn’t miss out on pineapple, a regional fruit specialty. Especially during each pineapple season, you’ll get to admire vast golden pineapple fields with captivating fragrances. Ripe pineapple from Western has deep yellow flesh and a refreshing sweet taste, making it unique among other regions.
The Tan Phuoc pineapple is a must-try if you are in the western region of Vietnam, especially in Tien Giang province. This is one of the meticulously cultivated fruits by the locals in Tan Phuoc.
The selling price of pineapple is very reasonable, ranging from 8,000 VND/kg. Thus, you can enjoy it all at very affordable prices, and don’t hesitate to buy to support local farmers. In addition, you can also buy candies of pineapple and dried pineapple slices to appreciate on the spot or give to your friends.
Orange
The orange comes from the western region of Vietnam and is famous for its nutritious and seasonal product in many orchards. This orange has a rough green peel, and when it rips, there will be yellow-orange spots appearing on the peel and deep orange pulp with many seeds in it. Western orange has an excellent combination of sweetness and sourness, which is mostly used for juicing.
Generally, to find the freshest and finest oranges, you need to buy them in the districts of Vinh Long and Tien Giang provinces. To take the best oranges with you, choose the sized one for your hand with smooth and polished-looking skin that would neither be too soft nor too firm. The harvesting process of oranges normally occurs from August to December, and the selling prices range from 10,000 to 30,000 VND/kg.
Rambutan
If you visit the Western region from June to July, you will have the opportunity to witness firsthand the vivid red rambutan orchards stretching as far as the eye can see. It’s a scene you can only find in the orchards of western Vietnam.
In the Western region, there are four main types of lychees. The first one is called “chôm chôm tróc” (java rambutan) and has a bright red color, a sweet and sour taste, and long hair, and the flesh does not stick to the seed. Another is “chôm chôm nhãn” (longan rambutan), known as sugar rambutan, which has shorter and somewhat unsightly hair. However, it is the sweetest among the four types, with crispy flesh and easily peeled seeds. “Chôm chôm thái” (Thai rambutan) has relatively large fruits, thick flesh, easily peeled seeds, and small, flat seeds. When ripe, the outer hair is green, and the skin is red.
Rambutan is one of the fruits that are extensively cultivated on river islets, particularly in Ben Tre and Vinh Long. When selecting rambutan, you choose clusters with fresh, vibrant hair and firm fruits. The price of rambutans varies from 20,000 to 40,000 VND/kg, depending on the type.
Watermelon
Watermelon is considered one of the specialty fruits of the western region and is a popular thirst-quencher for the summer due to its high water content. They are grown along provincial roads in Long An province. Long An watermelons are famous for their sweet and refreshing taste, with few seeds. Additionally, delicious watermelons are also grown mainly in districts such as Moc Hoa, Vinh Hung, and Chau Thanh, etc., following international standards.
Nowadays, as biotechnology advances, people in the Western region not only grow traditional seeded red watermelons but also yellow watermelons and seedless red watermelons.
Because it is one of the most delicious fruits yet, with an affordable price starting at only 8,000 VND/kg, this will be one of the fruits you must try when visiting the Western region of Vietnam.
Macapuno
There must be something special for macapuno (wax coconut) to be priced high and sought after by many. Macapuno has a thick coconut meat with a rich, sweet flavor, offering numerous health benefits. This unique coconut has coconut meat infused with coconut water, creating a distinctive taste. Macapuno is only found in the land of Tra Vinh, among them, the best and most authentic ones are found in the Cau Ke district.
Macapuno is a specialty fruit with a relatively high price because it has thick coconut meat and elastic water. Besides, the reason for the high price of Macapuno is also because each Macapuno tree can only yield about 20% Macapunoes.
You can purchase this type of fruit in districts of Tra Vinh province, for around 130,000 – 150,000 VND per fruit.
Palmyra fruit
If we mention the names of specialty fruits from the western region, we can’t overlook the name Palmyra fruit. It is said that the land of An Giang is mysterious since it is not only close to Buddhist culture but also due to the uniqueness of this fruit. The Palmyra fruit tree belongs to the palm family, with leaves spread out like coconut leaves, bearing clusters of large brown fruits. The edible part consists of small, pale white kernels when the fruit is split open, containing sweet, fragrant sap.
When visiting An Giang, you cannot miss buying processed palmyra fruits and palmyra sugar as souvenirs. The price of processed palmyra fruits is only 40,000 VND per kg. Or you can enjoy traditional dishes like Palmyra fruit sweet soup, palm sugar honeycomb cake, fermented Palmyra fruit drink, etc.
Mango
Mango is one of the most famous fruits, known not only for its reputation as a specialty of the Western region but also for its flavor. Ripe mangoes are juicy, with a bright yellow color on the outside, and have very thick and sweet flesh compared to other varieties. Moreover, when they are ripe, they emit an attractive fragrance that captures the heart.
Even more special is the Hoa Loc mango, a specialty of Tien Giang province, primarily grown in Hoa Hung commune, Cai Be district. These mangoes have two ripening seasons, around late April and October. Renowned for their delicious taste that adds to the fame of the Western region, Hoa Loc mangoes are priced at around 40,000–60,000 VND/kg.
Durian
Durian is honored as a kingdom of typical fruit among Mekong Delta regions specifically and all Vietnamese specialties in general with its shape and taste. Durian has thorny skin, but the inside is soft, silky, and sweet. Its strange aroma is another distinctive feature of this fruit. It is precisely because it has this flavor that those who have tasted it even develop an addiction, while others may shy away from it.
Durian typically bears fruit in mid-summer, usually around June and July, and there are many different varieties. However, when it comes to the specialty fruits of the Western region, we must mention the Ri 5 durian, with its golden flesh and small seeds, which is extensively cultivated in Western provinces such as Cai Mon, Ben Tre, etc.
Sapodilla
Sapodilla, also known as “hồng xiêm” in Vietnamese, is a fruit with brown skin, a rich sweet taste, a pleasant aroma, and originating from Thailand. Vietnamese people quite enjoy this fruit because of its soft texture, sweet taste, and ease of eating. It is often used as a dessert or in smoothies, and it captivates the taste from the first bite. This fruit is grown in many places, with a concentration in the western region of Vietnam, particularly in Tien Giang province.
Sapodilla trees bear fruit for quite a long period throughout the year, with harvesting typically taking place from December to June of the following year. Sapodillas are usually harvested while still unripe, and farmers often use ripening brew methods to enhance their flavor. The price of sapodilla is around 20,000 VND/kg.
Coconut
When it comes to typical fruits of the Western region, not mentioning coconut would be a significant omission. In the West, you can easily come across tall coconut trees lining every roadside. Sipping on a piece of fresh, sweet coconut water while admiring the peaceful countryside scenery is truly a special experience.
Coconut trees start bearing fruit after about 4–5 years of planting and continue to do so for many years. The specialty coconut products of the Western region are not only the sweet sips of coconut water but also sweet coconut candies, or crunchy pieces of dried coconut. Regardless of the delicious dish made from coconut, it always becomes unusually attractive.
To experience this most delicious and sweet typical fruit, you should visit Ben Tre, the coconut kingdom of Vietnam, with many types of coconuts, from dua coconuts to lua coconuts and xiem coconuts.
Most Famous Orchards
- My Khanh Orchard in Can Tho province is one of the most famous orchard tourist destinations. Here, there are many types of fruits, such as plums, mangoes, lychees, jackfruits, strawberries, and durians… every tree bears fruit. Additionally, you can enjoy traditional Western folk games and experience crossing the monkey bridge with various emotions and excitement.
- An Binh Islet Orchard in Vinh Long province is not just an orchard with fruits but also offers many other services. You can go fishing in the canals and cook traditional Western dishes by yourself. The variety of fruits here is incredibly diverse, including lychees, custard apples, mangoes, and strawberries.
- Vinh Kim Orchard in Tien Giang province is famous for its delicious, fragrant star apple fruits, which have thin, sweet skins. This place also has durians, lychees, and pomelos, which all carry the delicious flavors of this fertile red alluvial land.
In addition, you can visit many other orchards such as:
- Cai Mon Orchard, Ben Tre
- Cai Be Orchard, Tien Giang
- Long Khanh Orchard, Dong Nai
- Nam Nhi Orchard, Lam Dong
My journey to explore the typical fruits in the Mekong Delta in orchards is dreamy. What makes it even more special is that each type of fruit carries a unique flavor, adding excitement to my exploration of the Mekong Delta. Walking among the fruit-laden trees, blending with the sunlight rays screening through the leaves, I savor the sweet flavors of nature’s gifts. This is the rare place where I break from a stressful life, and my soul finds peace and loses itself in a quiet feast, which I recommend you come to just once.