American products become increasingly common in Vietnamese supermarkets
From fresh produce and beef to seafood, American products are becoming more widely available at Vietnamese supermarkets amid growing consumer interest.
American food products are becoming more prevalent in Vietnamese supermarkets, as noted by a local resident named Mai Thanh. She was astonished to discover U.S.-grown red and purple potatoes in a HCMC supermarket, despite their higher price compared to local varieties. The potatoes have been imported for years, but have recently gained popularity among consumers for their unique taste and appearance.
The situation extends beyond potatoes, with other American products like walnuts, beef, poultry, lobster, cod, and salmon now commonplace in Vietnamese retailers. This shift has led to a drop in prices for some goods, such as nectarines and apples, which are now 15-20% and 5-10% cheaper respectively than they were a year ago. Retailers attribute this to their rapid selling out during peak seasons.
However, American beef faces higher import tariffs, with boneless beef incurring a 14% duty and bone-in beef facing a 20% tax, making it less competitive compared to exports from Australia and Canada, which enjoy preferential rates. Efforts are underway to negotiate lower tariffs and reduce trade barriers, which would benefit both countries' agricultural exports.
Vietnam stands as the seventh-largest market for American agricultural products, with exports to the country increasing by 38% to nearly $5.6 billion in 2025, according to Stephen Alexander Vaden, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Vietnam's agricultural exports to the U.S. rose by the same percentage, reaching nearly $5.6 billion in 2025. The U.S. aims to broaden its product presence in Vietnamese distribution channels while ensuring competitive pricing for consumers.
MM Mega Market Vietnam, a major retailer, sells around 500 American products, generating $8.3 million in sales in 2025. Fresh food sales, including fruits like grapes, cherries, blueberries, and frozen chicken, grew by 20%. Vietnam's imports from the U.S. totaled $17.4 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up $2.13 billion from the previous year.
Fruits and vegetables alone accounted for $572 million in imports, while soybean imports increased from $352 million to $424 million. Trade data reveals that computers, electronic products, and components made up approximately $5.32 billion, or 31% of total imports.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
