When traveling to Vietnam, apart from savory dishes like Pho, noodle soups and Banh Mi, there is another thing that this beautiful country brings to the table, that is a plethora of awesome exotic fruits. Thanks to its tropical climate and favorable fertile soil, Vietnam is able to have a diverse range of fruits, especially exotic fruits that can only be found here or in parts of the world with a similar climate. Year round or seasonal, each of these fruits are special in their own way and is guaranteed to bring you a unique dining experience.

These fruits all have something about their appearances, taste or smell that makes them truly one-of-a-kind and will make you hungry for a second bite. Today, let’s go through the Top 10 best tropical exotic fruits in Vietnam that will make your mouth water!
 

Jackfruit - Mit

Jackfruits are the largest fruit of all trees, they are oblong shaped, about 10-20 kg in weight, 30 cm in length and 20 cm in diameter on average. Don’t let the bumpy and spiky appearance fool you, jackfruit is one of the sweetest and tastiest fruits ever. Inside the fruit are bright yellow bulbs of fruit flesh, when eaten the fruit has a crunchy texture, a strong aroma and a flavor that’s a mix between banana, mango and pineapple. In Vietnam, the fruit can be eaten in many other ways: jackfruit chips, pickled jackfruit (called “nhut” in Nghe An), teared into small strips and eaten with yogurt, even jackfruit seeds are boiled and eaten, which have a nutty, milky, sweet taste, comparable to chestnuts.

Dragon Fruit - Thanh Long

This is one of the most interesting looking and tastiest fruits in Vietnam. Visually striking: it has a bright, magenta skin with soft green spikes that resembles the scales of a dragon, hence the name. Dragon fruit comes in two main varieties, one with white flesh and one with red or pink flesh. The flesh is studded with tiny, edible black seeds. Flavor-wise, the fruit is mildly sweet, slightly tangy, kind of like kiwis. They are low in calories, high in fiber and vitamin C, which are adored by many Vietnamese people. You can cut the fruit into 6 or 8, peel the skin off and enjoy! You can even put it in fruit salads or smoothies to give them a nice color and texture!

Mangosteen - Mang Cut

Mangosteen, also known as the “queen of fruits”, is one of the most delicious exotic fruits in Vietnam, and other Southeast-Asian countries. Mangosteen has a thick, dark purple rind, which is inedible. Once you’ve opened the rind, you'll find several, usually five to seven, juicy, snow-white, and segmented flesh that is the edible part of the fruit. Mangosteens are tender, sweet, tangy, kind of like the love child of a peach and a banana. Mangosteens are typically very small, which allows you to enjoy multiple ones in a sitting. To eat the fruit, draw a line around the fruit using a knife then twist them open, and pay attention because they might have seeds. This fruit can only be found in some Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, so don’t miss out on this amazing fruit on your next trip!

Starfruit - Khe

Starfruit, also known as Carambola, is a tropical fruit that gets its name from its unique shape when sliced, which resembles a star. Starfruit is usually about the size of an apple and has a waxy, thin, and edible skin that can be green or yellow, depending on the variety. When sliced horizontally, the fruit reveals a star-like cross-section, with five distinctive ridges. There are two types of star fruits in Vietnam, the sweet variety, which are yellow and can be eaten fresh, and the sour variety, which are green and is used in salads and savory dishes like Ca Kho (braised and caramelized fish), canh chua (sour soup), stir fried beef, etc, to add a tangy and refreshing twist. Starfruit has a special place in many people’s hearts, appearing in many poems and folk tales that have been passed on for many generations.

Star Apple - Vu Sua

Star apples, which are mostly found in Southern regions or the Mekong delta of Vietnam, are perfectly round, about the size of an apple, and come in various colors, including green, purple, or yellow. It's one of the most unique and exotic fruits in Vietnam that you need to try. The skin is usually smooth and leathery. When cut horizontally, the fruit's cross-section reveals a star-like pattern with a gelatinous, sweet pulp inside. The pulp is juicy, with a texture similar to jelly or custard. The taste is often compared to a blend of pear, grape, and lychee.

Did you know that Vietnam is the only country in the world that exports star apples? While star apples can also be found in many Asian and Central American countries, they are only consumed domestically, which makes Vietnamese star apples even more special and worth a try!

Rambutan - Chom Chom

Chom Chom is a tropical Vietnamese fruit that is also cultivated in South East Asia and various tropical regions around the world. It is known for its hairy, spiky outer skin and sweet, juicy flesh. Fun fact: the word “Rambut” in Malay means hair, which explains the name of the fruit. The fruit is relatively small, about the size of a golf ball, with a spiky red exterior, just imagine a hairy lychee. When it comes to taste, the translucent, juicy flesh of the rambutan is sweet with a slightly acidic or tangy undertone. This fruit, which is high in fiber and vitamin C, can be found anywhere in Vietnam, especially during summer.

Soursop - Mang Cau

Soursop is a tropical fruit native to the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of South America but is now grown in tropical regions around the world including Vietnam. Soursop is a green, spiky fruit with a heart or oval shape. When ripe, the fruit becomes slightly soft to the touch and may change color, often becoming slightly yellow or brownish-green. The flesh of soursop is white and fibrous, with a sweet and somewhat tangy flavor. It is often likened to a combination of pineapple and strawberry, with a hint of citrus. Soursop is primarily consumed fresh, and the flesh is often scooped out and eaten directly. One of Vietnamese people’s favorite ways of enjoying this tropical treat is as a soursop smoothie, which can be found in most cafes. It’s healthy, delicious and is the go-to choice for a lot of people when they go out for a drink.

Sapodilla - Hong Xiem

This tropical fruit in Vietnam, which originated from South America, is typically round or oval and varies in size. The skin is brown, slightly rough with a grainy texture, similar to a potato. When ripe, the skin may become slightly wrinkled. The fruit usually contains two to five large, black seeds. The flesh of sapodilla is exceptionally sweet and has a unique flavor that is often compared to brown sugar, and soft and grainy texture. This fruit is one of the fruits chosen when preparing a five-fruit tray on the ancestor’s altar every Lunar New Year. It is also favored for its high fiber content, which is a delicious solution to digestive problems.

Ambarella - Coc

Coc is a small to medium-sized Vietnamese fruit, typically about the size of a plum or a small apricot. The skin is thin, smooth, and green to yellow when ripe. The fruit can be slightly elongated or round and has a single large, flat seed. The fruit is fibrous, crunchy and sour. The most common way Vietnamese people eat this fruit is called “cóc lắc” (shake ambarella), it consists of mixing cut up pieces of ambarella with sugar, salt, chili and a bit of nuoc mam, which can also be applied to other sour fruits like green mangos and pineapple. This is an addicting dish and is adored by many, especially younger people. Vietnamese people also enjoy pickled ambarella and ambarella salads.

Durian - Sau Rieng

We’re saving the best for last. If mangosteen is known as the Queen then meet the King of fruits - Durian, a tropical Vietnamese fruit known for its distinctive appearance, strong aroma, and unique flavor. Durian has an outer husk covered in sharp thorns, and a rich and complex flavor profile. It is often described as sweet, creamy custard with notes of caramel and nuts. However, the taste is highly subjective, some people find it super pleasant and addictive, while others cannot get over its pungent and overpowering smell. Safe to say that durian is an acquired taste, you may not enjoy the fruit but Vietnamese people have come up with a lot of ways to make this fruit more friendly, like incorporating them into desserts, candies, cakes and ice cream. 

Above are just a few examples of the best fruits you can find in Vietnam. The country's rich agricultural diversity and favorable climate make it a paradise for fruit lovers, and you can often find these fruits at local markets and street vendors throughout the country. If you’re interested in trying all these fruits, check out some of our other articles where we talk about dishes using these fruits, as well as the paradise of exotic fruits: the Mekong Delta.

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