Overview
Vietnam's banana production is about 2.5 million tonnes a year, making it one of Southeast Asia's major producers. Domestically, besides the Cavendish variety, many native varieties are grown. Mainly for domestic consumption, but exports to China, South Korea, and Japan have been increasing in recent years, and commercial large-scale cultivation is expanding.
Growing regions and areas
Banana cultivation is carried out throughout Vietnam, but the center of commercial cultivation is Gia Lai province、Mekong Delta region, and in the north, Son La province. In Gia Lai province, cultivation of export-oriented Cavendish bananas by large plantations is expanding.
Cultivation methods and harvest season
The banana is a crop that can be harvested year-round, with the first harvest about 10–12 months after planting the seedling. After harvesting one bunch (15–20 kg) per plant, the next cycle begins from a new sucker. Export-bound fruit is pre-cooled right after harvest, packed in cardboard boxes, and transported in refrigerated containers. The growing number of GlobalGAP-certified farms is driving export expansion.
Exports and market trends
Vietnamese banana exports are about US$800 million a year and growing rapidly. The largest export destination is China, with exports to South Korea and Japan also increasing. Processed products such as dried bananas and banana chips are also exported. It is establishing a position as a new banana supply source to replace the Philippines.
Connections with Japan
Most of Japan's banana imports are from the Philippines, but imports of Vietnamese bananas are increasing. Products that clear plant-quarantine conditions are being imported steadily, and their availability in supermarkets is expanding. Price competitiveness and stable quality are raising their standing in the Japanese market.
