Mr Le An Hai – Vietnamese trade counselors in Korea - said Lotte Group is working with the Vietnam Trade Office in Korea to search for Vietnam’s vegetable suppliers.

This group has 96 stores in Korea, providing fruits and vegetables for 24% of this country population. As Korean winter last five months, fresh vegetables in this season are very expensive.

For example, price of cabbage is at 3.5 – 5 USD while the same one in Vietnam cost only about 50 cents. Therefore, despite tax rate of 30-40%, Vietnamese fruits and vegetables still have the competitive advantages.

South Korea also aims at importing vegetables from Vietnam instead of China. Vietnam and South Korea also have legal agreements on plant and animal quarantine. 

At present, Vietnam has exported fresh cabbages and dragon fruits to Korea. And next is mango to export to this country. Cooperation with the major Korean corporations is a good direction in 2012 to bring Vietnamese fresh fruits and vegetables to Korea.