Magazine_October_2023

NONSTOP TRAVEL
WAYNE & DUONG - VIETNAM
A fruitful visit
to Vietnam
travel
5Page 37 - Vietnam
Page 38 - USA
Page 40 - Australia
Page 42 - China
Page 44 - South Africa
travel
reports
Several times per year we visit Vietnam to
have a better view of what is happening within
the market and to understand more on our
future collaboration with long-term partners.
This trip is strategic in the way that we made frequent field trips to
supermarkets and wholesale markets to understand the challenges
that our customers face but also Vietnamese consumers in general,
and to brainstorm about our marketing strategies in Vietnam.
Vietnam is one of the fastest developing markets for imported fruits for
Aartsen and has as well one of the fastest growing economies in Asia
with a growth rate of 8% in 2022. During Covid period, while in general
the China imported industry declined, Vietnam accelerated this growth
as the alternative market beside China. Similar to China the Vietnam
market requires a premium range of fruit and use imported fruit often
as gifts. This year the Vietnamese economy is experiencing a downturn
and the expectation is that bigger cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh
will continue to experience a setback. During our trip, we also saw that
this trend is reflected in the daily life of fruit wholesalers as well.
We started off the trip making a visit to SK cold storage about 50 minutes
away to the northeast of Hanoi in Hung Yen province. It was interesting
to see the main items which are currently dominating the market like
South African and New Zealand apples, Australian mandarins and
grapes from both Chile and Australia.
The following day we met together with Heartland, one of our key suppliers
in New Zealand, in order to define the strategy and promotion plans
for the Ambrosia variety in Vietnam. We visited several retail chains
together and it was surprising to see the many varieties of apples a
customer can choose of. On one shelf we saw 12 varieties; Ambrosia,
Dazzle, Envy, Sonya, Jazz, Royal Gala, Queen, Breeze, Cherish,
Cosmic Crisp, Fuji and Tessa apples.
On the 3th day we flew to Ho Chi Minh where we visited the Thu Duc
wholesale market late at night and witnessed the bustling movement
of imported and local fruits, despite the economic downturn. It was
an exciting experience to be surrounded by motorbikes and trucks
from different directions. We were inspired by the stories of certain
wholesalers of starting their fruit business from scratch and their
dedication to the industry. As we made our way to the fruit section
in the local supermarket during the next day, we were again
astounded by the variety of apples on display.
Overall, it was a great opportunity to meet our long-term partners face to
face and gain new insights into the challenges they face in this constantly
evolving fruit industry. It is clear that the market in Vietnam for fruits is vast
and diverse with endless opportunities for growth despite the economic
challenges. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for the fruit
industry in Vietnam. As Aartsen we have a lot of experience in this market
and we look forward to keep our leading position in this market in the
international fruit trade and maintain it in the years to come.
How people in Vietnam greet
"Chào ông"
VIETNAM
Team Phu Nhuan
In Vietnam, greetings are steeped in respect and tradition.
A common greeting involves bowing or nodding the head,
especially when one wants to show respect to an elder or
someone of higher social status. The depth of the bow can
vary, with a deeper bow expressing more respect.
A unique greeting in Vietnam is the "ao dai," which is a
traditional clothing style for women. In this greeting,
the person places their hands in a prayer-like gesture and
bows slightly, as a sign of respect. This is often done at
formal occasions and when greeting older relatives.
Another interesting aspect of greetings in Vietnam is the
use of family relationship terms. Instead of just saying "Hello,"
for instance, one might say "Chào ông" (Hello, grandfather)
or "Chào bà" (Hello, grandmother) to respectfully refer to
older individuals.
It's important to remember that greeting customs can vary
based on age, social status, and the relationship between
the individuals greeting each other. Showing respect and
following local customs is highly appreciated in Vietnamese
culture.
CULTURES | 37