Lychee goes online, e-commerce platforms helps promote distribution of farm produce amid pandemic
Lychee goes online, e-commerce platforms helps promote distribution of farm produce amid pandemic
In the past, fruit was only really available to buy at supermarkets, markets or grocery stores. 
But now you can have your favourite fruits delivered direct to your front door at just the touch of a button.
You will now find Thanh Ha lychee available to buy online using platforms like Voso, Sendo and Lazada.
This not only provides a safer way to shop as the country battles COVID-19 outbreaks, but also helps producers expand their market.
And the prices of this particular fruit are also very competitive.
Orders of lychee via Voso of less than 20 kilograme will receive a nation-wide shipping discount for Viettel Post express delivery. Voso will ensure the packaging and preservation for the best taste and will deliver in 63 provinces and cities.
On FPT Group’s Sendo e-commerce platform, Thanh Ha lychee is being sold at very attractive prices, ranging from VND18,000 (US$0.8) per kg with 1,000 codes for free shipping (maximum discount of VND30,000 per shipping).
A representative from Sendo said more than three tonnes of lychee were sold via the platform within just four hours on Monday, at around VND405,000 for 15 kilo of type 1 U Hong lychee and VND375,000 for type 2.
Sendo said the platform worked with farmers for the most appropriate packaging to keep the best taste and freshness for the fruits at the most appealing costs.
Around 12 tonnes lychee would be sold via Sendo during a promotion campaign this week organised by Sendo, the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency and the Hai Duong Province Department of Industry and Trade.
Lazada became the first e-commerce platform to distribute Thanh Ha lychee, on May 14. Fruits were delivered to customers in Ha Noi and HCM City within four hours of placing the order.
Dinh Van Hung, director of Hung Thao Trading and Import-Export Company Limited, said that the export of lychee was anticipated to be difficult this year due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, lychee-hub Bac Giang Province, which was being heavily hit by the virus, is working with Alibaba.com to bring lychee as well as other farm produce to this platform, which was very promising, he said.
The Viet Nam e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade on May 15 announced that 30 tonnes of Vinh Chau purple onion, a specialty of Soc Trang Province, were sold within 10 days via the “online Viet kiosk” programme on Voso.
A report from Voso showed that on average, around three to five tonnes purple onion were sold every day. It was expected that the “online Viet Kiosk” programme would help sell 150 tonnes this month.
Rescue campaigns to help farmers isn't new. However, bringing products online has been a welcome development for producers.
According to Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency, the timely participation and professionalism of e-commerce platforms in promoting sales of farm produce was very helpful to farmers, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phu said that the agency cooperated with e-commerce platforms to establish supply chains and develop the logistics system to ensure the preservation and delivery.
Phu said: “Putting farm produce online will form another sustainable distribution channel for potential products, contribute to improve digital transformation capacity for production and business as well as encouraging the prioritised use of Vietnamese products.”
Viet Nam e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency’s Director Dang Hoang Hai said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has worked with Hai Duong and Bac Giang provinces together with e-commerce platforms to promote the online sales of lychee as well as other farm produce in the future.
A report by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company showed that Viet Nam’s e-commerce market increased by 16 per cent in 2020 to reach $14 billion. It was expected that the country’s e-commerce market would expand on average 29 per cent per year in 2020-25 period to reach $52 billion. The four largest platforms in Viet Nam were currently Shopee, Lazada, Tiki and Sendo.
