'Buy directly from the source, sell directly to the consumer' from mobile fruit carts.

(Baonghean.vn) -Currently, along the roads in Vinh City such as theLe VViet Thuat, Le Ninh, Nguyen Phong Sac, Lenin…There are dozens of mobile fruit vendors operating from trucks.Fruit sold from trucks is common.It is cheaper than retail prices..

The owner sells fruit from a truck on Le Viet Thuat Street.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, from Ha Huy Tap ward, said: Her family has been selling fruit for nearly ten years. Previously, she bought fruit from wholesalers at Vinh Market and displayed it on a tray to sell retail in the area near Dong Y Market. Each day, she only sold 20-30 kg of various fruits. Because the goods went through 2-3 intermediaries, the profit was minimal. Now, her family has invested nearly 200 million VND to buy a small truck, which they use for both transporting and selling fruit.

“During the orange season, we go all the way to Quy Hop and Nghia Dan to buy oranges directly from the orchards to sell. Because we get the goods directly from the source without going through intermediaries, the selling price is also lower. Every day, I sell 200-400 kg of oranges and 100-200 pomelos. After deducting fuel costs, I earn a decent income each day,” said Ms. Hien.

Mr. Tran Van Hoang, from Hung Loc commune, also sells fruit from a truck. His truck stall displays a variety of fruits, from mangoes and green pomelos from the South, Ninh Thuan grapes, Quy Hop oranges, Phuc Trach pomelos, and even apples and pomegranates. Mr. Hoang said: "Initially, there were few vendors selling from trucks, and I could sell 2-3 quintals (200-300 kg) a day. Recently, more trucks selling fruit have appeared, so the amount I sell has decreased. I don't go to the source myself; I call wholesalers from other places and they send the goods to me. Selling from a truck allows me to pack up the goods faster."

Customers sample the fruit right next to their car.

Along Le Viet Thuat street, from the gate of Military Hospital 4 towards Cua Hoi, a stretch of less than 500 meters has five trucks selling fruit along the roadside. Ms. Sam, who has decades of experience selling fruit, said: "Seeing that the trucks sell more, I borrowed 150 million VND to buy this small truck to sell fruit. I sell whatever is in season; this season I mainly sell oranges, pomelos, and sugarcane, while in the summer I sell longan, lychees, and watermelons... On good days I sell 100-200 kg, but on slow days I only sell 70-80 kg."

However, despite the profits it brings to vendors, mobile fruit vending presents several challenges. Fruit stalls on trucks don't operate in fixed locations but constantly move, changing places from one ward to another, thus avoiding any fees, unlike selling in markets which incurs registration fees and rent. Furthermore, these fruit trucks parked on sidewalks and roads during peak hours create miniature markets, impacting traffic safety, public order, and urban aesthetics.

Tam Thanh