These unique and exotic cucumber varieties are highly sought after by Vietnamese housewives.

Cucumbers that are long and snake-like

Recently, social media has been abuzz with a strange type of cucumber, long and slender like a snake. Many people, at first glance, mistake it for a loofah gourd. Not only does the fruit resemble a loofah, but even the leaves and yellow flowers are similar.

Actually, this is a type of fruit that looks like a gourd but is actually a cucumber. This type of cucumber is the American snake cucumber, so named because its body is long and curved like a snake. A snake cucumber is usually 30-40 cm long, and exceptionally, some can be up to a meter long.

Many people comment that this type of cucumber is crunchy but slightly bland, and the seeds have a slightly sour taste. This cucumber can be eaten raw, used in salads, soups, or stir-fries, and is always crunchy and delicious.

The cucumbers are long and slender like snakes. Photo: Viet Q

Many people are quite surprised when they first see a cucumber shaped like a snake that resembles a gourd. This type of cucumber is not yet widely grown or sold in Vietnam. On the market, customers can only find seeds of the snake cucumber, which are sold for 25,000-35,000 VND per 50-70 seeds.

The cucumbers were as big as a thermos flask.

Previously, the giant cat cucumber, as big as a thermos flask, also piqued the curiosity of women in Hanoi, who sought it out to try.

Looking exactly like a cucumber, the cat cucumber is surprisingly heavy, weighing from 0.8-1kg per fruit, with some even reaching nearly 1.5-2kg. This cucumber variety has been cultivated by ethnic minority communities in the Northwest provinces for decades. It is a native variety, grown intercropped with corn in hillside fields.

When growing this type of cucumber, there's no need to build a trellis; the vines simply spread out on the ground. Each plant typically produces 2-3 fruits. Harvesting begins in June and ends in late July or early August.

Each cat cucumber is many times larger than a regular cucumber. Photo: Viet Q

The outside of the cat melon is smooth and shiny, and its rind looks exactly like a cucumber. However, when you cut open a cat melon, you'll find it has a dense, thick flesh that is crunchy and refreshingly sweet.

Spiny cucumber

A few years ago, women in Hanoi were also "going crazy" over a strange type of cucumber with many sharp spines. At that time, spiny cucumbers were quite expensive, costing 395,000 VND per fruit (1.6 million VND per kilogram), but they still sold out quickly.

The spiny cucumber, also known as the Kiwano horned cucumber, originates from Africa and is widely cultivated in tropical countries such as Chile, New Zealand, the United States, and Japan.

This type of cucumber has a yellow skin covered in sharp spines, and the fruit is about 10cm long. When cut open, the inside is green and contains many seeds, unlike any other type of cucumber found in Vietnam. The average weight of a spiny cucumber is 250g, with some exceptional ones weighing up to 0.5kg.

A strange cucumber variety with a spiny outer skin. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Spiny cucumbers are expensive because they are imported directly from Japan. In Japan, spiny cucumbers are grown organically, ensuring safety and high-quality, uniform, and beautiful fruit.

Tiny white cucumbers

A few years ago, tiny white cucumber seeds, sold by many online seed shops and stores, attracted the attention of customers.

According to some seed shop owners, this is the Miniature White Organic Cucumber variety originating from the United States. Its taste is quite similar to common cucumbers, differing only in color.

These miniature cucumbers measure 4-6cm in size (quite similar to many varieties of baby cucumbers in Vietnam). They are green when unripe and gradually turn white upon harvest. According to seed shop owners, this type of cucumber is popular among housewives because it is crisp and has a sweet, refreshing taste. It can be used in salads, juices, and other dishes, providing excellent cooling relief during hot summer days.

Tiny white cucumbers are being sought after by housewives. Photo: Knowledge and Life.

Tiny white cucumbers are priced at $2.50-$4 USD/kg, 5-6 times more expensive than green cucumbers sold in the market. Many people even buy tiny white cucumber seeds to grow themselves. This variety is suitable for growing in pots in urban areas because the plants are short. The growing and harvesting time is 48-55 days. Tiny white cucumber seeds are advertised for sale at 40,000-50,000 VND/packet (10 seeds).