Billion-dollar Tet gifts sought after by rich Vietnamese

1. Saffron

Recently, saffron has become a hot commodity, and many rich Vietnamese people are looking to buy it for their own use and as a gift for Tet.

Ms. Hang, in Ho Chi Minh City, said she bought about 200 grams of rice this Tet.saffron pistil or saffron,It costs 100 million VND. She mixed it with olive oil and left it for about 10 minutes to get an orange-yellow color, then applied it to her face to help smooth her skin.

Similarly, Ms. Thanh in Cau Giay, HanoiI really like this product soBuying half a kilo costs 225 million VND. She saves half to make tea to entertain guests during Tet, and half as a gift for partners.

As a product supplier in Hanoi, Ms. Ha, manager of a gift shop in Tran Xuan Soan, Hoan Kiem, said that although Saffron has just arrived in Vietnam, it has been ordered by many customers, especially those with high incomes. To meet the gift-giving needs, the shop puts this product in elegant boxes, including small and large saffron jars of all sizes for buyers to choose from and accompany. The price of the gift sets is from 450,000 VND per box.

Selling the product at a cheaper price, Ms. Loan, an online shop owner in Ho Chi Minh City, said that so far, there have been about a few dozen customers ordering it as a Tet gift. The price of this product is 360,000 VND per gram, or 360 million VND per kilogram. If customers buy in large quantities, the shop will reduce the price to 280 million VND per kilogram. According to her, this is the best type, this product has many lines, the lowest type is sargol 270,000 VND per gram.

Although it is a strange and rare product, saffron is being sold quite widely at all prices. Therefore, according to Mr. Saleh Adibi, Iranian Ambassador to Vietnam, buyers should be careful and choose reputable establishments because high-value products are often counterfeited. Currently, there are many establishments that counterfeit by dyeing the product to resemble the real thing. Counterfeiters often use things like turmeric powder with another plant, mixed with a chemical to create color.

2. Tibetan Cordyceps

This is also a famous product that is good for health, so many rich Vietnamese people trust it. In Vietnam, the lowest price of Tibetan Cordyceps (grass worms) is about 700 million VND per kilogram, the most expensive is up to several billion VND.

The owner of a cordyceps store in District 10 (HCMC) said that many types cannot be bought with money. Most customers have to order to get the goods. Currently, the store sells the premium cordyceps 20 grams for 42 million VND. The cheapest type is a dietary supplement that costs 5.5 million VND for 5 grams.

“Since the beginning of January, the store has had many customers ordering as gifts for Tet. Because the products are genuine, most of the customers are regular customers even though the prices are much higher than other online shopping sites,” said the store owner.

The reason this type is so expensive is because it is mined at an altitude of 5,000 m, the air is only 40% thinner than at the bottom of the mountain. To get the product, the person who finds it is quite arduous, each trip can last a month.

3. Ngoc Linh Ginseng

This is a type of ginseng discovered in the Ngoc Linh mountain area on the border of Kon Tum and Quang Nam provinces. Ngoc Linh ginseng is one of the five most sought-after ginseng types in the world.

Ms. Loan, who specializes in selling Ngoc Linh ginseng in Kon Tum, said that Tet is the time when most customers order this product. Each kilogram of ginseng costs 60-150 million VND depending on the type. Especially with long-standing roots weighing a kilogram, they can cost up to several billion VND but are quite rare. "Many tycoons order this type. When there is stock, you have to notify them immediately, they will accept any price," Ms. Loan said.

Mr. Ngo Quoc Hung, a Ngoc Linh ginseng trader in Hanoi, said that this ginseng has the effect of improving health, so it is very popular with customers with high incomes. The price is about 6-8 million VND per jar of one root. The type of 100 grams per root costs 15 million VND, the jar of 3 roots is about 45 million VND. With larger jars of roots, the price is about 120-150 million VND per jar, and the more unique ones cost from several hundred million to several billion. "With the types from several hundred million to several billion, I usually sell to the rich and this product is rarely announced because customers want to keep it a secret," Mr. Hung said.

Ngoc Linh ginseng usually grows wild in Ngoc Linh mountain area in Kontum and Quang Nam provinces at an altitude of over 1,500 m, an area with harsh climate conditions, high humidity all year round with two distinct seasons of rain and sun. This ginseng has the effect of stimulating the immune system, supporting anti-oxidation, protecting liver cells, improving cases of nervous breakdown,...