Innovative Sales Strategy Takes Off

In an unprecedented move, a live streaming event on Wednesday successfully sold thousands of frozen durians to customers primarily in Hanoi. This event was a collaborative effort between the government, TikTok, Viettel Post, and the fruit distributor Chanh Thu, as reported by Tuoi Tre newspaper.

Affordable Luxury

A five-kilogram box containing two durians was initially priced at VND900,000, but customers enjoyed discounts of up to 36%. These durians, belonging to Vietnam’s Ri6 variety, met all export standards, ensuring top quality.

Ambitious Goals

Chanh Thu dispatched 1,670 boxes to a Hanoi storage facility for the live stream, according to Nguyen Khanh Toan, a government relations officer at TikTok Vietnam. The company aims to sell one million frozen durians nationwide this year through live streaming.

Preservation and Flavor

Ngo Tuong Vy, deputy CEO of Chanh Thu, highlighted the advantages of selling durian frozen rather than fresh. Frozen durian can be preserved for up to two years while retaining 95% of its flavor, unlike fresh durian, which must reach consumers within 10 days of harvesting.

Convenient Delivery

In Hanoi, Viettel Post offered free delivery within two hours for buyers of the fruit, adding convenience to the innovative sales approach.

Future Prospects

Nguyen Minh Tien, director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, sees this live stream as the first step towards large-scale sales of frozen durians, including exports to China. He suggests leveraging Chinese live-streamers on social media platforms to facilitate this. This method could also pave the way for exporting other frozen fruits, marking a significant shift in agricultural trade practices.