June in northern Vietnam is the season when fruit shines brightest all year. The star among them isThanh Ha lychee (vải thiều Thanh Hà).。ハイフォン市タインハー区（旧ハイズオン省タインハー県）の名産で、小ぶりの実、鮮やかなピンクの皮、シャキッとした白い果肉、小さな種、そして上品な甘さと独特の香りで「世界の絶品10選」に選ばれたこともある。同じ時期、「果物の女王」mangosteen (măng cụt),also reaches its peak. Let us guide you on how to skillfully choose and buy the in-season fruit piled high at stalls in the market.
Why Thanh Ha lychee is a "right now" fruit
The harvest season for Thanh Ha lychee is June–July. Right now is its peak. However, in 2026, unseasonable weather is said to have cut the harvest in major growing areas by up to 50%, so prices are higher than in a normal year. Early-picked select fruit is flown to supermarkets in the south, at times reaching up to 210,000 VND per kilogram (about 1,260 yen). Even so, the chance to taste the in-season fruit shipped straight from the source is just a few weeks a year. Precisely because the availability window is short, "now is the time to buy."
The markets to buy at in Hanoi
In central Hanoi,Long Bien Market (Chợ Long Biên),where wholesalers gather, is first-rate in both selection and freshness. In addition,Nghia Tan Market (Chợ Nghĩa Tân),、Thanh Cong Market (Chợ Thành Công),、and Ha Dong Market (Chợ Hà Đông)also pile up in-season lychees. Retail prices, depending on quality, run around 60,000–180,000 VND per kilogram (about 360–1,080 yen). Go first thing in the morning and you can pick fruit that arrived that very day.
How to tell a good lychee
Fruit still on the branch with the leaves left green is proof of high freshness. Choose ones with vivid pink-to-red skin that are firm and have soft, bumpy protrusions. Conversely, avoid ones whose skin is blackened and dry or that feel mushy when pressed. Smell it, and if there's a sweet fragrance, it's a winner. For mangosteen, ones with soft, springy skin and a green stem are fresh. Ones with hard skin are old, so avoid them. Mangosteen also arrives in large quantities in May, and June is the time to buy when prices settle down and the flesh is at its juiciest.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| In-season fruit | Thanh Ha lychee, mangosteen (June is peak) |
| Main places to buy | Long Bien Market, Nghia Tan Market, Thanh Cong Market, Ha Dong Market (all in Hanoi) |
| Lychee price guide | 1 kg 60,000–180,000 VND (about 360–1,080 yen) / select fruit up to 210,000 VND (about 1,260 yen) |
| How to choose | Green branch and leaves, vivid pink-to-red skin, soft protrusions, and a sweet aroma |
| Season | Lychee June–July / mangosteen mid-April–June |
| Time of day to buy | Early morning right after arrival is recommended |
Savor the season before it's gone
Thanh Ha lychee lines the markets for only a few weeks in June. The juice that bursts out the moment you peel it and its refined sweetness are a luxury you can taste precisely because Vietnam is close to the growing region. Do stock up on early-summer Vietnamese fruit at the market, tasting it alongside mangosteen for comparison.
Vietnamese ingredients and regional origin stories are alsoThe legendary garlic of Ly Son Islandandexplored in depth in Origin stories and eco-packaging reshaping Vietnamese souvenirs in 2026and elsewhere. For a night in northern Hanoi,the never-sleeping food street "Ta Duy Thanh"as well.
Reference:PasGo June in-season fruit feature／VnEconomy (2026 lychee prices)
