According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), cardamom is one of the oldest spices in the world and the third most expensive after saffron and vanilla. Vietnam is one of the countries with potential for producing and exporting this precious spice.
Regarding the export situation, according to data from the Vietnam Pepper Association, from January 1st to September 30th, 2025, Vietnam exported 3,283 tons of cardamom and nutmeg, with a value of 25.7 million USD.
Compared to the same period in 2024, export volume increased by 31.3%, and value increased by 28.2%. By now, Vietnam has 31 import markets for this item, with the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States being the top three. Currently, there are over 30 businesses exporting this item.
Previously, in 2024, Vietnam exported 3,402 tons of cardamom and nutmeg, with a total value of 27.6 million USD. The Netherlands, the United States, and Germany were the three main importing countries, with imports reaching 950 tons, 518 tons, and 369 tons, respectively.
Cardamom is a world-class million-dollar spice that is widely cultivated in Vietnam.
In the world, cardamom is widely cultivated in Guatemala, India, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and other countries. Additionally, it also grows wild and is cultivated in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. According to a survey on some e-commerce websites in Vietnam, the retail price of Indian-origin cardamom is between 1.5 and 1.9 million VND/kg. Meanwhile, some foreign e-commerce sites are selling this spice from Vietnam for over 1.5 million VND/kg.
In Vietnam, cardamom grows mainly in high mountain areas with cool climates, such as Cao Bang and Lao Cai provinces. This species is about 2-3 m tall. Its roots grow on the ground, and the leaves grow in two rows. Both flowers and fruits of cardamom are used as medicine. The fruit is harvested from trees at least 3 years old or older, when they are turning from green to yellow. The appropriate harvest time is autumn. After being picked, fruit is dried in the shade and then stored in a cool and dry place.
Nutmeg has the scientific name Myristica fragrans Hourt and belongs to the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. This fruit belongs to the woody family. They can grow up to 8-10 m tall, with a smooth trunk, and their leaves are green all year round.
Not only are they export items, but these two herbs also have many health benefits, such as helping to increase intestinal motility, stimulate gastric juice secretion, prevent abnormal intestinal fermentation, and combat nausea. In addition, it helps fight fungi, reduce fever, relax smooth muscles, and lower blood pressure in people with hypertension.
In 2025, the Vietnamese spice industry aims to achieve an export turnover of about 2 billion USD. The growing global demand for spice products, along with businesses’ efforts to establish export-standard raw material zones, will drive the growth of this industry in the near future.