According to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA), in the first 9 months of 2025, Vietnam exported over 2,100 tons of chili, worth about 8 million USD. Laos, the United States, and Cambodia are the three key markets for Vietnamese chili.
Vietnam has a tropical climate and favorable soil conditions for chilies to grow well year-round, with high economic value. The initial investment cost is not too high, and the capital turnover rate is quick.
Since 2022, fresh Vietnamese chili has been officially exported to China, accompanied by strict requirements for plant quarantine and traceability. Strong demand caused chili prices to continuously reach record highs at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025.
Chili prices hit a record high.
In 2024, the price of chili was only 54,000 VND/kg. The highest price was 98,000 VND/kg, which occurred 7-8 years ago. Now, a kilogram of chili costs 105,000 VND, and at peak times, it can even reach 135,000 VND, a record high for many years.
In Tuyen Quang province, many households have high income thanks to high chili prices. Mr. Dam Van Ban (Phu Luong commune, Son Duong district) is one of the most impressive examples. On an area of one hectare, Mr. Ban harvested about 6 tons of chili, a high yield compared to the average.
Following the cultivation process guided by agricultural officials and choosing suitable varieties and fertilizers, Mr. Ban’s chili garden developed well, with strong plants and healthy roots. Harvest time coincided with a sharp increase in market prices, reaching 100,000–105,000 VND/kg.
With a yield of about 6 tons, Mr. Ban’s chili revenue is about 600 million VND. After deducting input costs, the remaining profit is still very high, far exceeding rice, corn, or cassava cultivation.
According to experts, the price of chili has increased sharply due to a sudden increase in export demand to China and some European countries. Meanwhile, domestic supply has decreased due to natural disasters and reduced planting area.
To develop chili sustainably, the agricultural sector needs to synchronize multiple solutions from seeds and techniques to the market. First, suitable planting areas must be planned to avoid spontaneous expansion. Farmers need to use quality, disease-resistant seeds and apply scientific farming practices.
Biological pest control helps reduce chemical use and costs. In addition, it is necessary to standardize the harvesting, sorting, and preliminary processing procedures to improve export quality, complete the planting area codes and traceability, and strengthen connections with enterprises to stabilize the output for chili growers.