Vietnam Price Information　Fixed-Point Observation　20250503　Local Vegetables

I've been living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for five years now. The momentum of this ever-growing country is something you can truly feel firsthand. What I feel most keenly is the change in prices. Roads keep getting paved, and every time the infrastructure improves, the streets become cleaner and more modern. But along with that, moments where I think, "Huh, has this gotten more expensive?" have increased too. Local shops and street stalls are no exception. Little by little, gradually, prices keep creeping up. So, I'm going to keep a fixed-point record here. Living the local life, you really do become sensitive to market prices (lol). For example… Banh mi from a street stall. Five years ago: 15,000 VND (about 75 yen). And back then, the yen was still strong, too. Now: 20,000–25,000 VND is the going rate. Even at a stall, it can be 30,000 VND (about 180 yen). At shops catering to tourists, **100,000–150,000 VND (about 600–800 yen)** is already the norm. Add a drink and you'll blow past 1,000 yen in no time. That's exactly why "hunting for cheap and delicious places" is becoming more and more important. Today, rather than a shop, I'm checking something indispensable to daily life: the "price of vegetables" at the greengrocer. (A local shop in Ho Chi Minh City, open from about 5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.)

Today's shopping haul: ・4 limes (※ a pantry staple you can use for anything—as a spice substitute, in water, in soda, whatever) ・2 daikon radishes (※ not long like in Japan! Sharply spicy and delicious) ・1 tomato (on the larger side) ・A small cabbage (※ pointed, triangular shape. But the leaves are soft and fluffy) And on top of that, I spotted some peppermint in great condition. I grabbed the whole bag without hesitation. It had a real just-picked feel—thick stems, leaves bursting everywhere, and an amazing aroma. All of this came to 44,000 VND = about 265 yen. Wow, it really is cheap~~ Still such peace of mind... With the right choices, local shops are still a great deal! Easy on the wallet, and fresh to boot. Because of finds like these, I just can't quit my local shopping runs~. Moving-abroad life ranking