Brian Jeffrey
The market is saturated with energy-efficient gadgets ranging from a few dollars to over twenty. Advertised with enticing claims of cutting electricity expenses by 20-50%, many of these products come with attractive warranties or money-back options if they fail to deliver results.
However, actual performance tells a different story. As reported by Tri Thuc & Cuoc Song, a significant number of consumers have revealed that these devices do not work as promised, falling short of their marketing claims.
For instance, Minh Chien from Thanh Tri, Hanoi, recounted buying a gadget for 500,000 VND (approximately $20) under the impression that it would decrease his electricity bill by 40%. After just an hour of use, his power meter indicated no difference – he saved nothing.
Vietnam Electricity (EVN) has issued alerts regarding such products, including purported super-efficient devices and smart power-saving cards sold online, noting that they lack proof from reputable energy-efficiency organizations.
Sellers claim that the product has undergone lab testing and contains 35% authentic bird’s nest, promising quality assurance.
Yet, skepticism persists among consumers. Experts in the sector argue that it is unrealistic to sell a jar containing 35% genuine bird’s nest for less than 30,000 VND, especially not for merely 13,000 VND.
Premium Vietnamese bird’s nest products are costly and specialized, while lower-priced industrial editions often utilize what’s known as “imported nest waste,” material typically meant to attract and retain swiftlets in farms.
Raw Vietnamese bird’s nest usually exceeds 2 million VND (around $79) for 10 grams, while the cleaned variant is priced over 3 million VND ($118) for the same amount.
In Vietnam, the recent launch of the iPhone 16e has already seen a price reduction shortly after its introduction.
According to Phu Nu So, prices have dropped by 300,000–500,000 VND ($12–$20), bringing the base version below the 16 million VND ($630) threshold. Thanks to ongoing promotions, the price can dip to as low as 15.7 million VND ($618), roughly 1.3 million VND ($51) less than its initial launch price.
Despite the decrease in price, major retailers in Vietnam report that the iPhone 16e is not as appealing as its predecessor, the iPhone 15, within the same price category.
In Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province, farmers cultivating Australian mangoes are facing a crisis as thousands of tons of ripe fruit remain unsold during the harvest period.
Dinh Van Minh, a 68-year-old mango grower from Cam Hoa commune, noted that although his mangoes are ripe, traders are only offering 2,000–3,000 VND per kilogram ($0.08–$0.12), a price that falls far below his production costs.
Historically, Australian mangoes have been exported primarily to China, but recent trade disruptions have obstructed this pathway. Domestic consumption is also slow, mainly concentrated in the southern regions.
Prices for Thai jackfruit have also seen a significant decline. As reported by Tuoi Tre, in Ben Tre and nearby Tien Giang (Cai Lay, Cai Be), the price of jackfruit has plummeted to just 4,000–6,000 VND/kg ($0.16–$0.24), down from 22,000 VND/kg just a month ago.
Nguyen Van Thang from Ben Tre explained that, unlike previous years, traders now only purchase perfectly shaped fruits – round, heavy, and blemish-free – discarding or undervaluing those with minor imperfections.
The price drop is attributed to an abundant harvest coinciding with diminished market demand.
Even with the impending peak travel season, many domestic flight routes are still reasonably priced, according to Thanh Nien.
On one of the most frequented routes, Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, tickets are under 1 million VND ($39) on Vietravel Airlines for May 24. On the same date, Vietjet offers several flights priced between 1.1–1.2 million VND ($43–$47).
Routes such as HCMC to Hanoi, Hanoi to Da Nang, and Hanoi to Nha Trang provide various time slots and ticket ranges to accommodate different travel budgets.
