Brian Jeffrey
The rice grasshopper, likened to “tóp mỡ xanh” or crispy fried pork fat, used to be easy to find during the rice harvest season. Many families enjoyed roasting or frying these insects with fragrant lemon leaves. Today, however, this once-common snack has become a sought-after delicacy in Hanoi’s upscale food markets.
Online vendors currently offer rice grasshoppers at prices ranging from 500,000 to 700,000 VND per kilogram, while the freshest young grasshoppers can reach as high as 800,000 VND/kg.
Le Thu Hoai, a resident of Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi, fondly remembers catching and grilling rice grasshoppers during her childhood. Faced with the current high prices, she opted to buy a smaller quantity. “I was tempted to buy more of those plump rice grasshoppers, but the cost held me back,” she reflected.
Bui Thi Phuong, who supplies Northwest specialties in Hai Ba Trung District, shared that a recent batch of 5kg of green “tóp mỡ xanh” was sold out instantly. She prices fresh rice grasshoppers at 80,000 VND for every 100 grams, with a minimum order requirement of 300 grams, while the cost for frozen ones is slightly lower at around 600,000 VND/kg.
During the rice harvesting season in the Northwest region, locals gather rice grasshoppers for sale, but this delicacy is only available for a limited time. Once the rice season concludes, so does the supply of these sought-after insects.
Nguyen Thi Minh Chau, an online seller from Dong Da District in Hanoi, indicated that the price for fresh young rice grasshoppers has consistently ranged between 750,000 and 800,000 VND/kg throughout the season, while older and frozen varieties are available for about 600,000 VND/kg. The quantity varies daily, with supplies fluctuating between 5kg and 50kg.
To make purchases more feasible, Chau has started packaging rice grasshoppers in 500g boxes. Due to recent weather changes impacting supply, these boxes often sell out within hours of being listed.
The rising popularity of rice grasshoppers among food lovers in Hanoi reveals its evolution from a rural favorite to a luxury item, showcasing the ever-changing landscape of food trends and markets.
