Vietnamese now prefer consuming locally grown fruit to unofficially imported products because of quality concerns.

The anxiety comes from a hepatitis A outbreak in Australia in early February which was linked to imported frozen berries packaged in a factory in China.

Thirteen Australians were diagnosed with hepatitis A after consuming the made-in-China product.

A woman (R) is seen buying imported fruit at a shop in Ho Chi Minh City.

Imported fruits are now widely sold in many shops, supermarkets and even online and are easy to buy compared to a few years ago.

There are many kinds of fruits including apples, cherries, strawberries, oranges, and grapes imported from the U.S., Peru, South Africa, and the Philippines with a wide range of prices.

According to fruit sellers, Vietnamese consumers are increasingly interested in such locally grown fruits as custard apples, watermelons, and dragon fruit thanks to their affordable prices and trustworthy quality.

Regarding frozen fruits imported from China linked to hepatitis A cases, Vo Hoang Anh, Marketing Director of Saigon Co.op, Viet Nam's largest supermarket chain, said 100% of the fresh produce and fruits sold in its retail system are imported from countries including Chile, South Korea, and South Africa.

None come from China, Anh insisted.

Imported fruit must undergo a quality control process, especially in terms of plant protection substances and preservative indicators.