Off-season Hau plums, a specialty fruit usually available from February, have made an early appearance this year in Vietnam due to early fruit stimulation techniques. These plums are being sold in stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City at high prices, despite their small size and sour taste. The limited supply and high demand are attributed to the application of modern techniques and the small yield of the fruit. Hau plums are grown in various provinces in the Northwest mountainous region of Vietnam, with Son La being the most famous.