Twenty-two tonnes of Vietnamese dracontomelon - locally known as qua sau - have arrived in Australia, said the Vietnamese Embassy's trade representative office in the country.

This is the first time qua sau was imported, marketed and distributed in Australia.

The souring agent, hugely popular and widely used in Vietnamese cuisine, fetches around AUD$18 per kilo or AUD$390,000 (VND6.5 billion) for the whole shipment.

The trade office has printed brochures to introduce the fruit's numerous uses and benefits to local merchants and consumers. It said the fruits have a lot of potential in Australia.

Despite the pandemic, Viet Nam's agriculture exports to Australia during the first half of the year recorded a 52 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2019, reaching US$40 million.

The trade office said it has plans to promote the dracontomelon during the ongoing Viet Nam Dragon Fruit Week in Australia. — VNS