Vietnamese mango varieties compared: Keo, elephant, R2E2 and Cát Hòa Lộc
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Short answer. Vietnam ships four main export mangoes. Keo is small and firm, about 250–400 g. Green-skin elephant mango is large, about 0.6–1.2 kg, and is often eaten green and crunchy. R2E2 is large with a red blush, about 500–900 g. Cát Hòa Lộc is the sweetest, at 20–21 °Brix. All are graded to Codex CXS 184-1993.
How do the four varieties compare?
| Keo | Elephant (Tượng) | R2E2 | Cát Hòa Lộc | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growing area | An Giang (An Phu, Cho Moi) and Dong Thap | Cho Moi (An Giang) and Dong Thap; Son La late in the season | Cam Lam, Khanh Hoa | Hoa Hung, Cai Be (now Dong Thap) |
| Fruit weight | About 250–400 g | About 0.6–1.2 kg | About 500–900 g | Confirmed with the quotation |
| Sweetness when ripe | 12–15 °Brix | 13–16 °Brix | 12–15 °Brix | 20–21 °Brix at harvest |
| Look and eating | Green skin, yellow flesh, small flat seed; eaten firm and sour-sweet, or ripe | Green skin; popular green and crunchy, ripens to sweet pale-yellow flesh | Green skin with a red blush, firm flesh | Protected geographical indication |
| Fruit per 5 kg carton | About 12–18 | About 4–8 | About 6–9 | Confirmed with the quotation |
Cát Chu mango, at 16–18 °Brix, and Taiwan mango are also listed on our mango overview page.
Which classes and sizes apply?
| Codex class | Skin defects (size A / B / C) | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Extra | Very slight only | 5 % |
| Class I | At most 3 / 4 / 5 cm² | 10 % |
| Class II | At most 5 / 6 / 7 cm² | 10 % |
Size codes are A 200–350 g, B 351–550 g and C 551–800 g. The minimum is 200 g. Fruit in one package may differ by at most 75, 100 or 125 g, and the stalk is no longer than 1.0 cm.
How is maturity checked?
Mango is harvested mature-green: dry matter of at least 14 %, firm flesh and filled shoulders. It is ripened at destination. Brix is measured on 10 fruit per lot and reported with the packing photos. Fruit shipped mature-green reads lower: about 8–9 °Brix for Keo and 7–9 for elephant mango.
Where does Cát Hòa Lộc come from?
From Hoa Hung commune in Cai Be: about 260 ha and nearly 3,000 t a year.
Frequently asked questions
Which mango is the sweetest?
Cát Hòa Lộc, at 20–21 °Brix at harvest. Cát Chu follows at 16–18.
Which mango is eaten green?
Elephant mango is shipped mature-green for crunchy eating. Keo is also eaten firm.
Which is the largest?
Elephant mango, at about 0.6–1.2 kg per fruit.
See also the mango season calendar, mango cartons and container loading and storage temperature and ripening. Full specifications are on the mango overview page and the Keo, elephant and R2E2 pages; for a price, use the mango quotation form.
Sources
Last reviewed 12 November 2026 by VIET FARM EXPORT COMPANY LIMITED, Ho Chi Minh City. Figures come from our mango specifications; they are indicative and confirmed with each quotation.