Dak Lak’s total export turnover reached USD 2.8 billion in 2025, up 26% from the previous year, with coffee and durian among its key exports. With nearly 45,000 hectares under cultivation, Dak Lak has the largest durian-growing area and output in Vietnam.
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At a durian auction organized by the People’s Committee of Krong Pac commune |
Fresh durians from the province have reached markets, such as China, Thailand, Japan, the United States, and China’s Taiwan and Hong Kong. Sixteen frozen durian packing facilities have also been granted export codes by China’s General Administration of Customs.
To capitalize on the potential of this specialty fruit, Dak Lak has established 28 cooperatives specializing in durian production, while 185 agricultural cooperatives have signed production and distribution agreements with businesses. Seven major companies have developed closed value chains from growing areas to preliminary processing and export-standard packing. The province has also certified 109 facilities engaged in trading, preliminary processing, separating durian flesh, and freezing the fruit as meeting food safety requirements.
Dak Lak’s fresh durian output is estimated at 500,000 metric tons this year. Ahead of the main harvest and export season, authorities have stepped up monitoring of pesticide residues and controls on banned substances such as Auramine O and cadmium. The province is also strengthening traceability and closed value chains involving cooperatives and businesses.
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With nearly 45,000 hectares under cultivation, Dak Lak is the largest durian-growing hub in the Central Highlands. |
However, the industry still faces challenges. Production remains fragmented and small-scale, while widespread intercropping means some areas do not meet requirements for growing-area codes. Some businesses and growers also view growing-area and packing-facility codes mainly as short-term export requirements rather than focusing on maintaining technical standards, traceability, and long-term compliance with importing countries’ requirements.
Links between production, distribution, and export remain weak. Competition among buyers, traders breaking agreements to purchase immature fruit when prices rise, and farmers failing to honor commitments with businesses have also contributed to inconsistent export quality and affected the reputation of Dak Lak durian.
Nguyen Thien Van, Vice Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee, said the province is reviewing concentrated production and export-oriented raw-material areas and reorganizing production toward larger-scale, modern operations linked to market demand. It will also accelerate the issuance of growing-area and packing-facility codes, strengthen management of certified areas, and coordinate with businesses and industry associations to prevent congestion, price pressure, and supply chain disruptions during the peak harvest season.
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Dak Lak will invite KOLs and KOCs from China, Thailand, and Vietnam to livestream and promote its durian products. |
The Dak Lak Durian Festival in 2026, themed “Dak Lak Durian – Connecting and Reaching Further,” will seek to promote the province’s durian industry and expand market connections. The event aims to facilitate export contracts, attract investment, increase export growing-area codes and domestic consumption, and encourage investment in freezing plants, production lines, and deeply processed durian products.
About 300,000 visitors are expected to attend. Ahead of the festival, authorities have surveyed locations where visitors can experience and taste durian, while accommodation providers have been asked to prepare for increased demand and ensure food safety, fire prevention and firefighting, and environmental sanitation.
Dak Lak will also invite influential figures from China, Thailand, and Vietnam to livestream and promote its durian products.
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With good quality, a distinctive flavor, and competitive prices, Dak Lak durian is steadily making inroads into demanding markets. |
“Our goal is to make the durian festival a platform connecting growers, businesses, investors, and consumer markets. The festival will create a distinctive story for Dak Lak durian,” said Do Huu Huy, Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee.
Translated by Tran Hoai