The New Durian Capital of Vietnam: Post-Merger, This Province’s Durian Plantations Cover a Quarter of the Country

Sầu riêng, often hailed as a “heavenly gift” to Southeast Asia, thrives in the unique climatic conditions of the region, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia.

According to the Vietnam Vegetables and Fruits Association, as of the end of 2024, the total area of durian cultivation in the country reached nearly 151,000 hectares, mainly in the Central Highlands, the Mekong Delta, and the Southeast region. This area is double the planned orientation for 2030.

Looking at the top five provinces/cities in terms of durian cultivation area before the merger of administrative units at the provincial level, they were Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Tien Giang, Dong Nai, and Dak Nong. Specifically, by 2024, Dak Lak led the country with an area of over 33,000 hectares, followed by Lam Dong with 25,600 hectares, Tien Giang with 21,790 hectares, Dong Nai with 12,700 hectares, and Dak Nong with 12,200 hectares.

However, with the proposed provincial mergers, Vietnam’s durian map will undergo a significant change. A new “durian capital” will emerge with Lam Dong taking the lead in the country.

Specifically, according to the arrangement and merger proposal, Lam Dong, Dak Nong, and Binh Thuan will be consolidated and named Lam Dong province, with the political and administrative center located in the current Lam Dong province. Thus, after the merger, the durian cultivation area of this province will exceed 42,000 hectares, officially surpassing Dak Lak, and accounting for approximately 28% of the country’s total area.

Meanwhile, Dak Lak, after merging with Phu Yen, will have an estimated total durian cultivation area of 33,800 hectares, ranking second in the country.

Dong Thap, after merging with Tien Giang, will have a total cultivation area of 24,900 hectares, taking third place.

The merger of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc results in a new total durian cultivation area of approximately 20,200 hectares, ranking fourth in the country.

Can Tho’s merger with Soc Trang and Hau Giang propels it to fifth place, with a total cultivation area of over 11,100 hectares.

In terms of exports, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, vegetable and fruit exports in the first four months of 2025 reached 1.62 billion USD, a decrease of 14% compared to the same period last year. For durian, the export value in the first four months of 2025 was approximately 130 million USD, with an estimated export volume of 35,000 tons. This figure is a significant drop from the same period in 2024 when durian exports reached over 500 million USD.

In the Chinese market, 2025 marked a turning point when the industrial dye Orange II, a banned substance in food, was discovered in durian shipments from Thailand in late 2024. This led to tighter inspections by China, requiring 100% batch testing for this substance and cadmium, resulting in delayed clearance (up to a week) and increased costs.