The King of Fruits Takes Over Hanoi: Nearly 3 Tons Sold in a Day

In a fruit shop on To Hieu Street, Ha Dong, durians were in high demand from early morning.

The seller shared that they offer two types of durians, Ri 6 and Thai durian, sourced daily from the South. “Ri 6 has two price categories; the premium variety is sold at 50,000 VND per kg, while the second grade is priced at 35,000 VND per kg. Similarly, Thai durian is categorized into two, with the first grade costing 50,000 VND per kg and the second grade, 39,000 VND per kg,” the shop owner informed.

Interestingly, the quality difference between the two grades is almost negligible. “Whether it’s Ri 6 or Thai durian, the sweetness, and creamy texture remain consistent across both grades. The main distinction lies in the number of seed segments; the premium variety has 4-5 segments, while the second grade has 2-3. Many customers opt for the latter as it offers a similar taste experience at a more affordable price. The price of 35,000 VND per kg is comparable to that of oranges in season, and many customers who initially had doubts were convinced after their first purchase, often returning to buy in bulk,” shared the seller, adding that they sell an average of 2-3 tons of durians daily.

Ms. Hang, a customer from Cau Giay, shared her experience: “I’m buying from this shop for the first time, but I’ve tasted their durians before, and they’re just as delicious as those sold in supermarkets.”

With such affordable prices, customers often purchase in bulk, either for personal consumption or to share with friends. A customer from Hai Ba Trung, who discovered the shop through a TikTok video, commented, “Durians are so cheap here that it’s worth buying a large quantity to enjoy over time.”

At another fruit shop on 19/5 Street in Van Quan, Ha Dong, durians were on offer at a flat rate of 38,000 VND per kg, regardless of the variety, be it Ri 6, Thai, or Musang King. The owner shared that the durians were sourced from Dak Lak, and despite procuring nearly four tons daily, they would sell out. They also mentioned having a Zalo group to notify customers when new stock arrived, allowing them to choose their preferred variety. On the morning of August 8 alone, over two tons of durians were sold.

“We are currently running a promotional campaign to introduce our shop, hence the special price of 38,000 VND. This offer will only last for five days, after which the prices will return to the normal range of 68,000 – 78,000 VND per kg, depending on the variety,” the owner shared.

Across various durian retailers and markets in Hanoi, Ri 6 and Thai durians are typically priced between 65,000 and 80,000 VND per kg, depending on the type. On e-commerce platforms, prices for whole durians range from 50,000 to 80,000 VND per kg, slightly lower than last year’s rates for the same period.

According to sellers, a simple way to determine the ripeness of a durian is by shaking or knocking on the fruit. If you hear a hollow sound, similar to that of a ripe jackfruit, it indicates that the durian is almost ripe and will be ready to eat the following day. On the other hand, if there is no sound, the durian is unripe and will need to be kept for 4-5 days to ripen. When storing unripe durians at home, it is advisable not to place them directly on tiled floors as this can cause the fruit to become cold and affect the texture of the seeds. Instead, use a thick piece of cardboard as a base.