A durian orchard in An Giang Province is welcoming hundreds of visitors every day and selling its fruit at two to three times the prevailing market price.
This year's durian season has been difficult for many growers across Vietnam's Mekong Delta, where prices have fallen sharply to around US$1.15–1.53 per kilogram, leaving many farmers struggling. However, Nguyen Ngoc Giau, owner of a 15,000-square-meter orchard in Quang Man Hamlet, Giong Rieng Commune, An Giang Province, has found a different path by combining fruit production with eco-tourism.
As a result, even during the peak harvest season, Giau is selling Ri6 durians for US$3.05 per kilogram, Thai Monthong durians for US$4.58 per kilogram, and Musang King durians for US$6.11 per kilogram, roughly two to three times higher than market prices.
The orchard is expected to produce seven to eight tonnes of durians this season. Although harvesting has only recently begun, the family has already sold more than five tonnes.
A visitor takes photo at Nguyen Ngoc Giau's durian orchard in An Giang Province. Photo: Tao Dat.
According to Giau, since officially opening the orchard to visitors in mid-June, it has welcomed between 50 and 60 guests each weekday. On weekends, the number rises to several hundred, with the garden's thatched pavilions almost always fully occupied.
The success follows years of searching for a more sustainable livelihood.
Giau said her parents-in-law owned nearly three hectares of rice fields. Despite farming rice for many years, the family remained trapped in the familiar cycle of good harvests but low prices, earning just enough to cover daily expenses.
Determined to break away from dependence on rice farming, the family decided to convert 1.5 hectares of low-yield paddy fields into a durian orchard. The decision involved significant investment, years of waiting and considerable financial risk.
The couple visited well-known orchards in Can Tho to learn cultivation techniques. After gaining sufficient experience, they invested in 200 premium trees, including Ri6, Monthong and Musang King varieties.
Over the next five years, the orchard was cultivated using organic methods in the hope of producing clean, high-quality fruit. By 2025, the first 90 trees yielded around four tonnes of durians.
Just as the family celebrated the first harvest, the Mekong Delta market was hit by oversupply and falling prices. Rather than selling cheaply to traders, Giau decided to attract customers directly by opening the orchard to visitors.
She documented every stage of cultivation, from pollination and fruit development to natural tree ripening. Regularly posting photos and short videos on her personal Facebook page helped the orchard gain wider recognition.
Visitors not only buy durians but also walk through the orchard, choose naturally ripened fruit directly from the trees, watch it being harvested and enjoy it immediately on-site. The results exceeded expectations. During the first harvest alone, more than four tonnes of durians sold out within just over one month.
Customers have been willing to pay premium prices because they can personally inspect the orchard, select fruit from the tree and feel confident about its quality.
High-quality fruit enables the family to sell durians well above market prices. Photo: TD
Beyond fruit sales, the family also serves traditional countryside dishes, giving visitors a richer rural experience during their stay.
The new business model not only provides a stable income for the family but also creates seasonal employment for seven to ten local workers, who earn US$7.63–11.45 per day.
Giau said anyone pursuing this model must be prepared to invest heavily, particularly in maintaining fruit quality. After every harvest, the orchard undergoes a strict nutrient restoration process that requires significant labor and expense.
On the remaining 1.5 hectares of land, the family has planted additional durian trees alongside Ruby guava, rambutan, almond, bitter melon, cucumber and yardlong beans to maximize land use and generate income while the young durian trees mature.
Looking ahead, Giau plans to build eco-friendly homestays within the orchard to accommodate visitors seeking a relaxing stay surrounded by nature.
Phuong Nga, who visited the orchard with a group of more than 10 people from Minh Luong, Chau Thanh Commune, An Giang Province, said the highlight was being able to pick naturally ripened durians herself and enjoy them immediately.
"The most enjoyable part is choosing and harvesting the ripe durians yourself before eating them on the spot. You can see how clean the orchard is and don't have to worry about harmful chemicals. The price is a little higher than at the market, but the peace of mind for my family's health is absolutely worth it," Nga said. Nguyen Hung Kiet, Chairman of the Giong Rieng Farmers' Association, described the model as a standout example aligned with the locality's strategy for developing agricultural eco-tourism. He said it not only increases the value of durians but also promotes a new approach to farming by creating greater value from existing orchards.
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