Khanh Son is a poor mountainous district located in southwest Khanh Hoa. It is the largest durian growing area in the province.

According to the director of Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Duy Quang, the soil and local weather are favorable for growing different durian varieties, such as Monthong, Ri6, Chin Hoa and Musang King.

The durian growing area in KhanhSon was 2,400 hectares last year, of which 1,200 hectares were in fruit-bearing period; the output reached 15,000 tons. Khanh Son’s durian not only sells in the domestic market but is also exported to China through official channels, though exports remain modest.

Five growing area codes in Khanh Son have been granted by the Chinese customs agency with an area of 125.4 hectares, which accounts for 10 percent of total fruit-bearing area. Also, Khanh Son is expected to have four more codes (120.2 hectares) to be granted by the Chinese side. China is the world’s largest durian market.

In 2023, Khanh Son farmers could sell durian at very high prices of VND80,000-90,000 per kilogram, and even VND120,000 sometimes, while in previous years, the price was just VND40,000 per kilogram.

Thanks to the high prices, farmers in the poor district earned VND1 trillion last durian season, or 2-3 times higher than that of previous years.

Bo Bo Thuong, the owner of the 3 hectare durian orchard in Son Binh commune, told VietNamNet that he has 600 durian trees and each gives 100-120 kilograms of fruit.

Thuong said he mostly grows Mongthong durian, the variety which is strongly sweet, has thick segments, small seeds and easy to care for.

In Khanh Son, farmers can harvest Monthong durian in September-October. In 2023, with the selling prices at the orchard of VND60,000-70,000, Thuong could pocket 4 million in profit (after deducting costs) from every durian tree. With the orchard of 600 trees, he made a profit of over VND2 billion.

Mai Van Khang in Son Lam commune has 10 hectares of durian. He said all family members are busy these days to harvest durian. In 2023, Khang harvested 60 tons of durian from his orchard, while in 2024, the figure is expected to reach 100 tons.

With durian prices higher this year, he estimated that he can make a profit of VND8 billion this year.

Nguyen Quoc Dong, deputy chair of KhanhSon district, said previously, farmers mostly grew red-flesh pomelo, mangosteen and rambutan, but the income was low. Local farmers, therefore, have shifted to grow durian which has become the major fruit in the poor area.

Tam An