Making its province-wide debut themed “Dak Lak Durian - Connecting for Greater Reach”, the 2026 Dak Lak Durian Festival is creating a novel platform to connect growers, cooperatives, enterprises, scientists, distributors and markets, while positioning the Dak Lak durian brand on the international stage.

From growing areas to the value chain

Blessed with favourable natural conditions, Dak Lak has emerged as one of the country’s leading durian-growing regions. The province is gradually developing the “Dak Lak Durian” brand into a distinctive, high-value agricultural product with growing recognition in domestic coupled with international markets.

Following previous editions held at district level, the Dak Lak Durian Festival has gradually established itself as a distinctive cultural, tourism and trade event. In 2026, the festival is being held for the first time on a province-wide scale, marking a shift from simply promoting the fruit towards connecting the entire durian industry value chain.

Farmers harvesting durians.

According to comrade Tran Hong Tien, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the festival aims to promote the Dak Lak durian brand; honour farmers, enterprises combined with other stakeholders across the value chain; enhance trade promotion, strengthen investment linkages and expand export markets. It also provides an opportunity to develop agricultural alongside experiential tourism associated with local cultural identity, thereby showcasing a dynamic Dak Lak, rich in cultural heritage and increasingly integrated into global markets.

As for growers, the festival offers an opportunity not only to showcase their products but also to seek stable markets along with sustainable market outlets. “We hope the festival will help more people learn about Dak Lak durian. But most importantly, after the festival, we hope enterprises will come to the growing areas and establish long-term partnerships, giving farmers confidence to invest in as well as care for their orchards in line with established production processes”, said comrade Tran Van Thang, Director of Krong Pak Green Agriculture Cooperative.

Opening pathways to wider markets

Among the 16 activities taking place during this year’s festival, the Forum on Connecting Durian Production and Consumption, themed “A Sustainable Durian Ecosystem”, is regarded as a key professional activity, attracting representatives from management agencies, enterprises, investors, experts, associations as well as domestic and international partners. The forum aims to forge substantive linkages, paving the way for contract signing, market expansion alongside long-term partnerships.

Dak Lak durians ready for the festival.

Alongside this are a specialised durian and OCOP product exhibition featuring around 400 booths; a 500-pickup-truck durian parade; a food festival featuring 102 durian-based dishes; combined with the programme “One KOL, KOC per Commune to Sell Durian Online”. The tourism sector has also developed six tour itineraries and eight programmes lasting 1-3 days, linking durian orchard experiences with cultural, ecological as well as community destinations. Visitors can not only enjoy ripe durians but also learn about production processes, experience rural life and discover the cultural stories behind the products...

The festival is therefore designed not merely to bring consumers closer to Dak Lak durian but also to promote stories of growing areas, with greater emphasis on tangible outcomes such as contracts signed, enterprises connected with raw material zones, sustained production partnerships, deep-processed products and sustainable incomes for growers.

Translated by KHUONG THAO