Held on a provincial scale for the first time, the Dak Lak Durian Festival 2026 not merely promoted the billion-dollar agricultural commodity but also brought together a wide range of cultural, tourism and investment promotion activities province-wide.
Amid the distinctive aroma of the “king of fruits” and the vibrant festival atmosphere, the event attracted more than 500,000 visitor arrivals, opening up novel prospects for the Dak Lak durian brand to reach wider markets.
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| The Dak Lak Durian Festival 2026, themed “Dak Lak Durian - Connecting for Greater Reach”, opened on the evening of August 15 at March 10 Square in Buon Ma Thuot Ward, kicking off a series of vibrant and engaging activities. |
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| Dak Lak established the world record for the “Largest Parade of Fruit-Carrying Vehicles” on the morning of August 16, 2026, with 525 pickup trucks carrying durians as part of the festival. |
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| The 18-metre-high and 16-metre-wide “durian basket” model at March 10 Square in Buon Ma Thuot Ward was recognised as the record holder for the “Largest Durian Basket Model in Viet Nam”. |
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| The event featuring 102 distinctive durian-based dishes also received a Viet Nam record certificate from the Vietnam Records Organisation (VietKings). |
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| The Forum on “Connecting durian production and consumption towards a sustainable durian ecosystem” aimed to improve quality, standardise growing areas, promote processing as well as expand markets for Dak Lak durians. |
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| More than 400 booths operated by over 160 domestic as well as foreign organisations as well as enterprises showcased alongside promoted durian-related products and OCOP products. |
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| The “Memories of the Longhouse” live-action show offered a distinctive artistic portrayal of recreating the traditional Ede life, culture and longhouse living spaces in Dak Lak. |
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| The “Dak Lak - Reaching New Heights, Flourishing” mega concert, featuring numerous singers popular with young audiences, added a youthful dimension to the Festival and helped promote the image of a dynamic Dak Lak rich in cultural identity as well as driven by development aspirations. |
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| During the Festival, visitors enjoyed hands-on experiences in durian-growing areas and joined local residents in vibrant dances coupled with songs. |
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| As one of the provincial key durian-growing areas, Ea Knuec Commune held a procession ceremony for the “Durian Queen” palanquin. |
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| Dak Lak farmers auctioned durians directly at orchards, introducing a novel trading model aimed at reducing intermediaries, increasing farmers’ incomes and enhancing value across the supply chain. |
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| The Durian Festival offers an opportunity to promote the Dak Lak durian brand to people near and far, while showcasing the distinctive cultural heritage of ethnic minority communities to domestic along with international visitors. The closing ceremony, combined with an artistic programme celebrating the 81st National Day of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2026), will take place at 8:00 p.m. on September 2, 2026, at Phu Yen Square in Tuy Hoa Ward. |
Translated by KHUONG THAO
