Dak Lak Province, Vietnam will hold its first provincial-level Durian Festival from August 15 to September 2, 2026. Organizers expect the event to draw around 300,000 visitors to Vietnam's Central Highlands, the Vietnam News Agency reported Monday.
Key Facts
- Dak Lak's first provincial-scale Durian Festival runs August 15 to September 2, 2026, across Buon Ma Thuot Ward, Krong Pac Commune, Tuy Hoa Ward, and other durian-growing areas.
- Organizers expect around 300,000 visitors, per the Vietnam News Agency.
- Planned activities include a roughly 500-vehicle durian parade, a 400-booth trade fair, and an attempt to set a record with 102 durian dishes.
The festival is themed "Dak Lak Durian, Connecting and Reaching Further."
It marks the province's first attempt at organizing durian promotion at the provincial level. Earlier festivals were organized locally, according to the provincial government.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for August 15 at March 10 Square in Buon Ma Thuot Ward. A closing art program is planned for September 2 at Phu Yen Square in Tuy Hoa Ward.
What's Happening at the Festival
Organizers have planned a roughly 500-vehicle pickup truck parade to promote durian, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
A trade fair will include around 400 booths for gift products, OCOP (One Commune One Product) items, and other Dak Lak agricultural goods. The program also includes a trade conference focused on the durian industry.
The festival will also include an online durian and OCOP marketplace and a forum on building a sustainable durian ecosystem. Other planned activities include orchard tours and tastings, and an auction of durian products from local farms. Organizers also plan an attempt to set a record with 102 durian-based dishes.
The provincial government's planning documents describe further activities, including a durian culinary festival, an international DJ and music night, and the Tuy Hoa Half Marathon.
Why Dak Lak Is Scaling Up Durian Promotion
Provincial officials say the festival is meant to build the Dak Lak durian brand and expand export markets. It is also meant to attract investment and grow tourism and services in the province.
Ahead of the main event, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted a culinary talk show on June 30. The event brought together chefs from Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia to develop durian dishes for local restaurants and hotels, Nhan Dan reported.
The recipes are meant to serve visitors during the festival and the broader harvest season.
What to Watch Out For
The festival includes a specialized durian trade conference and product auctions. That gives growers and traders one provincewide venue for business the industry previously handled through smaller, informal channels, per the provincial government.
This is the first provincial-scale edition, so organizers have not published a prior-year visitor or revenue baseline. The 300,000-visitor estimate is a first-time projection, not a year-over-year comparison.