Durians seen on a farm. Photo by VnExpress/Manh Khuong
Vietnamese durians are fast becoming a trendy delicacy in Beijing, making their way into supermarkets, wholesale markets, milk tea shops, bakeries, and high-end restaurants.
Offered in a variety of forms — from fresh and frozen to pre-packaged — the fruit is attracting growing interest from Chinese consumers.
At major markets such as Xinfadi and Hema in Beijing, durian sales in May 2025 rose nearly 40% year-on-year. With attractive displays and ready-to-eat options, the fruit is increasingly appealing to urban buyers.
A Beijing resident told the Vietnam News Agency that despite higher prices and a slightly wetter texture this season, durians remain a favorite among Chinese consumers.
While the Chinese market is currently dominated by imports from Thailand and Malaysia, due to their earlier harvest seasons, Vietnamese durians are gradually gaining ground.
Tang Dong Qing, owner of an international durian shop at Xinfadi market, said Vietnamese durians are highly popular with local buyers and expressed hope that their presence in the Chinese market would continue to grow.
In 2024, Vietnam exported an estimated 1.5 million tons of durians, with nearly 180,000 hectares under cultivation, six times more than in 2015. Exports of the fruit reached a record US$3.3 billion last year, up 43.2% from 2023, and accounted for nearly half of the country’s fruit and vegetable exports.
China remained Vietnam’s largest durian export market, purchasing over $2.9 billion worth of the fruit, around 91% of total export revenue.
