The land of "golden fruits"

Early in the morning in Da Kai (Duc Linh district), dew still lightly clings to the lush green durian leaves. The early morning sun shines brightly, glistening through the leaves like honey. Standing amidst his orchard, ready for harvest, Mr. Luon Van Chung (village 10, Da Kai commune) intently watches the plump durians waiting to be cut, saying slowly: “Back then, I just planted them randomly, without thinking much… I just felt like taking a leap of faith. I never imagined this type of tree would thrive in this land and produce such valuable ‘golden fruits’.”

Báo Bình Thuận•05/06/2025

Sowing seeds through trial and error can lead to great success.

Da Kai is a semi -mountainous area , known for its potential but largely untapped resources . Previously, the people lived primarily by clearing land for farming, cultivating cashew trees, and working as laborers. Life was hard, with people struggling to make ends meet. During seasons when cashew crops failed and prices plummeted, they would end up with nothing for the entire year . In this context, some people began to think differently. And under the cashew trees, the first durian trees were planted. Not with scientific calculations, but simply... a gamble. They planted them for fun, as a trial, because they thought the land wasn't so bad after all .

Mr. Chung stands beside his durian orchard , preparing for harvest.

However, the crop persevered and thrived. With its mild climate, red soil that retains moisture well, gentle breezes, and sufficient rainfall, Da Kai became an ideal area for durian trees to take root and grow lush and green . After the first few years of arduous care, by the 6th or 7th year, the trees began to bear fruit regularly. Then, year after year, durian not only "tolerated the land" but also began to bring new life to those who had placed their faith in it. Mr. Luon Van Chung, one of the pioneers in converting from cashew to durian , is now the owner of a large durian orchard with more than 3 hectares of cultivated land. He recounted: “ Initially, I intercropped the durian trees under the cashew trees , not daring to remove them all. But the durian trees grew so well that once they bore fruit, they were incomparable to the cashew trees. Now, only durian remains as the main crop.” Currently, his orchard yields 20-25 tons/ha. With purchase prices at the orchard ranging from 40,000 to 50,000 VND/kg, each hectare brings in an income of 800 million to over 1 billion VND. Some trees yield fruit worth tens of millions of VND each season .

Mr. Lam is now the owner of 10 hectares of durian trees .

It's not just Mr. Chung; the people in Da Kai commune have undergone a dramatic transformation. From just a few households and 1 hectare of durian cultivation , now a large area of agricultural land here is covered with durian trees . According to Mr. Ha Van Thuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Kai commune, the entire commune currently has more than 1,500 hectares of durian , concentrated in hamlets 10 , 11, and 12. The main varieties are Ri 6 and Thai, both producing large fruits with thick flesh and a distinctive aroma , favored by traders and the market. “ The economic efficiency of durian trees is undeniable . But the biggest change is the farming mindset. People no longer plant in the old way, but learn systematically, focusing on quality and market demand,” Mr. Thuan said.

" Trees can hear the human heart."

The words of Mr. Mai Thanh Lam, a resident of the Western region who settled in Hamlet 11 (Da Kai Commune), are often repeated by the locals: "The land doesn't let people down; the important thing is whether you dare to change or not . " That statement sounds simple, but to put it into practice requires a long journey. Mr. Lam, who now owns more than 10 acres of durian trees , says that the greatest luck wasn't choosing the right crop, but "daring to think differently." Durian trees require meticulous care , high investment, and years of perseverance before harvest. But once the trees bear fruit, they "repay" the growers with sustainability and stability far superior to traditional crops. Some families who once lived in dilapidated wooden houses with corrugated iron roofs have now built spacious new homes and installed solar power. Life changes every day, every season .

" Village 11 used to be a place where people from all over came to live, known as the ' rice and bean' area , where most people lived off the forest and worked as laborers. But now, the village has only 54 officially registered households, but nearly 300 households are engaged in intensive farming or renting land for their livelihoods. If it weren't for durian , no one would have thought this area would develop like this," Mr. Lam said.

According to Mr. Lam, durian trees are not easy to grow. They require careful care and significant investment. But if you persevere, they will not let you down. " The sweetness of durian is the sweetness of sweat , time, and faith," Mr. Lam said.

The Da Kai region has produced "golden fruits" that have brought prosperity to its people.

From around May to July, Da Kai enters its peak harvest season. The concrete roads, built jointly by the government and the people, usually have little traffic, but during the harvest season, they are bustling with the sounds of engines and people calling out to each other as they cut the fruit. Trucks, tricycles, and motorbikes line up, loaded with baskets of golden, plump durians , heading to the purchasing points. The locals jokingly call it the " village harvest season " —a season of laughter , abundance , and the fruits of years of hard work and dedication to the land. As an old farmer once said: " Trees listen to people's hearts. The way you care for them, they repay you. The sweetness of the durian is the sweetness of sweat , of change, of a long journey." However , the commune authorities still advise people against expanding the cultivated area indiscriminately. “ We learned from the experiences of pepper and rubber, which experienced rapid growth followed by a sharp decline. Durian is a valuable crop , but its output still depends on the export market, especially China,” shared Mr. Thuan , Chairman of the Commune People's Committee. Instead of expanding, the commune focuses on improving quality: issuing planting area codes , guiding traceability, training cultivation according to VietGAP standards, limiting chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and using organic fertilizers. Some villages, such as Village 10, have completed the issuance of planting area codes , and Village 11 is accelerating the process. At the same time, the locality is also strengthening support for linking farmers with businesses to ensure guaranteed purchase and stable prices.

Everywhere you look, there are durian orchards laden with fruit.

From a land fraught with difficulties, Da Kai has quietly transformed, not only through durian cultivation , but also through the people's own aspiration for change . Durian is not only the " golden fruit " of this land , but also a symbol of striving , daring to think, and daring to act. As Mr. Mai Thanh Lam said: "The land will not let down the people; the important thing is whether we dare to change or not ? "