Unveiling an Immersive Experiential Space for the Flavors of the Highlands with Dak Lak Durian

Experiencing Dak Lak Durian Cuisine

Festival Ambience and Theme

At the Eco Place venue, the Dak Lak Durian Culinary Festival 2026 officially opened under the theme "Unveiling the Flavors of the Highlands." The event is part of the Dak Lak Durian Festival 2026 series of activities, attracting a large gathering of artisans, chefs, businesses, restaurants, cooperatives, orchard growers, local residents, and visitors.

Running from August 15 to 23, the festival brings together nearly 200 booths showcasing regional specialties, agricultural products, and a wide array of culinary creations crafted from durian. This is regarded as a prime venue for promoting local agricultural produce by linking production with processing, consumption, and tourism development.

A key highlight of the festival is the live preparation and display of 102 innovative dishes crafted from Dak Lak durian. Using signature ingredients from the great highlands, the chefs explored diverse culinary combinations to create dishes that are both novel and emblematic of regional gastronomy.

Alongside the culinary tasting experiences, visitors can also enjoy the "Durian and Fire" performance show, watch the "Durian Master" contest, mixology demonstrations, street art, traditional musical instruments, acoustic music, circus acts, and magic performances. This array of activities was designed to enrich visitor experiences while bringing durian closer to community cultural life and tourism services.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Le Hoang Co, General Director of Dam San Investment, Tourism, and Trading Co., Ltd., emphasized that durian plays a vital role in Dak Lak's agricultural structure. Beyond generating value through cultivation and exports, the fruit holds significant untapped potential in value-added processing, gastronomy, and tourism services.

According to Mr. Co, the festival serves as an opportunity to introduce innovative approaches to durian while offering a platform for chefs, artisans, enterprises, and local farmers to connect, share knowledge, showcase products, and explore collaborative opportunities. Through these efforts, Dak Lak durian gains an alternative market pathway beyond fresh fruit distribution.

Within the framework of the event, the Organizing Committee also reviewed and presented awards for the culinary competition held on August 15, which featured 20 teams comprising 60 chefs from various provinces and cities across the country. The competing teams presented diverse culinary concepts, showcasing the creative versatility and richness of durian as a culinary ingredient.

Notably, the project featuring the preparation and display of 102 dishes made from Dak Lak durian was officially recognized and awarded a Vietnam Record Certificate by the Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings).

The Organizing Committee awarded 4 Consolation Prizes, 2 Thematic Awards for "Most Creative Dish" and "Dish Most Imbued with Dak Lak Identity," alongside 3 Third Prizes, 2 Second Prizes, and 1 First Prize to outstanding teams.

By approaching durian through a culinary lens, the festival not only creates a vibrant highlight in the promotion of Dak Lak agricultural products, but also fosters strong linkages between agriculture, food processing, culture, and tourism. This is expected to elevate the value of durian, cultivating an increasingly diverse and appealing brand image for Dak Lak durian in the eyes of consumers.