Duy An

Apart from coconuts, the southern province of Bến Tre is also famous for its durian, a specialty of Cái Mơn Hamlet, Chợ Lách District.

Durian with its pungent smell but incredibly nutritious can be used in many tasty dishes that even gourmets won't forget in a hurry, said local Phùng Văn Kỳ, adding that tourists and travellers should visit Bến Tre to discover and experience the fruits and variety of dishes.

“Durian, which is our pride and joy, was been put on the fruit map of Việt Nam a century ago,” said Kỳ, a native of Cái Mơn Hamlet.

Durian from Bến Tre Province's Cái Mơn Hamlet is well known for its acquired taste. Photo vivu.net

Asked about the durian’s origin, Kỳ said that in 1910, there was a teacher named Nguyễn Duy Lưu, who was invited to teach in Cambodia.

While there, he enjoyed durian the likes of which he had never eaten before with a special fragrance, sweet and buttery taste.

So impressed with the fruit, he brought seeds home to grow in Cái Mơn Hamlet. His efforts paid off, and soon the fruit grew and tasted just like the ones he'd eaten in Cambodia.

Fertile land in Cái Mơn helps durian trees produce plenty of fruit. Photo giaydantuong.edu.vn

Kỳ said that first time the durian trees planted by teacher Lưu only bear fruit in summer. During that time, he had to wait at noon or midnight to have a ripe one fall. The durian’s sweet-scented and aroma was released far and wide, attracting people from neighbourhoods to come and ask for durian seeds to grow their own.

Soon the whole area was full of durian trees, and using the name of the hamlet, the fruit became known as Cái Mơn durian.

Today, thanks to advances in technology, Cái Mơn durian trees produce fruit all year, and the quality has remained the same.

Cái Mơn durians are fabulous served with sticky rice and other dishes. Photo vivu.net

Like coconuts, another fruit famous in the province, durian can also be cooked into many dishes. It's popular when served with sticky rice, or as a desert with sweet soups or ice cream

Overseas Vietnamese Nguyễn Thu Thủy, who was born in Germany, said her parents are addicted to durian.

At first, she wasn't completely taken in with the potent smell, but after tasting the fruit, she was hooked.

High-quality durians are prepared for export. Photo phunuonline.com.vn

Thủy said she likes not only to eat fresh durian but also durian ice cream and durian juice.

“They are so tasty with aromatic flavour that I can eat a lot," she admitted.

"They are very nutritious and help to cool down so much in the summer heat.

“We often make a plan, every two or three years, to return to our Vietnamese homeland not only for travelling through the country to discover its natural landscape but also to experience delicious dishes and fruits such as durian.” VNS