Availability: All year round
With the off-green spiky outer shell and the pungent smell, durian (sầu riêng in Vietnamese) is one of the most loved and most hated fruits in Vietnam. It’s considered the “King of Fruit,” and is available in all of Southeast Asia. Inside the fruit has light yellow pieces inside sections of durian.
The texture is similar to a smooth, rich custard. It’s one of the reasons why it’s enjoyed in many desserts such as Vietnamese sweet dessert (chè with chunks of durian), sticky rice (xôi sầu riêng), and cakes with durian cake and cream filling. We had a durian cake from Tous Les Jour and it was fantastic!
If you need souvenir ideas, find durian candy, dried durian, and durian pastry (bánh pía).
How to Buy Durian: Durian is either sold by the whole fruit or already prepared in containers. If you buy the whole fruit, the vendor will weigh it and can cut the fruit and place the pieces in containers for easier transport.
Important Tip: If you decide to purchase durian, make sure that your accommodations or transportation will allow it. There may be a sign that bans strong-smelling fruits such as durian and jackfruit. Hotels will give you a fine if you’re caught with durian!
How to Eat Durian: You can eat durian by itself or in the desserts that we mentioned above.
