The Chief Executive Officer of the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), Mr. Muhamed Salim bin Mohd Ali, accompanied by Mr. Nguyen Van Son, Deputy Head of the Agronomy Division at the Southern Horticultural Research Institute (SOFRI), visited the Quon Long Cooperative’s dragon fruit growing area in Dong Thap Province, Viet Nam on 2 November 2026.
The cooperative brings together 108 farmers cultivating dragon fruit across 183 hectares. Mr. Buu and his son, Mr. Phong, shared their production experience with the visitors. According to the figures they provided, during the main season from June to September, trees produce around 10 fruits per month. During the off season, they harvest approximately 15 to 20 fruits per tree over three months.
The growers also described using 5-watt lights in place of 20-watt lights to induce off-season flowering. The farm has welcomed visitors from India, New Zealand, Brazil and Argentina, reflecting international interest in Viet Nam’s dragon fruit sector.
The visit also explored opportunities to expand the cooperative’s distribution and farmer network across the Cho Gao area. Cho Gao was formerly part of Tien Giang Province; following Viet Nam’s 2025 provincial reorganisation, it is now in Dong Thap Province.
Dong Thap is a major dragon fruit growing area, with recent reports estimating approximately 8,500 to 9,400 hectares under cultivation. For comparison, recent figures put Tay Ninh at around 7,300 hectares and Lam Dong at approximately 25,800 hectares. These figures provide regional context for the cooperative’s plans to grow its reach.
SOFRI shared updates on new varieties and production systems. The institute has developed the white-fleshed LD17 and LD18 selections. The visit also covered DF2, DF14 and DF16, varieties developed through a breeding collaboration between SOFRI and Plant & Food Research in New Zealand. DF2 has purple flesh, DF14 has white flesh with a pink band beneath the skin, and DF16 has pink flesh. The new varieties offer improved fruit quality and appearance, as well as better tolerance to canker disease.
Plant & Food Research is now a group within New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science Institute, which began operating on 1 July 2025.
The visit offered an opportunity to learn directly from growers about their farming practices, seasonal production and plans for expansion. TFNet can also facilitate future study visits for member countries interested in learning about dragon fruit farming in Viet Nam, in collaboration with local partners such as SOFRI and the farming community.
