Listening for ripeness in towering durian trees

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Durians being moved to the collection point. Photo: Hoang Anh

On a July morning, we followed a narrow path weaving through a 5-hectare durian orchard in Hang Gon Ward, Dong Nai Province. Towering trees over a decade old bore clusters of durians, awaiting daring workers to harvest them.

Perched precariously on trees nearly 10 meters tall, men hold only a small knife - used both to cut fruit stems and assess ripeness. Without safety harnesses or protective gear, they rely solely on their strong arms, experience, and finely tuned senses.

Each tree can bear dozens to hundreds of durians, but only those at peak ripeness - firm on the outside and mature within - are harvested. The golden rule: “Not too soon, not too late.”

Sound reveals ripeness

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A worker taps durians to assess ripeness. Photo: Hoang Anh

Nguyen Van Linh, a veteran durian tapper, explains that underripe fruit emits a muffled sound, mature ones produce a crisp drum-like tone, and perfectly ripe durians have their own distinct “voice.”

“To outsiders, it all sounds the same. But to a trained ear, a few taps are enough to diagnose ripeness. Some fruits may look perfect on the outside but aren’t ready inside. Pick them too soon, and you could lose hundreds of thousands of dong - traders won’t buy them and orchard owners get upset,” Linh laughs.

As the fruit is cut, workers below swiftly position themselves with burlap sacks or plastic baskets to catch it midair, ensuring the fall is cushioned and accurate.

Quick eyes, faster hands

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Tran Minh Phu catches a durian falling from nearly 10 meters. Photo: Hoang Anh

Standing underneath, the catcher is no less focused. Durians typically weigh 3–5 kg and drop from heights of 6–8 meters. A miscatch can crush the fruit or injure the catcher.

Tran Minh Phu, 48, shares that catching durians may look easy, but it’s risky work.

“To avoid injury, I have to calculate the drop direction, adjust my stance and arm position to catch the durian cleanly in the center of the sack, and cushion its fall to the ground.”

“Once, during a rainstorm, the ground was slippery. I nearly lost my footing. One wrong move and that durian would’ve hit me in the head. Even though I don’t climb the tree, I still have to judge the fall’s trajectory, position the sack, and catch it gently so the fruit doesn’t break,” he recalls.

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Skilled workers sort mature durians. Photo: Hoang Anh

Though accidents do happen, Phu stays committed to the job out of passion. During harvest season, his “tapping and catching” crew follows local traders across orchards to collect durians.

While the work isn’t consistent year-round, during peak season a skilled worker can earn $1,180 to $1,570 per month, and in exceptional cases, over $4,000.

Durian orchard owner Nguyen Thi Hai Van, from Hang Gon Ward, says the harvesting job may look simple but requires precision and coordination.

“A harvest season only lasts one to two months, but it determines most of our annual income. Skilled workers help preserve the quality of the fruit - no bruised segments, no price loss,” she says.

According to Van, in previous years, traders bought durians at premium prices. This year, however, prices have fallen. Bulk buyers are paying just over 30,000 VND (approximately $1.18) per kilogram. If harvested too early or if bruised, the fruit may fetch only half that - or be rejected entirely.

Hoang Anh