Elephants escort ‘Durian Queen’ at festival in Vietnam’s Central Highlands

The procession in Ea Knuec Commune featured artisans, residents and tourists.

It was part of the province’s inaugural Dak Lak Durian Festival 2026, which runs from August 15 to September 2.

From early morning, Tan Binh Village was crowded with artisans in traditional costumes.

Gong performances, drums and music filled the festival grounds among stalls displaying durians and other agricultural products.

Two elephants led the procession carrying the ‘Durian Queen’ through the crowd.

The appearance of the Central Highlands elephants at the durian festival created a distinctive cultural highlight, with many visitors taking photos of the elephants moving through the crowd and traditional performances.

Ngo Thi Minh Trinh, secretary of the Ea Knuec Commune Party Committee, said the commune included elephants in the procession to connect an iconic cultural symbol of the Central Highlands with durian, an agricultural product that has generated significant economic value for local residents.

Elephants have been associated with Central Highland people in work, wartime, and tourism, Trinh said, adding that their presence at the festival would help introduce a distinctive cultural value of Dak Lak to visitors.

Following the procession, artisans performed the traditional Ede abundance ritual -- a ceremonial prayer for favorable weather, a bountiful harvest, community solidarity, and thriving livelihoods.

Ea Knuec currently has more than 5,000 hectares of durian orchards, with this year’s output estimated at over 70,000 metric tons worth around VND4 trillion (US$153 million).

The official said incorporating durian into traditional cultural activities is intended to present the fruit beyond its economic value.

Together with elephants, gong culture, and the Ede abundance ritual, durian becomes part of a broader story about the land, people, and community life of the Central Highlands.

The festival continued with street art performances, stilt-walking shows, and a durian market showcasing local agricultural and cultural products.

The Dak Lak Durian Festival 2026 is being held in Buon Ma Thuot Ward, Krong Pac Commune, Tuy Hoa Ward and several other durian-growing areas across the highland province.

Highlights include a culinary showcase of 102 durian dishes, a parade of 500 pickup trucks, durian auctions, farm-experience tours, and the outdoor show ‘Memory of the Longhouse.’