Orchards in Binh Loc Ward have become increasingly busy in recent weeks as rambutan, mangosteen and durian enter peak season, attracting visitors from HCM City, Lam Dong and across Dong Nai.
At a local eco-tourism orchard owned by Tran Van Loc, dozens of visitors gathered to sample fresh rambutan picked directly from the trees.
Vong Lenh Manh, a Chinese-language teacher from Dinh Quan Commune, said he and fellow teachers had chosen Binh Loc for a summer outing after hearing about its fruit gardens.
"I've eaten rambutan from markets and supermarkets, but this is the first time I've seen the fruit ripening on the tree and picked it myself," he said.
Binh Loc, formerly part of Long Khanh City, is known as one of Dong Nai's main rambutan-growing areas. Local farmers are currently harvesting the fruit while also welcoming visitors to their orchards.
The ward is home to 13 eco-tourism sites, with visitor numbers rising by 5-10% annually. Many sites operate through a cooperative tourism model that links several fruit-growing households.
Tran Minh Chau, vice chairman of the Binh Loc People's Committee, said local orchards receive between 2,000 and 3,000 visitors on peak summer weekends.
Local authorities have organised training programmes and strengthened environmental, security and service standards to support tourism development and promote local fruit products.
Binh Loc plans to hold a fruit festival later this month featuring a range of activities for visitors.
The ward has more than 4,800 hectares of fruit and industrial crops, including over 1,000 hectares of rambutan and 249 hectares of durian, making it one of Dong Nai's leading eco-tourism destinations.
