Durian orchards in Chu Prong Commune have suffered widespread leaf loss, sap oozing, branch dieback and tree deaths following prolonged rain.
Tran Trong Thuy, 74, from Hoang Yen Village, said nearly 400 of his 500 mature durian trees had been affected, with estimated losses of more than VND 500 million (USD 19,000).
Thuy said the trees deteriorated rapidly after more than two months of rain and became seriously diseased when sunny weather returned. Despite repeated treatments, he was unable to save them.
"Almost every household in this area is facing the same problem. Nearly my entire durian orchard has been affected or died," he added.
His family is now hiring workers to remove the damaged trees and plans to replace them with coffee plants.
Nearby farmer Le Van Thanh, 45, is facing similar losses, with much of his six-year-old durian orchard dying.
His nearly 300 trees produced about 17 tonnes of fruit last year, generating almost VND 1 billion in revenue. This year, however, dark patches appeared on the trunks before leaves withered and fell and the trees eventually died.
According to Thanh, the prolonged rain may have contributed to the spread of disease, leaving many trees too weak to recover when sunny weather returned.
If this year's output had matched last year's, his family could lose nearly VND 1 billion in revenue, he said.
After clearing the orchard, Thanh plans to take on additional work to raise money to replant coffee, which he believes could provide a more stable income despite offering lower potential returns than durian.
Ngo Anh Tuan, an official with Chu Prong Commune's agriculture and infrastructure division, said the deaths were concentrated in Hoang Yen Village and Bat Village, affecting more than 10 hectares based on preliminary figures.
Initial assessments suggest the deaths may be linked to fungal disease, with symptoms similar to quick and slow decline in pepper plants. However, specialist agencies still need to determine the exact cause.
Many affected orchards are on relatively flat land with poor drainage. Prolonged rain can cause water to accumulate around roots, weakening trees and creating favourable conditions for disease, Tuan noted.
Local authorities have advised farmers against growing only durian and recommended intercropping it with coffee to reduce risks. Farmers have also been urged to regularly inspect their orchards and clear drainage channels to prevent prolonged waterlogging.
Durian has become one of Vietnam's major agricultural exports, generating about USD 4 billion in export revenue in 2025.
