Ri6 or Monthong (Dona) durian: varieties, classes and sizes
Share
Short answer. Vietnam's two main export durians are Ri6 and Monthong (Dona). Ri6 has rich, creamy yellow flesh and is picked about 85–100 days after flowering. Monthong is a larger fruit with thick, mild-sweet flesh, picked at about 110–130 days. Export fruit usually weighs 2–5 kg and is graded to ASEAN Stan 1:2006 by its number of fertile locules.
How do the two varieties compare?
| Ri6 | Monthong (Dona) | |
|---|---|---|
| Flesh | Rich, creamy, yellow | Thick, mild-sweet |
| Fruit | Usually about 2–5 kg | Larger fruit, usually about 2–5 kg |
| Harvest, days after flowering (South) | About 85–100 | About 110–130 |
| Dry matter reference | At least 32.29 % | At least 32.22 % |
Harvest takes longer in the Central Highlands. The dry matter figures come from the draft Vietnamese national standard of 2025. Musang King is available on request.
Which classes apply?
| Class | Fertile locules | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Extra | At least 4 | 5 % |
| Class I | At least 3 | 10 % |
| Class II | At least 2 | 10 % |
The reference is ASEAN Stan 1:2006, revised 2012. Fruit is whole, sound and clean, with the stem intact. Hardened pulp, tip burn and wet core together stay at or below 5 % of the edible portion.
How is durian sized?
| Size code | Fruit weight |
|---|---|
| 1 | Over 4 kg |
| 2 | 3–4 kg |
| 3 | 2–3 kg |
| 4 | 1–2 kg |
| 5 | 0.5–1 kg |
A tolerance of 10 % to the next size applies.
Which defects are refused?
Split fruit, rot, pest damage and immature fruit are not accepted. Slight shape defects and healed scratches on up to about 10 % of the surface are tolerated in Class I and Class II.
Frequently asked questions
How do you know a durian is mature?
By counting days after flowering for each variety, with dry matter as a reference. Fruit is shipped mature but unripe.
Which variety is larger?
Monthong (Dona).
Can I order other varieties?
Musang King is on request. Availability is confirmed with the quotation.
Harvest months are in the durian season by region, and packing in durian cartons, cold chain and container loading. Full specifications are on the durian page; for a price, use the durian quotation form.
Sources
Last reviewed 12 November 2026 by VIET FARM EXPORT COMPANY LIMITED, Ho Chi Minh City. Figures come from our durian specification; they are indicative and confirmed with each quotation.