The Biological Development Technology Company has sent the first shipment of durian from Vietnam’s southern Dong Nai province to the US.

The 15 tonne shipment fetched VND20,000 (US$1.17) per kg. The Dong Nai durian is a hybrid form of Thailand’s Mong Thon variety, according to a report from VOV News.

The Biological Development Technology Company has invested VND3bn (US$175,387) in a coolstore in the town of Long Khanh, the report said, which can store up to 300 tonnes of durian, as well as three sampling centres in Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Dac Lak provinces.