Crop varieties: Road to becoming Viet Nam's national strength

At the Agricultural Genetics Institute, laboratories are so cold that researchers wear jackets even in midsummer. On the shelves are rows of vials preserving the genetic materials of rice, maize, cassava, and vegetables, which together comprise the national treasure of more than 32,000 plant gene resources.

Each test tube holds a “seed” of knowledge, symbolizing Viet Nam’s 80-year journey from dependence to self-reliance, from manual selection to genetic technology, from food security to national biosecurity.

Seed sovereignty is the foundation of every sustainable agricultural system. When others control seeds, food security, the environment, and even markets, they become vulnerable. After the war, Viet Nam had to import most of its rice, maize, vegetables, and fruit varieties.

In the 1980s, domestically developed crop varieties accounted for only about 10-15% of total demand. Research institutes mainly relied on traditional selective breeding methods, which produced low yields and varieties poorly adapted to harsh climatic conditions. Yet within just three decades, through the tireless efforts of scientists and enterprises, Viet Nam has become one of the few Southeast Asian countries that is almost fully self-sufficient in major crop varieties.

According to the Plant Production and Protection Department, more than 260 rice varieties, 70 maize varieties, and 50 vegetable, legume, industrial, and fruit varieties bred in Viet Nam have been officially recognized for circulation, accounting for over 80% of the country’s cultivated area. Vietnamese-bred rice varieties such as ST24, ST25, OM18, Dai Thom 8, OM5451, and RVT deliver high yields and meet export standards for the EU and Japan.

In the vegetable sector, the Vegetable and Fruit Research Institute has successfully developed heat-tolerant varieties of tomato, melon, and cabbage. In fruit cultivation, the Southern Fruit Research Institute has achieved clonal propagation of mango, durian, and dragon fruit varieties with high productivity and strong disease resistance.

This transformation stems from a shift in mindset. In the past, research was often detached from production realities, but today, institutes, universities, and enterprises are closely linked in an innovation network.

In the Mekong Delta, cooperation programs between the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute and seed companies have shortened the breeding cycle from 8-10 years to just 3-4 years thanks to biotechnology applications. In Lam Dong, fully automated tissue-culture labs for orchids, strawberries, and potatoes now produce over 40 million disease-free seedlings annually. These modest laboratories have reshaped Viet Nam’s seed market, once considered a bottleneck in agricultural development.

Today, plant breeding is no longer merely an economic issue but a matter of national biosecurity. Climate change, emerging pests, and the need to reduce emissions are driving the crop sector to develop varieties that are resilient, disease-resistant, and resource-efficient. Flagship projects such as “Developing salt-tolerant rice for coastal regions,” “Drought-resistant maize for the Central Highlands,” and “Fruit varieties for extreme climates” are currently being implemented by the Viet Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

In laboratories, scientists have successfully applied molecular selection and gene-editing techniques to rapidly identify desirable traits, creating new-generation varieties without the need for dozens of traditional breeding cycles.

The Government also considers genetic technology a strategic breakthrough for the coming decade. Under Decision No. 150/QĐ-TTg, approving the Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development for the 2021–2030 period with a vision to 2050, the Prime Minister emphasized: developing technologies for the breeding and propagation of key crops and livestock, taking initiatives in preserving valuable genetic resources, and establishing a national gene database.

These orientations are gradually taking shape in practice. To date, the Institute of Agricultural Genetics has conserved more than 10,000 gene samples and is cooperating with organizations such as FAO and IRRI to share global crop genetic data. The deep-freeze storage system of the Plant Resources Center is among the most advanced facilities in Southeast Asia, capable of preserving seeds for 50 to 100 years.

Seed autonomy also paves the way for greater commercial independence. Freed from reliance on foreign seed sources, domestic enterprises can now produce and expand varieties suited to each ecological zone. Vietnamese companies such as Vinaseed, Thaibinh Seed, Southern Seed, and Vinamit have heavily invested in gene analysis, hybridization, and quality testing technologies. Many new crop varieties are not only serving domestic production but are also being exported to Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Viet Nam is gradually joining the group of countries capable of exporting plant varieties rather than merely importing them.

Technology has also transformed propagation methods. In many provinces, the rapid multiplication of fruit trees, flowers, and vegetables through tissue culture has replaced traditional grafting and cutting. In Bac Ninh and Lam Dong, temperature and humidity–controlled greenhouses equipped with automated sensors have reduced disease risks by 70% and doubled plant survival rates. These clean seed production centers not only supply large-scale farming but also serve as biological buffer zones, safeguarding genetic resources during pest outbreaks.

Crop varieties also act as a shield for ecosystems. Healthy plants require fewer chemicals, helping farmers reduce their dependence on pesticides and restore the ecological balance of farmland. In this way, biosecurity, the ability to protect natural balance and prevent the intrusion of alien species, is strengthened.

Alongside its achievements, challenges remain. The rapid advancement of biotechnology calls for a stronger legal framework on intellectual property, biosafety, and the commercialization of plant varieties. Investment in research is still modest compared to the sector’s potential. Yet, steady progress over the past decade shows that Vietnam’s crop industry is moving in the right direction advancing through knowledge rather than relying solely on experience.