Ho Chi Minh City makes a breakthrough in developing a green and sustainable economy

VAN News had a conversation with Mr. Bui Minh Thanh - Member of the Party Committee and Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

Could you share the outstanding achievements, particularly in the implementation of breakthrough programs, that Ho Chi Minh City has accomplished in recent years in the agricultural sector, aimed at promoting the city’s sustainable socio-economic development?

Over 50 years of construction and development, Ho Chi Minh City has continuously innovated and transformed, shifting from traditional agriculture to modern agriculture that fully applies science, technology, and digital transformation. This development is closely linked with the city’s socio-economic growth as well as that of the country. Agriculture has steadily progressed, directly contributing to green growth, improving rural livelihoods, and reinforcing Ho Chi Minh City’s position as a leading economic hub in the southern region.

Following the success of the “2 Crops - 2 Livestock” program, Ho Chi Minh City expanded it into a broader initiative alongside policies for agricultural restructuring, aimed at shifting from crops and livestock with low productivity, output, and value to those with higher productivity, output, and value. Notably, the investment-stimulating policy, providing loan interest support to economic actors investing in agriculture, has been recognized as an important leverage, helping mobilize social resources to serve the city’s sustainable development goals.

By the end of 2015, Ho Chi Minh City had basically completed the New Rural Development Program under Resolution 26-NQ/TW on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, marking a significant transformation in the suburban areas. Entering the agricultural restructuring phase, according to Prime Minister’s Decision No. 899/QĐ-TTg dated June 10, 2013, the city has focused on development that increases added value and ensures sustainability, with an emphasis on urban agriculture, high-tech agriculture, and biotechnology, closely linked to traceability and compliance with VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards.

In 2025, Ho Chi Minh City aims for additional growth of 2.5-3%, with the average value per hectare of agricultural land reaching approximately $24,700 - $28,500 per year - more than five times higher than in 2008. Currently, over 13,731 hectares of high-tech crops have been cultivated, alongside hundreds of high-tech livestock facilities. In parallel, the city is expanding four high-tech agricultural zones and projects covering nearly 981 hectares, gradually forming an inter-regional high-tech agricultural ecosystem.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has achieved full New Rural Development standards with all 134 communes meeting the baseline criteria, 128 communes meeting advanced standards, and 26 communes recognized as model communes. Many localities have become pilot models for digital transformation and green agriculture, and more than 1,000 OCOP products have achieved 3-4-star ratings, affirming the city’s pioneering role in developing locally distinctive products through the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) program, linking production with branding and market access.

In particular, Ho Chi Minh City has demonstrated a leading role in multiple areas, including crop and livestock restructuring and investment-stimulating policies in agriculture, where every 1 VND of budget support for interest can mobilize 10 VND of social capital. Concentrated high-tech livestock zones supply the country’s largest source of milk, and the city serves as a center for producing and supplying high-quality plant and animal breeds for the region and nationwide.

It can be affirmed that the achievements of Ho Chi Minh City’s agricultural sector over the past 50 years are the result of a steadfast strategy of innovation, creativity, and integration, strongly leveraging science, technology, and breakthrough policies. These accomplishments form a solid foundation for the city to continue its leading role, contributing to the development of a modern, sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural sector that is deeply integrated into global value chains.

What key strategies will Ho Chi Minh City implement to create breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation in agricultural development under Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW?

In accordance with Politburo Resolution No. 31-NQ/TW on Ho Chi Minh City’s development directions and tasks to 2030, with a vision to 2045, and concretizing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, the city has identified the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation in agriculture not only as an internal growth driver but also as a strategic pillar for regional linkage, particularly with two strategically important areas: Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

Ho Chi Minh City aims to establish a high-tech agricultural - logistics - processing belt, ensuring strong regional connectivity, leveraging local advantages, and creating a “three-legged stool” for sustainable development of the entire Southern Key Economic Region. This will contribute to transforming agriculture into a modern, sustainable sector that is deeply integrated into global value chains. In the near term, the city will focus on implementing key solutions to achieve these objectives.

Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City will promote the commercialization of scientific research results through the “Four-Partner” linkage model: Government - Scientists - Enterprises - Farmers, rapidly introducing new technologies into agricultural production and processing. The city will also design a Ho Chi Minh City Technology Exchange Platform to serve not only the domestic market but also connect directly with the former production hubs of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, enabling businesses, cooperatives, and farmers to access advanced technologies quickly. At the same time, the city will develop a high-quality workforce in smart agriculture, AI, IoT, and big data analytics.

Under this model, Ho Chi Minh City (former area) will serve as a training and technology transfer center, while Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau (former areas) will focus on practical application. This chain-based human resource development model will help narrow the skill gap between localities, accelerate the establishment and operation of a Strategic Technology Center in Ho Chi Minh City, meeting international standards in biotechnology, AI and big data, and smart production. The center will conduct research, technology transfer, and provide direct support to neighboring provinces in applying technology to agriculture.

In the long term, Ho Chi Minh City aims to build a regionally linked high-tech agricultural ecosystem. In this plan, the former Binh Duong area will focus on deep processing, logistics, commercialization, and standardization of agricultural products, leveraging existing industrial and transport infrastructure; the former Ba Ria - Vung Tau area will emphasize ecological agriculture and high-quality aquaculture linked to tourism and port logistics services, taking advantage of its position as an international logistics gateway; and the former Ho Chi Minh City area will serve as the core for research, innovation, technology transfer, workforce training, and market leadership, connecting regional value chains.

In parallel, Ho Chi Minh City will coordinate with neighboring provinces to complete inter-regional transport infrastructure through expressways such as Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Vung Tau, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, and Ben Luc - Long Thanh, helping reduce transportation time, lower logistics costs, and promote the formation of a modern, unified agricultural supply chain across the region.

In addition to infrastructure, a flexible inter-regional policy coordination mechanism will be established. In this framework, the former Ho Chi Minh City area will play a coordinating role, providing technical, legal, and market support, while the former Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau areas will proactively expand raw material zones and value chains for distinctive OCOP products. This approach will enable all three regions to engage more deeply in global value chains and enhance the competitiveness of the entire area.

With this strategy, Ho Chi Minh City will not only continue to assert its leading role in innovation but also foster synchronized and harmonious development with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, forming a strong “three-legged stool” that contributes to building a modern, green, and sustainable agricultural sector. This sector will be internationally connected and will elevate the position of the Southern Key Economic Region on the national development map.

Thank you very much!

“Ho Chi Minh City is strengthening resources, improving institutional frameworks, promoting technology transfer, and expanding regional cooperation to fully leverage the advantages of each locality. The goal goes beyond developing OCOP and high-tech agriculture; it also aims to enhance the competitiveness and added value of the city’s agricultural products, making a significant contribution to the sustainable socio-economic development of Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern Key Economic Region,” Mr. Thanh shared.