Lang Son specialties reach major markets

Enhancing quality from key raw material regions

Lang Son is a land rich in agricultural and forestry specialties, with more than 230 products achieving at least 3-star OCOP standards. Among them, many products have established regional branding such as Van Quan star anise, Bac Son mandarin, Van Lang seedless persimmon, Trang Dinh black jelly, or Chi Lang custard apple, all contributing to the “map of Lang Son specialties”.

Star anise alone, the province’s key crop, covers more than 46,000 ha and supplies about 17,000 tons of dried star anise each year. It is considered the province’s “green gold mine”, suitable for developing essential oils, spices, and medicinal ingredients for markets that favor natural products such as Europe, the Middle East, and India.

In the past, star anise was primarily sold fresh or sun-dried, with prices fluctuating due to market dependence on traders. In recent years, the province has focused on standardizing planting areas, applying safe farming techniques, issuing planting-area codes, and promoting partnerships with businesses. As a result, two linkage chains covering more than 1,000 ha have been formed in Chi Lang and Trang Dinh, providing stable output for farmers and increasing product value.

Lang Son star anise received Geographical Indication protection in 2007 and in 2020 became one of 39 Vietnamese geographical indications protected by the EU, opening a major gateway for official export. Since 2020, fresh star anise prices have increased steadily, and dried star anise has reached attractive levels, helping many households significantly improve their income.

Along with star anise, growing regions for custard apple, mandarin, seedless persimmon, honey, and others have expanded to meet safety standards, creating consistent raw material sources ready to join export supply chains.

Diversifying products, expanding markets

Lang Son has a network of international and domestic border crossings, creating a strong advantage for agricultural trade. In recent years, the province has collaborated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to organize numerous supply-and-demand matching events and trade promotion conferences with China, India, and Europe to expand market access.

Hoang Van Chieu, Deputy Director of the Lang Son Department of Agriculture and Environment, stated: “The shift toward official export is opening major opportunities for local specialties. Deep-processed products made from star anise are increasingly favored in the EU, India, and the Middle East, markets that require high standards. This is the foundation for the province to focus on upgrading planting areas and advancing deep processing to create competitive advantages for businesses”.

Along with market promotion, many businesses in the province have invested in new processing lines, ranging from essential oil extraction and organic incense to star anise tea and cinnamon products. Modern production chains help ensure technical standards, food safety, and traceability, factors that are increasingly important when approaching demanding markets.

The shift from raw export to deep processing is creating a new landscape: products retain their natural flavors, reduce post-harvest losses, increase economic value, and open more distribution channels.

Driving growth through linkages and infrastructure

To meet international standards, the province is developing policies to attract investment in deep-processing plants and researching mechanisms to support infrastructure and land access for medium- and large-scale processing projects.

Additionally, the province plans to establish an agricultural logistics center with cold storage and modern preliminary processing lines to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure product quality for export.

“Along with infrastructure, digitizing processes from planting-area codes and packing codes to traceability is also emphasized. When farmers and businesses upgrade their standards together, Lang Son specialties will build strong trust in major markets”, emphasized Hoang Van Chieu.

The province also prioritizes breeding new varieties, applying biotechnology, improving preservation techniques, and encouraging low-carbon production models. This aligns with the global trend toward green consumption.

Beyond traditional products, Lang Son also supports cooperatives and businesses in developing additional value-added products from black jelly, honey, cinnamon, and more to increase diversity and improve market penetration.

Affirming the position of Lang Son specialties

With a well-structured strategy, Lang Son's specialties are gradually appearing in major markets, including China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Japan. The combination of natural potential and modern production methods is creating new momentum for local agricultural products.

“When quality improves, the market will open naturally. Our goal is not only to export more, but to make Lang Son specialties a trusted brand”, affirmed Hoang Van Chieu.

As demand for natural, safe, and clearly traceable products continues to rise, specialties such as star anise, custard apple, mandarin, persimmon, and black jelly present significant opportunities for growth and reaffirmation of Vietnam's position on the global agricultural map.