Viet Nam’s food system shows strong foundations in access and supply

Viet Nam: Strong fundamentals with uneven resilience

Viet Nam’s food system demonstrates strong affordability and stable supply, supported by robust agricultural production and effective domestic distribution, reflecting solid underlying fundamentals, according to new research by Economist Impact, supported by Cargill.

Structured around four interdependent pillars - affordability, availability, quality and safety; and climate risk responsiveness - the Resilient Food Systems Index (RFSI) evaluates 60 countries on their ability to deliver sufficient, affordable and nutritious food amid disruption. Viet Nam ranks 31st out of 60, with an overall score of 64.72 on a 100-point scale, slightly above the global average of 63.88. It is in the mid-tier of food systems with solid foundations, but remaining gaps in climate resilience and system coordination may affect its ability to withstand future shocks.

While no country is fully resilient, nearly half fall into this “middle zone”, with scores between 56 and 71, highlighting significant potential to strengthen system-wide resilience.  This reflects a broader challenge identified in the research: Although many countries have the building blocks for resilient food systems - policy, technology and investment - these often operate in isolation, limiting their overall impact.

“Viet Nam’s food system demonstrates strong fundamentals in delivering stable and accessible supply, reflecting the strength of its agricultural base and food distribution systems”, said Nguyen Ba Luan, Country Representative, Cargill Viet Nam. “At the same time, the index highlights the importance of strengthening resilience to ensure the system can continue to perform effectively in the face of future shocks, particularly from climate-related risks.”

The findings highlight persistent global vulnerabilities. A 42-point gap separates the most resilient and most vulnerable food systems, and no country has achieved full resilience.

At the same time, global food supply is highly concentrated. Just 15 countries produce around 70% of the world’s food, and 11 of them account for more than 60% of global food exports.

This concentration underscores how disruptions in major producing countries can cascade across borders, affecting availability, prices and overall food system stability worldwide.

Assessment of performance across the four pillars of the RFSI

Firstly, affordability remains a clear strength (19th out of 60). Viet Nam’s strongest pillar is affordability, with a score of 81.22, significantly above the global average of 71.83. This reflects relatively stable food costs, strong affordability of a healthy diet across income groups, and broad access to food – supported by robust domestic production, relatively efficient distribution systems, and food access and support programs.

Sustaining this performance will depend on strengthening access to diverse, nutritious diets and reinforcing longer-term resilience. This is also reflected in agricultural trade, where performance remains below the global average, indicating opportunities for further strengthening.

Secondly, availability remains a key strength with opportunities to enhance system efficiency (18th out of 60). Viet Nam scores 62.48 on availability, outperforming the global average of 58.29, indicating a relatively reliable and stable food supply system. The country achieves particularly strong results in Food security and access policy commitments (100/100) and Volatility of agricultural production (94/100).

These strengths underscore Viet Nam’s ability to maintain a stable food supply. Continued progress will depend on addressing structural factors - such as access to agricultural inputs, agrifood supply chain efficiency, and public expenditure on agricultural R&D - to strengthen overall system performance and resilience.

Improving access to financing will also support supply chain efficiency. Cargill Viet Nam recently partnered with SeABank to provide tailored financial solutions for dealers and livestock customers, helping to strengthen access to working capital across the value chain.

Thirdly, quality and safety broadly aligned with global levels (29th out of 60). Viet Nam scores 68.14, broadly in line with the global average of 68.31, reflecting steady progress in food safety frameworks and improvements in dietary diversity.

At the same time, further progress will depend on ensuring consistent enforcement of food safety standards and improving overall dietary quality and nutritional outcomes across the population.

And fourth, climate resilience remains a key area for improvement (55th out of 60). Building climate-resilient food systems requires ambition and action to move in lockstep. Climate risk responsiveness is the lowest-scoring pillar globally, averaging 56.43, and Viet Nam’s score of 43.13 reflects a broader challenge in translating strong system foundations into system-wide resilience. This is particularly relevant for Viet Nam given its exposure to extreme weather, flooding, drought and salinity intrusion in key agricultural regions.

While policies and technologies are increasingly in place, the challenge lies in implementation, coordination and scaling long-term climate adaptation efforts. Strengthening resilience will depend on clearer, agriculture-specific targets embedded in national strategies, supported by stronger delivery mechanisms and coordinated implementation. Scaling impact also relies on directing policy and investment toward proven solutions - such as early-warning systems, climate-smart farming practices and disaster risk reduction - particularly in highly climate-exposed areas.

A shared global priority

The RFSI underscores that food system resilience is not a fixed outcome, but the result of how effectively countries align policy, investment and innovation. While many countries, including Viet Nam have the essential building blocks in place, these often operate in isolation, limiting their overall impact.

To move beyond this “middle zone,” the Index highlights priority areas for coordinated action. Strengthening affordability alongside access to nutritious diets remains critical, with trade playing an important role in expanding consumer choice and stabilizing supply. Scaling infrastructure and innovation - particularly in transport, connectivity and cold chain systems - can improve system-wide efficiency, reduce food loss and improve market access for farmers. Strengthening climate resilience will also depend on translating existing innovations into actionable, agriculture-specific strategies, supported by stronger policies and financing to scale proven solutions.

“Food systems today are deeply interconnected, and resilience depends on how well different parts of the system work together”, added Luan. “The findings identify three key areas that contribute to stronger food systems: improving access to affordable and nutritious food, enhancing infrastructure and supply chain efficiency, and strengthening climate resilience through practical, scalable solutions. In Viet Nam, this underscores the importance of building on strengths in affordability and production while improving coordination to support long-term resilience. It also aligns with Cargill’s purpose to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way, and our commitment to supporting farmers’ livelihoods in Viet Nam and the communities where we operate”.

About Cargill: Cargill is committed to providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, we partner with farmers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. For more information, visit Cargill.com.

 About Economist Impact: Economist Impact record spans 75 years across 205 countries. Along with creative storytelling, events expertise, design-thinking solutions and market-leading media products, we produce framework design, benchmarking, economic and social impact analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling, making Economist Impact's offering unique in the marketplace. Visit www.economistimpact.com for more information.