Vinh Long local stories to broader markets for OCOP products

Each OCOP product from Vinh Long is not merely a commodity but a story of the land and the people behind it, now being refined and upgraded to gradually conquer both domestic and international markets.

Vinh Long has long been known as a fertile region, with a diverse orchard ecosystem and agricultural products characteristic of the Mekong Delta. The province currently has 1,337 OCOP products rated from three to five stars. However, according to Tran Quoc Tuan, Director of the Vinh Long Department of Industry and Trade, quantity is no longer the core issue.

The key question is whether products can access the market. To enter modern distribution systems, products must meet stringent requirements across food safety and traceability, packaging, preservation, and logistics.

“To go far, it is not enough to have a good product; it must also tell a distinctive story while maintaining consumer trust,” Tuan said.

He cited the example of watercress, a European vegetable introduced to Vietnam by the French in the 19th century. Typically suited to cooler climates, it was once thought to grow only in northern regions or Da Lat. Yet in the canal-dense Mekong Delta, local farmers have successfully maintained and expanded its cultivation.

From small, scattered plots, watercress farming has developed into a specialized cultivation area spanning hundreds of hectares. Harvested daily, the vegetable is transported by boat and truck to wholesale markets and distribution systems. Beyond being a crop, watercress has become a primary source of income for many households in Binh Minh Ward, Vinh Long Province. However, earlier production methods were largely spontaneous and dependent on traders, resulting in unstable market access. As market requirements became more demanding, these limitations became evident.

Farmers began forming linkages, establishing cooperatives and transitioning to standardized production processes. Cultivation areas are now aligned with VietGAP standards. Organic microbial fertilizers are used, pesticides are applied in accordance with the “four right” principles, and pre-harvest intervals are strictly observed. As a result, selling prices are 3,000 to 4,000 VND higher per kilogram than conventional products. More importantly, market access has become more stable, allowing the product to gradually integrate into larger supply chains.

At preprocessing facilities, harvested watercress is washed multiple times, drained, sorted, and packaged. Vacuum sealing helps extend shelf life, meeting the requirements for long-distance transportation.

Truong Van Day, Director of Nang Xanh Cooperative, which supplies watercress in Binh Minh Ward, said that previously, the product was mainly consumed on the same day. With investments in post-harvest processing, shelf life has been extended to around 15 days. In parallel, the cooperative has developed dried watercress products to diversify output and further extend usability. Binh Minh watercress has now achieved a four-star OCOP rating and is targeting export markets.

Tran Quoc Tuan emphasized that the ultimate goal of the OCOP program is not certification itself, but tangible outcomes: stable product consumption, sustainable business revenue, and reliable income for workers. Throughout this process, credibility and local identity must remain guiding principles, ensuring that each product not only reaches the market but also carries its local story forward sustainably.

Vinh Long currently has 1,137 OCOP products rated from three to five stars, covering 100 percent of communes, wards, and townships. Of these, 13 products have achieved national five-star status, 202 are rated four stars, and 916 are rated three stars, with the latter primarily concentrated in key agricultural products and processed goods.

Many OCOP products have entered export markets, including Binh Tan purple sweet potatoes, Binh Minh Nam Roi pomelo, durian, and various processed agricultural products. Export markets continue to expand, including China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, the European Union, the Middle East, Taiwan, and Australia.

Vinh Long currently has over 1,100 OCOP products, creating a rich source of specialties with distinctive characteristics and effectively meeting market demands. By 2030, Vinh Long aims to increase the proportion of four- and five-star OCOP products to around 20 percent, with a focus on developing deep-processed products to enhance value and competitiveness.

* $1 = VND 26,322 (Source: Vietcombank).