Agriculture, farmers and rural areas play a strategic role in Vietnam’s national development and defense. They are an important factor in ensuring sustainable socio-economic development and maintaining political stability.

Facelift in rural areas

In the last 10 years, Vietnam has put in place incentives to attract investment in agriculture, and identified high-potential areas in the rural economy. Agro-forestry processing has been boosted and Vietnamese products have been exported to many countries. Links in agricultural production and distribution have been strengthened. Agricultural production has been restructured toward reducing the ratio of agricultural products to fishery products. Vietnam’s agriculture has been made more commodity-based to increase profitability of agricultural products and ensure food security, and materials for processing and export. High-tech agricultural projects have been expanded throughout Vietnam.  

Agriculture market standardized

The development of agricultural industries and services between localities remains uneven. Calls for investment have been focused on certain agricultural products. The agricultural infrastructure cannot support high-tech production.

A program called “One commune, one product” that promotes the production of local specialties has been launched. Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien is the Director of the Central Coordination Office for New Rural Areas: "The program is aimed at helping cooperatives increase their market approach to exporting local products. We have invested in infrastructure, roads, and distribution network to support the local products of every commune and district.”

Promoting value chains in agricultural production is one of the keys to boosting the rural economy. Doctor Le Van Banh, former Director of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, said: “We need to study the needs of overseas markets, for example, Northeast Asia or Middle East. We also need to ask farmers to produce what is required to ensure product quality and quantity.”