(HBO) – Tan Lac district in the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh is working to remove bottlenecks for safe vegetable production as it has not yet set up any clean vegetable store.

Popularising local products at organic agricultural fairs is considered as the initial
step of Tan Lac district to seek consumption markets for its vegetables.
The
first safe vegetable cultivation cooperative group was set up in Sung hamlet,
Thanh Hoi commune, which focuses on growing seasonal crops with main vegetables
such as mustard greens, amaranth, aubergine, wax gourd, and cucumber.
According to head of the cooperative group Bui Van Thuan, the cooperative group
has been operational in four years, and some 2-3 hectares of land were zoned
off for plantation of safe vegetables. However, they are being sold at the same
prices as those without clear origin.
Thuan attributed the results to the fact that the vegetables have not been put
into the value chain, and they have no brand registration for consumers to
compare.
About 8-10 years ago, the mountainous communes of Quyet Chien, Ngo Luong, Lung
Van and Nam Son successfully expanded chayote plantation with the support of
the provincial Department of Science and Technology. Currently, chayote is
being grown in an area of nearly 95 hectares, 60 hectares of which are in Quyet
Chien commune. Particularly, there are 25 hectares in the commune receiving
VietGAP certification.
Local efforts in promoting good agricultural practice, building brands and
developing markets have paid off. Quyet Chien chayote has ridden out of the
shade of the same vegetable in Vinh Phuc province’s Tam Dao district, and has
been favoured by consumers after hitting the shelves of supermarkets in Hanoi.
In addition, thanks to favourable climate,
farmers in Tan Lac’s mountainous communes have developed non-traditional crops
such as tomato, cabbage and Korean beet on an area of 5 hectares./.
Dao Village’s honey – a product certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by Thong Nhat Agricultural Cooperative in Dao Village (Hoa Binh City) – is highly regarded by consumers for its quality, richness, and variety in packaging. The distinctively sweet taste of Dao Village’s honey leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has tried it.
In alignment with Project No. 07-DA/TU, issued by the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee on November 1, 2021, Lac Thuy district has actively promoted investment and supported the sustainable development of its industrial and handicraft sectors during the 2021–2025 period. Alongside this, the district has remained committed to preserving and revitalising traditional craft villages.
Located in the northern part of Lac Thuy district, with a temperate climate and fertile soil, Phu Thanh commune has great potential and advantages in growing tea. The long-standing experience, combined with strict adherence to organic farming practices in the tea gardens, ensures that the dried tea products from Phu Thanh and Lac Thuy as a whole are sold out immediately upon production, providing a stable and prosperous life for the local people.
Amid efforts to streamline the administrative apparatus, Hoa Binh province has intensified measures to address challenges in land clearance, resettlement support, and infrastructure investment, aiming to speed up the progress of key projects.
Hoa Binh province has posted an unprecedented economic growth rate of 12.76% in the first quarter of 2025, marking its highest quarterly performance to date and positioning it as the second fastest-growing locality in the country, trailing only Bac Giang province.
Under current regulations, products in the One Commune – One Product (OCOP) programme that are rated three stars or higher must undergo re-evaluation every three months. However, in reality, some of these products fail to consistently meet the required standards, raising concerns about the sustainability of their OCOP certification. This underscores the urgent need for producers to enhance product quality and gradually develop their OCOP products into strong, marketable brands.