(HBO) - Hoa Binh participated in the annual programme serving the promotion of Vietnamese localities in the UK between October 8 and 14, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist localities involved in enhancing their connection and cooperation with international partners. The Hoa Binh delegation, led by Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Bui Van Khanh, took the occasion to organised a host of investment, trade, and tourism promotion activities to introduce local investment climate, strengths, and potentials to UK investors and businesses.
The provincial delegation visits and learns about the Longdan Group’s distribution of Vietnamese products in the UK. Photo: Tuan Anh from the Hoa Binh Centre for Investment Promotion, Trade, and Tourism.
Numerous activities serving investment, trade, and tourism promotion
In addition to the general activities of the programme, the delegation engaged in various dialogues and meetings with organisations, companies, and investors. They participated in a forum on Vietnam - West Midlands connection as well as bilateral meetings with the Asian House organisation, the strategic, financial, and technological consulting company PwC, and the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC).
They organised a workshop to promote the province’s investment, trade, and tourism, during which the provincial People's Committee and the Vietnam Business Association in the UK (VBUK) signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to establish a sustainable, long-term, and mutually beneficial partnership. As per the pact, the VBUK will introduce Hoa Binh’s investment, trade, and tourism opportunities to its member businesses, support UK businesses investing in Hoa Binh or collaborating with local companies, and carry out charitable programmes and social welfare activities in the province.
Khanh said that Hoa Binh has already exported some agricultural products to the UK and they are well-received by the market. The signing of the MoU is essential, as it opens up more opportunities for Hoa Binh’s exports.
Enabling access to a demanding market of great potential
The delegation also had a working session with the Longdan Group – one of the leading Vietnamese enterprises in the UK concerning the import and distribution of Vietnamese products in the local market and Europe. At their meeting, the sides signed an MoU on cooperation to give boost to the trade and export of local specialties and goods produced under the OCOP (One Commune One Product) programmes. Longdan Group also inked a new contract with the R.Y.B. joint stock company to import a container of Dien pomelo from Hoa Binh to the UK in the 2023 crop.
Additionally, on the sidelines of the programme, the delegation ran exhibitions and presentations on Hoa Binh’s typical farm produce and 18 OCOP products, as well as the province's tourism strengths and potentials.
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.
