Visitors explore and learn about Hoa Dat Muong’s OCOP.

A mark of indigenous identity

The former Hoa Binh Province is home to more than 70% ethnic minority populations, including the Muong, Thai, Dao, H’Mong, and Tay communities. Each group has its own unique culture, traditional products, and distinctive production methods. This diversity provides a strong foundation for the development of standout OCOP such as ruou can (fermented rice wine drunk through straws), com lam (bamboo-tube rice), Muong brocade, natural medicinal herbs, wild honey, Cao Phong oranges, Tan Lac red pomelos, highland organic vegetables, and processed products made from hill chicken and Da River fish.

Local authorities have proactively supported cooperatives, households, and small businesses to improve product packaging and labelling, enhance quality, and develop value chains. Among 126 OCOP products, two achieved 5-star national OCOP certification in 2024: pre-sliced sour bamboo shoots and instant dried nu bamboo shoots produced by Kim Boi Joint Stock Company. There are also 15 four-star products and 109 three-star products. Notable among the province-level 4-star OCOP products in 2024 are: Pa Co Shan Tuyet tea by Phuong Huyen Hoa Binh Co., Ltd; Nhung Van turmeric spice powder by Nhung Van Hoa Binh Co., Ltd; orange-flavoured detox tea by 3T Farm Cooperative; and the community tourism experience in Mo Hamlet, Thung Nai Commune.

A highlight of the programme is the integration of OCOP with community-based tourism. In communes such as Mai Chau, Muong Hoa, and Tien Phong, tourists can experience traditional cultural spaces while enjoying and shopping for local OCOP products on site.

Hoang Viet Ha, founder of the “Hoa Dat Muong” gift brand, shared that “Hoa Dat Muong” brings together regional specialities into eco-friendly gift bags, offering them to domestic and international visitors to Hoa Binh. The collection features over 100 agricultural products that are certified as OCOP, organic or VietGAP, bearing the distinctive identity of the Muong homeland. All products are labelled and traceable.

Improving quality, expanding markets

Hoa Binh is also actively applying information technology to promote its OCOP. Many have been listed on e-commerce platforms such as Postmart, Voso, Shopee, and Tiki.

Nguyen Huy Nhuan, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Phu Tho Province, noted that the province is focusing on key solutions such as improving product quality, developing stable raw material zones, training local human resources, and supporting trade promotion efforts. The sector is also strengthening linkages among businesses, cooperatives, and producers to form integrated production–consumption networks.

In 2025, the locality will continue to synchronously deploy solutions from planning, promotion, intellectual property protection to quality certification such as VietGAP, GMP, and HACCP. Efforts will be made to standardise at least 80 OCOP products at provincial level or above (rated from 3 to 5 stars), and to expand the number of display and sales points throughout the province, including presence on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and Sendo.

According to Dinh Cong Su, Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee, the province continues to direct local authorities at all levels, diversify communication channels via mass media, and step up training, guidance, and strict supervision of the application and compliance with technical standards in production. In parallel, the province will enhance trade promotion and implement collective intellectual property protection for the entire programme. The OCOP initiative and its product criteria will be widely publicised to consumers across the province. It also aims to build the OCOP brand with high-quality, competitively priced products that meet consumer demand.