According to Plan International Viet Nam, livelihood groups from Dan Hoa and Truong Son communes in Quang Tri province showcased 23 products at the 2026 Southern Region Outstanding Rural Industrial Products Trade Fair and Exhibition, held from October 23 to 27 in Ho Chi Minh City. The products included smoked meat, cham cheo dipping spice, Sokamsay upland glutinous rice, wild honey, and various processed products made from locally grown agricultural produce.

Women from Quang Tri's mountainous areas introduce locally produced agricultural products at a trade fair in Ho Chi Minh City.

For Ho Thi Le, a member of the Truong Xuan Agricultural Products Cooperative Group, introducing products directly to customers was initially a challenge. “At first, I felt very nervous and worried. I was afraid that our local products might not suit customers' tastes. I was also concerned that my central Vietnamese accent might sometimes make it difficult for customers to hear and understand me,” Le said.

However, after speaking with visitors, she discovered that many were interested in and appreciated products from mountainous areas. Having participated in two trade fairs, one in Nghe An and the other in Ho Chi Minh City, Le has become more confident in introducing agricultural products from her hometown.

According to Xuan Thi Khe, head of the Truong Son Agricultural Products Group, meeting customers also provides an opportunity to introduce the region, its culture, and the efforts of those who produce the goods.

Meanwhile, Ho Thi Keng, a member of the La Trong Agricultural Products Cooperative Group, observed that to reach consumers more effectively, the groups need to pay greater attention to how they present their products, improve packaging and labeling, and better understand customer needs.

The participation of these livelihood groups in the trade fair was jointly organized by the Quang Tri Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment and Plan International Viet Nam under the project “Supporting climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods to enhance women's roles in disadvantaged communes,” funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

With a total budget of more than VND 19 billion, the project is being implemented in Dan Hoa and Truong Son communes from 2025 to 2027.

Under the project plan, 1,000 smallholder farming households will receive support to develop climate-resilient livelihoods, with priority given to ethnic minority women aged 18-40. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of local officials and raise community awareness of sustainable agriculture and gender equality.