According to the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the city expects the revision of the General Planning for the Capital City to 2045 with a Vision to 2065 and the draft amended Capital City Law to create new export opportunities for its agricultural products.

Diverse range of products

Fresh late-ripening longan from Dai Thanh Commune in Quoc Oai District has been exported to the US, Australia and Malaysia. Photo: Anh Ngoc/ The Hanoi Times

Among Hanoi's agricultural export strengths are spices. Although they do not require large-scale production, these crops have high standards for cultivation and processing. 

The Development on Agriculture and Consultation of Environment Company Limited (Long Bien District) specializes in processing organic spices such as ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, star anise, garlic, chili, and lemongrass. Tran Van Hieu, the company's director, said the main sources of raw materials are the northern provinces of Cao Bang and Ha Giang, as the availability of raw materials in Hanoi is limited due to its small scale.
On average, the company produces about 300 tons of dried cinnamon, 200 tons of dried star anise, 500 tons of fresh ginger, 100 tons of dried turmeric, and 200 tons of fresh chili per year. The company's products are mainly exported to the US, some European countries, the Middle East, South Korea, and Japan.

Leafy greens grown in Hanoi are exported to several countries and are preferred by consumers, commanding high prices like water spinach. Water spinach that meets VietGAP standards is sold in Hanoi supermarkets for VND10,000-15,000 ($0.4-$0.6) per bunch, but when exported to South Korea, it can reach prices of around VND52,000 ($2.04).

Nguyen Xuan Dai, director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that despite the small and fragmented scale of production, Hanoi has a significant area under cultivation with crops suitable for export. Hanoi's main agricultural exports include cinnamon, star anise, spices (garlic, ginger, chili), green tea, black tea, rice, mushrooms, and wood ear fungus.

Currently, Hanoi is home to nearly 70 agricultural export firms that trade with East Asian markets, which are the primary export destinations for the city's farm produce. Hanoi also ships agricultural products to   Europe, the United States, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

New policies to create a breakthrough 

Rice harvest in Hanoi. in Hanoi. Photo: Trong Tung/ The Hanoi Times

According to the city's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hanoi has 16 area-code-issued fruit-growing zones and four packing plants with capacities ranging from 30 to 50 tons per day for export. In addition, the city has many potential export products, such as Japonica rice grown on over 7,000 hectares, safe vegetables on over 5,000 hectares, pink bananas on 3,200 hectares, organic vegetables on 50 hectares, and many high-quality processed products.

Nguyen Xuan Dai, Director of Hanoi's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, believed that planning and technology are key factors that Hanoi's agricultural sector expects to be addressed through the draft amendment to the Capital Law and the adjustment of the city's General Planning, which are due for approval at the upcoming National Assembly session," he stressed. 

Accordingly, agricultural planning will create a development area focusing on urban agriculture and agriculture linked to ecotourism. This would be a production area with an appropriate scale, adapted to Hanoi's land resources, but also involving the application of technology in cultivation, processing, and export. 

It is seen as key to overcoming current constraints on Hanoi's agricultural exports and adding value to the industry and farmers, Dai said. 

Local insiders suggested that Hanoi should select products with strengths in order to develop a production roadmap in conjunction with processing for export.

Secretary General of the Vietnam Tea Association Hoang Vinh Long said that the city currently has 59 enterprises engaged in the production, processing and export of green and black tea, with a total output of over 20,000 tons per year, accounting for about 16-18% of the country's total tea export volume. 

However, many tea regions in the city have failed to meet export quality standards, so there is a need to focus on improving seedlings and implementing standardized production processes for tea plants, he added. 

To boost the city's agricultural production and exports, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen stressed that Hanoi's agriculture must strive to be a shining example and leader in technology, processing and export of agricultural varieties. 

He emphasized that Hanoi should capitalize on agricultural planning and targeted open policies to position itself as a hub for the transit and processing of agricultural products. The city's agriculture must establish links with provinces and cities according to international standards to serve domestic consumption and boost exports.