Hanoi is encouraging rural areas to develop high-quality rice while attracting enterprises to join the rice specialty chain for export.

The move is to create a premise for brand development and increase the value of Hanoi's rice specialties.

Developing a value chain of specialty rice

In 2012, a group of farmers in Dong Phu Commune, in Hanoi's outlying district of Chuong My, received support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to carry out a pilot project for organic rice production on an area of 5 hectares. So far, the area has expanded to 90 hectares of special varieties, such as Dai Thom (a Taiwanese rice strain), Japonica, among others.

Organic rice production area in Dong Phu Commune in Hanoi’s Chuong My District. Photo: Ngoc Anh/The Hanoi Times

Dong Phu Organic Farming Cooperative director Trinh Thi Nguyet told The Hanoi Times that many companies have worked with the cooperative to buy products, and all cooperative members must follow the standard cultivation of high-quality seeds.

"Since 2019, Dong Phu Organic Agriculture Cooperative has cooperated with Green Path Vietnam Import-Export and Trading JSC to develop a special rice chain to export to the US, Japan, and South Korea," Nguyet said.

According to Tran Thi Thu Hang, Head of the Chuong My District Economic Division, producing high-quality seeds in standard cultivation has brought great economic efficiency, creating links from production to processing and distribution of products.

“Besides, the production chains have been applying good agricultural practices, namely VietGap and GlobalGap, to raise the value of local rice grains,” Hang added.

In Ung Hoa District, farmers have also shifted to producing specialty rice varieties. According to Head of the Ung Hoa District Economic Division Pham Van Hoach, 80% of the district's rice area is for special rice. 

More support for cooperatives and enterprises

Currently, Hanoi has more than 160,000 hectares of specialty rice production, with an output of over 1 million tons per year. Of the volume, specialty and high-quality rice have accounted for over 70%, and fragrant rice of all kinds has accounted for more than 53% of the city's rice production.

Rice field in Hoa Son Commune, Hanoi’s Ung Hoa District. Photo: Ngoc Anh/The Hanoi Times

Between 2022 and 2025, Hanoi developed a special rice production zone for domestic consumption and export with the operations of cooperatives.

Director of the Hanoi Agricultural Development Center Hoang Thi Hoa told The Hanoi Times that the center has built 25 high-quality production zones in line with export standards, putting out nearly 10,000 tons per year on an area of ​​1,370 hectares.

"The center has supported cooperatives and enterprises to expand processing facilities synchronously. Product promotion and brand protection of rice products have been deployed to enhance the value of local specialties. Hanoi will promote the high-quality rice value chain in the future," Hoa said.

According to Deputy Director of Hanoi's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Manh Phuong, companies and cooperatives will get financial support to build factories and purchase processing and transportation equipment.

"With better support for cultivation, harvesting, processing, branding, and distribution, Hanoi will surely achieve achievements in developing special rice," Phuong told The Hanoi Times.