Since Ha Noi officially launched the OCOP programme in 2019, the city has certified 3,317 OCOP products (accounting for 21.3% of the country’s total), making it the leading locality nationwide in terms of the number of OCOP products.
However, figures from the Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Environment show that essential goods only meet 35 to 45% of market demand, with the remainder sourced from other provinces, cities, and imports.
In response, the Department has advised the implementation of a cooperation programme between the Ha Noi People’s Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to build supply chains of safe agricultural and food products.
To date, Ha Noi has developed more than 1,500 supply chains of safe agricultural and food products serving 12 million residents of the capital, along with nearly 160 internal city-level safe food chains.
Despite its large agricultural scale—with over 197,000 hectares of agricultural land (among the largest nationwide), 1,336 active agricultural cooperatives, 1,574 farms, 172 production–consumption linkages, more than 164 high-tech application models, and over 14,000 agro-forestry-fishery products with traceability codes—many OCOP products in Ha Noi still face difficulties. Challenges include limited market access, underdeveloped trade promotion, lack of effective marketing strategies, and obstacles in brand building. Regional linkages and multi-sectoral development have yet to receive adequate attention.
To overcome these shortcomings and enhance the value of OCOP products, the city has identified the need to strengthen cross-sector integration between agriculture, processing industries, tourism, and other creative industries. This approach aims to elevate OCOP agricultural products into the cultural industry, embedding local values of the city.
Recently, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has worked with localities to organise numerous events promoting OCOP products to the capital’s residents, such as: “Introduction of OCOP products associated with the culture of central and Central Highlands provinces” and “Week of consulting, introducing and promoting the consumption of OCOP, craft village, and safe agro-food products 2025.”
These events have attracted strong participation from provinces and cities nationwide, showcasing thousands of craft village products, agricultural goods, and safe food items.
Bui Thi Hong Thu, Director of Binh Lu Agricultural Services Cooperative in Binh Lu Commune, Lai Chau Province, shared: “I brought typical local products such as vermicelli, cham cheo dipping sauce, honey, and rice with the hope of serving the people of the capital. I hope they will be well received, thereby opening up more markets for our products.”
Tran Thi Thuy, a customer attending the fair, said that amid widespread concerns about counterfeit and poor-quality goods, fairs and OCOP sales points organised by the city have become reliable addresses where consumers can access quality products. OCOP serves as a guarantee of quality, with certification from the authorities, giving consumers peace of mind, she added.
According to the Ha Noi Coordination Office of New-Style Rural Development Programme, the OCOP programme has played an important role in local economic growth and in raising the value of agricultural and craft products. However, for the programme to fully realise its potential, stronger coordination among sectors and localities is required, alongside comprehensive investment in technology, planning, and trade promotion.
Cross-sectoral integration will be the key to enhancing the value of OCOP products, contributing to the sustainable development of the city’s agriculture and rural areas in the future.
