Dong Nai's OCOP Transformation: [Part 2] Opening New Distribution Channels

Dong Nai, a province ranking among the top in the country for OCOP product development, is actively promoting, connecting trade, and expanding the market for its OCOP products.

Establishing the brand of distinctive agricultural products.

Dong Nai currently boasts hundreds of outstanding OCOP products, the majority of which belong to the processed agricultural product group such as jackfruit, pineapple, taro, banana, instant coffee, and traditional roasted and ground coffee. In addition, the province has also developed three more OCOP products in the field of ecotourism and community tourism services, expanding new directions in exploiting the value of agriculture in conjunction with experiential tourism.

Dong Nai is stepping up efforts to connect OCOP products with modern retail systems and e-commerce platforms. Photo: Minh Sang.

According to Mr. Hieu Le, Deputy Director of Nga Bien Company, the enterprise continuously invests in technology, improves quality, innovates packaging, and diversifies the flavors of Vigonuts brand cashew products to meet the tastes of consumers both domestically and internationally.

To expand its consumer market, Dong Nai is promoting the connection of OCOP products to modern retail systems and e-commerce platforms. Currently, Co.opmart Dong Xoai has allocated a separate section for OCOP products, showcasing many local brands such as Vinahe cashews, Ba Tu cashews, Tan Trieu pomelos, Bien Hoa sugar, Thai mangoes, Long Khanh guavas, and mandarin oranges...

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Bach Van, Director of Co.opmart Dong Xoai, the new Co.opmart system in Dong Nai will strengthen the exchange of goods, share regional specialties, and thereby expand the distribution network of OCOP products between regions.

"Each locality has its own strengths. We hope that supermarkets will become a bridge, helping OCOP products get closer to consumers, while also supporting producers in building their brands," Ms. Van shared.

According to Le Van Hong, Director of Big C Dong Nai, the supermarket currently displays more than 20 OCOP products from localities in the province. Mr. Hong believes that to increase sales effectiveness, OCOP producers need to focus on promotional programs, direct introductions, and consumer demand stimulation, creating differentiation in branding, packaging, and product experience.

The Saigon Co.op system has also introduced OCOP products from Dong Nai into its nationwide distribution channels. Photo: Minh Sang.

In addition to traditional channels, e-commerce platforms such as Postmart, Voso, Shopee, and Lazada are becoming effective distribution channels, helping Dong Nai's OCOP products reach consumers both domestically and internationally. They also contribute to promoting digital transformation in rural areas, helping OCOP producers improve their online business capabilities. The Saigon Co.op system has also integrated Dong Nai's OCOP products into its nationwide distribution network.

According to the Dong Nai Department of Industry and Trade, the unit is implementing a plan to connect OCOP products with shopping malls, supermarkets, and modern retail channels throughout the province. “In the near future, we will study a mechanism to link the criteria for putting OCOP products on store shelves with supermarket ranking and evaluation, aiming to encourage distribution units to work alongside farmers, cooperatives, and local businesses,” said Mr. Tran Duong Hung, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Industry and Trade.

The quality and technical standards of OCOP products in Dong Nai are constantly improving, clearly demonstrating the production capacity of farmers and businesses. The intensified promotion, market connections, and the support of modern retail systems are helping Dong Nai's OCOP products reach further, affirming their position on the national agricultural product map.

Enhancing the competitiveness of local products.

During the 2021-2025 period, Dong Nai province's One Commune One Product (OCOP) program has had a strong ripple effect, unleashing the potential and advantages of each locality. The program has attracted a large number of businesses, cooperatives, and production households to participate, contributing to building agricultural product brands and promoting sustainable rural economic development.

Currently, there are many spaces showcasing OCOP (One Commune One Product) products from local brands such as Tan Trieu pomelo, Vinahe cashew nuts, Ba Tu cashew nuts, etc. Photo: Hoang Phuc.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Nai province, the program has mobilized 304 participating entities, of which nearly 60% are businesses and cooperatives. Compared to 2020, the number of OCOP products in Dong Nai has increased by an average of 50% each year, affirming the effectiveness of the program in developing agricultural production and commercialization.

Notably, by October 2025, Dong Nai had added 8 more products recognized as 5-star OCOP products at the national level, bringing the total number of 5-star products in the province to 11. These are all key agricultural products, demonstrating the processing capacity and high competitiveness of the locality. This result makes Dong Nai one of the leading localities in the Southeast region in developing and upgrading OCOP products.

After the merger, the new Dong Nai province has over 1 million hectares of agricultural land, accounting for nearly 79% of its natural area. With a diverse ecosystem, abundant water resources, fertile soil, and a modern irrigation system, and minimal impact from natural disasters, it has ideal conditions for developing large-scale, modern, and ecological commercial agriculture.

Dong Nai is the "livestock capital" of the country, with 4.2 million pigs and approximately 35.9 million poultry. The province's livestock industry is strongly shifting towards industrialization, applying high technology, and developing many typical OCOP products such as clean pork, herbal chicken, and pasteurized quail eggs for export. At the same time, the province is also a center for fruit and industrial crops in the Southeast region. Many processed agricultural products such as dried jackfruit, pineapple, taro, dried bananas, and instant coffee have been recognized as OCOP products, contributing to increased added value and the formation of sustainable supply chains.

The livestock industry in Dong Nai province is strongly shifting towards industrialization, applying high technology, and developing many OCOP products, such as clean pork, herbal chicken, and animal welfare chicken and eggs... Photo: Minh Sang.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Nai province, the province is stepping up trade promotion, product advertising, and developing agricultural tourism and community tourism models associated with OCOP products, aiming to build Dong Nai agricultural product brands of national and international stature.

Dong Nai has now implemented an online agricultural product trading platform, promoting the digitalization of production processes, traceability, and expanding e-commerce channels and domestic consumption. At the same time, it prioritizes mechanisms to support infrastructure, invest in high technology, and aims to develop an ecological, modern, and sustainable agricultural sector.

Recently, at the OCOP product evaluation and ranking conference, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang acknowledged and highly appreciated the proactive efforts of departments, agencies, and the People's Committees of communes and wards, as well as the determination of participating entities to improve their products. “The province's OCOP product development program is on the right track, focusing on leveraging the unique advantages of each locality, linked with deep processing to increase added value. A highlight of the products participating in this evaluation is the use of mainly local agricultural raw materials, ensuring regional characteristics and high commercial value,” Ms. Hoang affirmed.

The development of OCOP products in Dong Nai province is focusing on leveraging the unique advantages of each locality, linking them with deep processing to increase added value. Photo: Hoang Long.

The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Nai province requested that departments, agencies, and localities continue to accompany and support OCOP entities, especially those with potential products to achieve 5-star OCOP status at the national level, to quickly complete their dossiers for recognition at the central level, aiming towards developing deep processing and building sustainable value chains.

"OCOP entities need to proactively improve their management capacity, promote the application of technology, develop deep processing linked to raw material areas, and form complete value chains to create unique, high-value products," emphasized Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/buoc-chuyen-ocop-dong-nai-bai-2-mo-kenh-phan-phoi-moi-d782965.html