Based on local products, many businesses, cooperatives, and production facilities in Hai Phong have proactively innovated their thinking, invested in deep processing, and improved designs to bring products to the Tet market, meeting the consumer needs of the people.
Advanced processing
These days, the Hac Vang Kinh Mon Agricultural Production and Trade Service Cooperative (Tran Lieu Ward) is always bustling. Members are constantly packing and completing orders to ensure timely delivery to customers. While still selling familiar local agricultural products like glutinous rice, cassava starch, onions, and garlic, instead of selling them raw at low value, the cooperative has shifted to processing and packaging them into products and gifts that reflect the local identity. Each product is labeled with a traceability tag, has quality certification, and meets food safety standards, giving consumers peace of mind, especially during Tet (Lunar New Year) – a time when the demand for gifts increases significantly. During Tet Binh Ngo (2016) alone, the cooperative supplied over 80 tons of products to the market, with cassava starch vermicelli consistently selling out.
In reality, thanks to a focus on deep processing and investment in presentation, many local agricultural products have escaped the "bumper harvest, low prices" dilemma and are gradually establishing their place in the market. These products not only serve daily consumption but also become meaningful Tet (Lunar New Year) gifts, reflecting the unique regional identity.
Besides agricultural products, many traditional culinary specialties of Hai Phong are also being innovated to meet the demands of the Tet market. A prime example is braised sardines - a rustic dish, familiar on the dinner tables of people in the coastal countryside for generations.
At Thai Tin Braised Sardines facility (Nghi Duong commune), in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the kitchens are constantly busy day and night to meet production demands. Thai Tin braised sardines are popular with consumers thanks to their rich, delicious flavor, prepared using traditional methods combined with strict quality control. From a familiar dish in family meals, braised sardines have now been developed into a marketable product, serving the Tet market.
In 2021, Thai Tin braised sardines were recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. Following this, the facility received continued support regarding labeling, traceability, and participation in trade promotion programs both within and outside the city. As a result, the product not only sells well in Hai Phong but is also available in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, and many neighboring provinces and cities. Especially during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), braised sardines become a popular gift choice. During peak periods leading up to Tet, the facility supplies 2-3 quintals of braised sardines to the market, mainly fulfilling orders from various localities nationwide.
Brand affirmation
Mung bean cake – a specialty deeply rooted in the culinary memories of generations of Hai Phong residents – is also being "modernized" to suit the contemporary market. While previously mung bean cakes were primarily produced on a small scale with simple designs, businesses are now focusing on diversifying flavors, weights, and packaging designs, targeting the high-end gift segment.
Hoang Giang Joint Stock Company (Thanh Dong Ward) is one of the leading companies in elevating the quality of Hai Phong mung bean cakes. The company uses carefully selected ingredients, modifies the recipe for better health benefits, and invests in a closed-loop, automated production line (approximately 60%). As a result, the product retains its traditional flavor while extending its shelf life to up to 9 months.
Mr. Dao Quang Chuyen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hoang Giang Joint Stock Company, said: “In the period 2024-2025, three of the company's mung bean cake products will be recognized as achieving 5-star OCOP national standards. Currently, the products are widely distributed domestically and exported to many major markets. This Tet holiday, the company is launching many products with impressive designs such as mung bean cakes fit for a king, cakes shaped like peach blossoms, gold bars, golden carp, dragon and phoenix reunions, etc., meeting the diverse gift-giving needs of consumers.”
Mr. Nguyen Luong Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Center for Industrial Promotion and Development Consulting (Department of Industry and Trade), believes that investment in processing, improving product designs, and building brands has created a clear transformation in the development of specialty and local products. Instead of small-scale, seasonal consumption, many traditional specialties have been standardized in terms of quality, packaging, and traceability, meeting the requirements to participate in modern distribution systems and becoming valuable gift products during Tet (Lunar New Year). The Tet market is a crucial "test" for production capacity, the ability to fulfill large orders, and the stability of products.
It is evident that the increasing number of Hai Phong specialties appearing on Tet holiday shelves not only meets the consumer and gift-giving needs of the market, but also affirms the correct direction in developing agriculture and rural industries associated with brand building. This is also an important foundation for Hai Phong's distinctive products to continue expanding their market, affirming their position domestically and aiming for export in the future.
HUYEN TRANGSource: https://baohaiphong.vn/dac-san-hai-phong-len-ke-hang-tet-535563.html
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