'Keeping the flame alive' for vermicelli production during Tet season.

In the final days of the year, the atmosphere at Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative (Dong Hy commune) is bustling and busy. From drying and cutting the vermicelli strands to packaging the finished product, bundles of vermicelli are stacked tightly in the approximately 300m2 workshop, creating a continuous, urgent, yet orderly work rhythm. Few people know that just over two months ago, this place suffered the severe consequences of a historic flood.

In the packaging area, workers at Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative continuously check the weight, affix labels, and complete the products to meet delivery deadlines.

The Lunar New Year holiday is always the peak production period of the year for Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative, with output doubling compared to normal. To ensure a steady supply, the cooperative stockpiled raw materials about two months before Tet, and also mobilized dozens of seasonal workers, organizing overtime work, including evenings.

In the packaging area, workers continuously check the weight, apply labels, and complete the products to meet delivery deadlines. Ms. Lang Thi Thu Thanh, a member of the cooperative, said: "To ensure progress, production teams proactively increase manpower, coordinate overtime work, and prepare goods in advance for signed orders."

This production pace becomes even more commendable when considered in the context of the severe damage the cooperative has just suffered. After the historic floods in early October 2025, Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative was one of the most severely affected units in Dong Hy commune. Rising floodwaters submerged the entire factory, machinery, and production equipment. Nearly 200 tons of finished vermicelli, along with many raw materials and semi-finished products, were swept away or damaged. The estimated damage amounted to approximately 14 billion VND, almost wiping out all of the cooperative's inventory for the most crucial time of the year.

Faced with this difficult situation, the cooperative's leadership quickly convened a meeting and made a fundamental decision. All the vermicelli, raw materials, and products that had been submerged in water and were at risk of not meeting quality standards had to be completely discarded and absolutely not released to the market.

This decision means the cooperative is accepting further economic losses, but it is a necessary choice to preserve its brand reputation and consumer trust that has been built up over many years.

Immediately after the floodwaters receded, the Viet Cuong vermicelli cooperative received timely attention and support from local authorities, the military, and other functional units to quickly clean up the factory, repair machinery, and gradually resume production.

On the cooperative's part, they focused on mobilizing maximum manpower to repair the equipment, while also organizing overtime shifts and maintaining continuous production to compensate for any delays. All stages, from preparing packaging and cardboard boxes to product labels, were implemented simultaneously, ready for the peak period at the end of the year.

Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative maintains connections with partners, strives to restore production, and fulfills approximately 80% of orders signed before the floods.

Alongside restoring production, the cooperative proactively worked with partners, distributors, and supermarket chains to discuss and adjust delivery times, creating the necessary time for stabilizing operations. After the floods, favorable weather conditions contributed to improved drying efficiency of vermicelli. As a result, after only about a month of recovery, many machines and assets were put back into operation, and the cooperative began delivering products to fulfill orders, gradually meeting market demand.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ba, Director of Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative, shared: "Although this year's Tet production may not reach the initial plan, the cooperative is determined to ensure supply under favorable conditions. For orders signed before the floods, we maintain connections with partners, gradually restore production, and strive to meet approximately 80% of the committed output."

Regarding raw materials, the cooperative has largely met its own needs. The cassava starch was transported away in time before the floods, minimizing damage. At the same time, the cooperative imported additional raw materials from the new harvest produced by local farmers, sufficient to serve production for the Lunar New Year and prepare for the beginning of the following year. As a result, the raw material supply remains secure, enabling the cooperative to stabilize production soon.

Currently, Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative offers many product lines such as cassava vermicelli, sweet potato vermicelli, kudzu vermicelli, and black garlic vermicelli. All products have received OCOP certification from 3 to 5 stars, with cassava vermicelli achieving a national 5-star rating. This Tet holiday, the cooperative is introducing two new products made entirely from natural ingredients: "Thanh Mat" vermicelli (thick strands) and "Tinh Thuc" vermicelli (made from 100% red cassava starch), available in 250g and 500g packages, targeting consumers who care about health and traditional values.

Notably, despite fluctuating production costs, the prices of the cooperative's vermicelli products have remained stable compared to the previous year. Traditional cassava vermicelli and sweet potato vermicelli are priced at 90,000 VND/kg, black garlic vermicelli at 250,000 VND/kg, and kudzu vermicelli at 150,000 VND/kg. Maintaining stable prices demonstrates the cooperative's responsibility to the market and its willingness to share the burden with consumers amidst challenging economic conditions.

Overcoming heavy losses caused by natural disasters, Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative is gradually recovering, maintaining production to bring vermicelli noodles bearing the Thai Nguyen brand to the Tet feast tables of every family. The journey of revival after the floods demonstrates the perseverance and flexibility of a cooperative economic model, while affirming the enduring vitality of traditional production when closely linked to the demands of the modern market.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202512/giu-lua-san-xuat-mien-vu-tet-7410529/